Falls when working at height are the most common kind of workplace fatality.
HSE's figures for work-related fatalities in Great Britain show that 35 workers were killed in falls from height during 2024 to 2025.
Make sure you put sensible and proportionate measures in place to manage the risks of working at height.
Our step-by-step guide to working at height can help you control the risks.
Scaffolding
It is vital to make sure any scaffolding is stable and safe at all times.
Our scaffolds guidance explains when a scaffold design is required. It also covers the level of training and competence needed for those erecting, dismantling, altering, inspecting and supervising scaffolding.
Ladders
Ladders and stepladders can be a sensible and practical option for low-risk, short-duration tasks, but they should not automatically be your first choice.
To help you make sure that you use the right type of ladder, and know how to use it safely, our website has guidance on safe use of ladders and stepladders at work.
A worker died after falling into an unprotected, water-filled excavation described as a 'death trap' at a building site.
The labourer, who lived next to the site, fell into the hole while trying to access his home after a night out. His body was not discovered until the following afternoon.
HSE's investigation found that:
- the company had failed to take appropriate precautions to ensure the safety of those moving around and working at the site
- there was no dedicated lighting to the site
- the boards and planks didn’t have handrails and weren’t secured
The company was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £5,000 costs and has since been liquidated.
Read more about the incident in our press release: Construction company fined after worker died on ‘death trap’ site.
For more health and safety stories visit our news centre, which includes:
Make sure your event protects workers and the public by using HSE's guidance on event safety.
Whether you're organising a small gathering or large-scale event, HSE guidance provides practical advice to help you meet your health and safety obligations.
Our guidance helps you plan, manage and monitor events effectively with 3 key sections:
HSE is exhibiting and speaking at the Installer Show on Tuesday 23 to Thursday 25 June, at the NEC Birmingham.
The use of engineered stone is a popular choice for kitchen and bathroom surfaces, however cutting, grinding and polishing it can generate high levels of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust. This causes serious, life‑limiting lung disease including silicosis, COPD and lung cancer – conditions that are preventable with the right controls.
On each day of the show, in the Kitchen Fitter Arena, Clare Owen, HSE’s Head of Stoneworking Intervention Design, will:
- share insights from HSE’s collaboration with the stone industry
- explain how Great Britain’s kitchen and bathroom installers can work safely with engineered stone to protect their health
You can visit the HSE stand at the event to speak with our team and get practical advice by registering for your free ticket for the Installer Show.
For further guidance on working safely with engineered stone, visit the Work Right campaign website for resources to help you comply with the law and protect workers.
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