Despite having numerous safety measures in place, some workers still take unnecessary risks when conducting work at height. It can be incredibly frustrating for safety officers and overseers who feel they’ve done everything by the book to ensure everyone carries out work at height safely, only to be undermined by individuals flouting instructions on a whim.
So why does it happen? The answer is psychological. People don’t always make rational decisions about safety, especially when external pressures or ingrained habits come into play. Here is a look at the key reasons workers take risks at height and how these dangers can be mitigated.
Overconfidence And Complacency
One of the biggest reasons workers take risks is simple: they think nothing will go wrong. If someone has climbed scaffolding, used a mobile platform, or balanced on a ladder a thousand times without incident, they start to believe they’re immune to danger. This false sense of security is exactly how serious falls happen.
Complacency also leads to rushed decision-making. Instead of double-checking their footing or ensuring equipment is stable, workers may operate on autopilot. The problem here is one unexpected change such as a wet surface, a loose panel or a sudden gust of wind, and the illusion of safety can be shattered.
Cutting Corners
When workers are paid per job instead of per hour, they’re more likely to rush and skip safety steps to maximise earnings. Instead of fetching a properly rated platform, they might grab whatever’s closest.
The problem gets worse on lower-paid contracts, where safety officers may not even be on site. Without someone actively enforcing safety protocols, workers make their own decisions about what’s good enough. If a piece of equipment is overdue for servicing, some will use it anyway rather than delay the job, but this drastically increases the chance of an accident.
Low Risk Awareness
Some workers simply underestimate the risks involved in working at height. They assume that even if they fall, it won’t be that bad. Maybe they think they’ll land on their feet, or that a short fall won’t cause serious injury. In reality, a fall from just a few metres can cause broken bones, spinal injuries, or even death.
Another overlooked danger is secondary injuries. Even if someone survives a fall, they could land on another worker, cause tools to drop from height, or knock over unstable materials. A single moment of misjudgement can lead to a chain reaction of hazards.
Creating A Safety-First Culture
The only way to prevent risk-taking at height is to actively fight against these psychological tendencies. Workers need to be reminded that risk awareness is critical, and that just because they’ve done a job safely before doesn’t mean they’ll be safe next time. It should also be driven home that cutting corners isn’t just about personal risk as it can endanger everyone else on site.
Regular equipment servicing, on site safety enforcement, and strong safety culture are non-negotiable. At height, there’s no room for error.
To find out more about the best practices for work at height, contact Ability International today.
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