Firms have a number of priorities to focus on, one of which of course is to make a profit.
However, a more fundamental target should be ensuring the safety of workers and members of the public.
An incident involving a man in Yorkshire has highlighted the significance of edge protection when employees are operating at height.
The individual was performing his role at a textiles manufacturer when he fell eight feet onto a concrete surface.
He was dismantling shelving when the accident happened and the platform on which he was situated did not have fall protection in place.
As well as the lack of guardrail systems, there had also been failures in the man’s training, an investigation found. As a result of the fall, the worker sustained a broken leg and crushed ankle.
Meanwhile, his employer was issued a fine and ordered to pay legal costs due to the shortcomings.
Injuries suffered in this way are not uncommon in the UK, and it is vital that you take appropriate preventative measures to minimise the risk of them happening in your firm.
If you fail to take heed of such warnings and put employees’ lives at risk as a result, you will not only have the guilt to deal with afterwards, but also potentially costly legal action.
So, it is vital that make sure that your company has all the necessary safety equipment in place to prevent falls from employees working at height, and that you perform risk assessments as well.
Thankfully these days there are many products to choose from that can help make your working environment less hazardous.