Working at height remains one of the highest-risk activities across construction, utilities, maintenance, infrastructure and industrial environments. In the UK, these activities are governed by the Work at Height Regulations 2005, which aim to prevent injury and death caused by falls from height. Employers must ensure work is properly planned, supervised and carried out using suitable equipment. The most common kind of fatal accident for workers is falls from height, accounting for around a quarter of fatal injuries in 2025/26.
Whether carrying out roof work, tower maintenance, façade inspections or general construction tasks, selecting the correct personal fall protection equipment (PFPE) is essential for worker safety.
What Is Working at Height?
Working at height refers to any task where a person could fall and injure themselves if precautions are not taken.
This can include:
- Roof work
- Ladder work
- Scaffold work
- Mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs)
- Steel erection
- Tower climbing
- Rope access operations
- Maintenance and inspection activities
Choosing the correct personal fall protection equipment (PFPE) depends on the nature of the work, the position of the anchor point and the potential fall risk. For further guidance, the HSE provides dedicated resources covering safe working at height.
1. Work Restraint
A work restraint system prevents the user from reaching an area where a fall could occur. Instead of stopping a fall after it happens, the system is designed to stop the worker from entering a fall-risk zone in the first place.
A typical work restraint system includes:
1. Limit of user’s movement
2. Harness attachment point
3. Anchor
4. Lanyard
5. Fall risk area
Because the user cannot physically reach the edge or hazard, the risk of falling is reduced. JSP include products suitable for work restraint applications.
2. Work Positioning
Work positioning systems allow workers to remain supported while carrying out a task at height.
The system keeps the worker in place by maintaining tension in the equipment, helping to prevent a free fall from occurring. Depending on the application, the equipment may fully support the user's weight or provide partial support.
3. Fall Arrest
A fall arrest system is designed to safely stop a fall after it has occurred.
The worker is connected to the structure through a series of components that work together to arrest the fall and reduce the forces placed on the body. EN 363 requires impact forces on the user to be limited to a maximum of 6 kN.
JSP's include equipment designed for fall arrest, work restraint and work positioning applications.
4. Rope Access
Rope access is a specialised form of work positioning that allows workers to access difficult-to-reach locations while suspended by ropes and a harness. Originally developed from climbing and caving techniques, rope access allows technicians to ascend, descend and traverse structures while safely supported.
A rope access system should always incorporate a backup safety system using a working line and a separate safety line.
Key Work at Height Safety Considerations
Minimum Free Space Required
Minimum free space refers to the clearance required beneath a worker to allow a fall arrest system to stop a fall safely before the worker contacts the ground or another obstacle. Factors affecting minimum free space include device length, shock absorber deployment, harness connection position and safety clearance.
A Length of the device under tension.
B Length of the deployed shock absorber (if in use).
C Maximum length between the user’s feet and the anchor point on the harness after the fall.
D Safety clearance recommended.
What Is Fall Factor?
Fall factor is calculated by dividing:
Free Fall Distance ÷ Lanyard Length
The higher the fall factor:
- The greater the forces generated during a fall
- The higher the risk of injury
- The greater the demands placed on the fall arrest equipment
Where possible, anchor points should be positioned above the user to minimise fall factor.
For a 2 metre lanyard:
A Anchor point above user (Preferred option). Free fall distance: 0.5 m (F) Fall factor = 0.5/2 =0.25
B Anchor point at shoulder level (Non-preferred option). Free fall distance: 2m (F) Fall factor = 2/2 =1
C Anchor point at foot level (only if there is no other option). Free fall distance: 4m (F) Fall factor = 4/2 =2
What Is the Pendulum Effect?
The pendulum effect, also known as a swing fall, occurs when a worker falls while positioned horizontally away from the anchor point. Instead of falling directly downward, the worker swings back towards the structure, increasing the risk of collision and secondary injuries.
1 Position of user before fall
2 Swing fall trajectory
3 Collision with structure
a Angle between retractable lanyard and the vertical
How Do You Choose the Right Height Safety Equipment?
Before selecting height safety equipment, several factors should be assessed:
- Available free space beneath the work area
- Position of the anchor point
- Potential fall factor
- Risk of pendulum effect
- Type of work being carried out
To help users identify suitable products, JSP has developed a range of solutions for fall restraint, work positioning, fall arrest and rope access applications. Further guidance is available in the JSP Height Safety Guide.
Have any more height safety questions? Take a look at our height safety faq.
Find out more about our range of height safety.
Take a look at our height safety guide.
HSE also has a step-by-step guide on their website.