Why Working at Height Needs Your Full Attention
12th May 2025 - By Danelle Vanstone
Falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace fatalities in the UK, and for domestic glazing installers, the risk is a daily reality. Whether you’re up a ladder fitting a window or using scaffolding to access upper levels, safety can never be an afterthought.
That’s why Certass is proud to support No Falls Week (12–16 May 2025), a national awareness campaign from the No Falls Foundation. This week is all about prevention, education, and making sure everyone gets home safe at the end of the working day.
Working at Height: A High-Risk Task
Window installers, roofline fitters, and others in the domestic glazing trades frequently carry out work at height. According to HSE statistics, a third of all fall-from-height incidents involve ladders or stepladders. Every year, that adds up to:
- 14 deaths
- 1,200 major injuries
And those are just the reported figures.
Good Practice for Working at Height
The best way to avoid becoming a statistic is to follow a few critical good practice principles:
DO:
- Work from the ground or inside the property where possible
- Use the right equipment for the job (stable, suitable, and well-maintained)
- Check all access equipment before use
- Prevent falling objects and consider edge protection
- Supervise and plan the job with competent people
DON’T:
- Overload ladders
- Use ladders for long or heavy-duty work
- Overreach or use fragile surfaces
- Leave the safety planning to chance
What Can Happen if You Don’t
One HSE prosecution saw a company fined £850,000 after a worker fell three metres from an unsecured ladder while fitting a window. The system was poorly planned, inadequately supervised, and entirely avoidable.
How Certass Supports Installers
At Certass, we believe compliance and safety go hand-in-hand. Our Good Practice Guide for Members includes straightforward advice for working at height, including:
- Choosing suitable access equipment
- Managing edge protection
- Minimising risks of falling materials
- Planning site set-ups for safety
Want to Know More?
If you’re a Certass Member, log into the Members Area to download your full Working at Height Good Practice Guide.
Not a Member? Contact us to find out how Certass membership can help you stay safe, compliant, and supported.