Working at height is a leading cause of workplace accidents across industries. Falls, slips, and other hazards can result in serious injuries, lost productivity, and costly compliance issues. Using professional safety access systems, such as platforms, gantries, and stairways, provides secure, stable surfaces and helps reduce these risks.
In this blog, we’ll cover three common hazards when working at height and explain how the right industrial access systems can help you minimise risk and improve workplace safety.
1. Slips, Trips and Falls
Uneven surfaces, wet floors, clutter, or poorly positioned equipment can all cause slips, trips, and falls. Even a minor misstep at height can lead to serious injury, lost productivity, and compliance issues.
These incidents often occur in busy industrial environments, such as warehouses, loading bays, or production floors, where workers may be moving quickly or carrying tools and materials. Simple hazards, like a misplaced hose or uneven step, can quickly become dangerous at height.
2. Unsafe Access Methods
Using ladders, pallets, temporary steps, or climbing on equipment is a frequent shortcut in many workplaces. These methods rarely provide the stability or space needed for safe operations and increase the likelihood of accidents.
Improvised access is particularly risky when operators must carry equipment, connect hoses, or manoeuvre around vehicles, such as tankers or railcars. Even brief lapses in balance can have serious consequences, making reliable access methods essential for safety.
3. Poor Ergonomics and Overreaching
Awkward postures, overreaching, or prolonged standing can cause fatigue and strain, reducing concentration and increasing the risk of mistakes. This is especially true during repetitive tasks or when handling tools and materials at height.
Over time, poor ergonomics can lead to long term musculoskeletal problems, which affect productivity and workplace wellbeing. Ensuring operators can work comfortably and safely is just as important as preventing falls.
How EWFM Safety Access Systems Can Help
EWFM offers a range of safety access solutions designed to tackle the most common hazards when working at height. Each system is engineered to provide stable, secure, and adaptable working surfaces, helping operators work safely and efficiently across industrial environments.
Our key solutions include:
- Folding Stairs – Safe, ergonomic access to elevated areas. Folding design makes them easy to move and store, while sturdy treads and handrails reduce the risk of slips and trips.
- Safety Cages – Protect operators from falls on ladders or elevated platforms, adding an extra layer of security in high risk areas.
- Elevated Loading Platforms – Provide stable, level surfaces for loading and unloading tankers, railcars, or bulk containers, reducing overreaching and fatigue.
- Mobile Access Units – Flexible positioning around sites allows safe access to hard-to-reach areas without relying on ladders or improvised solutions.
- Gantry Stands – Modular, customisable platforms providing safe working positions for maintenance, vehicle access, or other industrial tasks.
By implementing EWFM’s purpose-built access systems, organisations can minimise risk, improve operator safety, and maintain compliance with UK health and safety regulations. These solutions not only protect staff but also enhance efficiency, allowing tasks at height to be completed more safely and effectively.
Working at height presents real risks, from slips and unsafe access to poor ergonomics. Implementing purpose built safety access systems can protect your team, improve operational efficiency, and ensure compliance with UK health and safety regulations.Investing in the right solutions reduces accidents and creates a safer, more productive working environment, giving your team the confidence to carry out tasks at height safely.
