Falls from height kill and injure more UK workers than almost anything else. It’s the HSE’s top

enforcement target — and the law puts the responsibility on you.

Under the Working at Height Regulations, if you commission work at height — even just ordering a board

fitted to a building — you’re legally in control of that activity. That means ensuring the work is planned,

supervised, and carried out by competent people with the right equipment. No exceptions.

Get It Wrong, Pay For It

• A contractor felled two trees without any competency check. One hit a live railway line, causing

£100k+ in damage.

Fine: £40,000 + £5,854 costs.

• A subcontractor wasn’t assessed on working-at-height procedures. A worker fell 8 metres to their

death through a fragile roof light.

Fine: £50,000 + £19,300 costs.

The Bottom Line

Courts can now impose unlimited fines, and the HSE is prosecuting more than ever. Vetting your

contractors isn’t a nice-to-have — it’s the law, and it’s the only thing standing between you and a

courtroom.