A new charity aims to prevent deadly falls from height by encouraging research into the behavioural changes needed to make work at height safer.
Features
Let’s not fall for it
By
on 16 March 2021
The No Falls Foundation is the UK charity dedicated to preventing falls from height and helping people affected by the life-changing consequences of a fall. Supported and championed by the Access Industry Form (AIF), the Foundation has three principal objectives: raising awareness of the risks associated with working at height; researching the causes of falls; and providing advice and support to those affected by a fall.
The need for a charity dedicated exclusively to the work at height sector is clear. Falls from height remain the single biggest cause of fatalities in the workplace.
In the 12 months to March 2020, 29 people died and there were 5,214 non-fatal falls. Photograph: iStock
In the 12 months to March 2020, 29 people died and there were 5,214 non-fatal falls reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).
2021 will see the Foundation begin work on creating the No Falls Charter, a unique initiative that embodies best practice taken from existing regulations, policies, standards, guidance and a wide range of industry bodies.
Intended for adoption and implementation by industry at large, it will enable companies to make a tangible commitment to preventing falls and to make that commitment both transparent and demonstrable.
2021 will also see work proceed on framing a research project to investigate the root causes of falls from height and the changes and advances that need to be made in behavioural psychology to prevent these falls.
Meanwhile, the Foundation continues to advocate its support for a more comprehensive system of recording falls from height – as recommended by the inquiry report of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Working on Height (bit.ly/3s0NXnx) – to better inform policy-making and decision-making.
Just launched by the charity is a Support and Information Pack for people who have been injured in falls (and their families), signposting to the organisations and resources available to provide advice and assistance. The free pack covers a wide range of topics, including:
- What to do immediately
- What financial assistance may be available
- How to begin a personal injury claim
- Support with transport and home adaptations
- Using the befriending service from the No Falls Foundation
- Organisations that can help with issues of mental health.
For those who have experienced the loss of a loved one as a result of a fall from height, the pack also provides details of those organisations that can offer help and support.
No Falls Charter is a unique initiative that will help companies make a difference to preventing falls. Photograph: iStock
Chris Kendall, one of the charity’s trustees, says: “What should have been a perfectly normal day has ended in a potentially life-shattering accident. What do you do now? Who can you turn to? What help is available? The pack attempts to answer these questions and provides contact details for the Foundation.”
The charity is also inviting people to share their personal stories of suffering a fall from height and experiencing its consequences. Chris Kendall says: “We want to develop a series of case studies on the Foundation’s website for the benefit of others. If anyone would like to contribute to the work of the charity in this way we would be delighted to hear from them.”
Finally, the Foundation now publishes a bi-monthly e-newsletter, Saving Lives, which contains details of all the latest news and developments at the charity.
Hannah Williams is Charity manager at the No Falls Foundation
FEATURES
Building safety in practice – learning, improving and delivering better outcomes
By John Palmer, Building Safety Regulator (BSR) on 05 August 2026
Almost three years after the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) began to oversee a new approach to the design, construction and management of higher-risk buildings in England, the BSR continues to improve processes to ensure more efficient and faster approval of all building work applications within scope of the higher-risk regime.
Psychological safety: exposing the intention gap
By Adam Pope, Draeger Safety UK on 30 July 2026
New research from Dräger suggests a significant proportion of workers feel increasingly afraid to speak up about safety problems at work, making it more important than ever that leaders create the psychological conditions that enable workers to report concerns, make suggestions and challenge the status quo without fear of rejection or retribution.
Communicating for impact: tools to pack this summer
By Belinda Liversedge on 30 July 2026
New Year’s resolutions get all the glory, but the quiet summer lull is secretly the best time for a reset. Before the September rush hits and work resumes at full speed, why not test out a few new skills? As part of our summer special, we look at how two evidence-based psychological tools can help safety professionals sharpen their communication, win over colleagues, and begin to drive lasting change.