When Khalid saw his colleague slip from a scaffold platform three meters above ground, everything slowed down.
But this time—it didn’t end in tragedy.
The harness held.
The anchor worked.
The fall was arrested.
What could have been fatal became a minor injury.
Why?
Because the team had completed working at heights training just two months earlier.
⚠️ Why Working at Heights Is So Dangerous
Falls from height remain the #1 cause of workplace fatalities in construction.
📊 In the UAE, they account for 35–45% of all fatal accidents.
Even a short fall can be deadly:
Fall from 2m ≈ massive impact force
Fall from 6m ≈ life-threatening injuries
Common consequences:
- Head injuries
- Spinal damage
- Internal trauma
- Fatalities
👉 The reality: Almost every fall is preventable.
** What Is Working at Heights?**
Working at Heights- Any work where a person could fall and get injured:
- Above 2 meters
- Near edges or openings
- On fragile surfaces
- Where objects could fall onto others
Common UAE Examples:
- Scaffolding work
- Rooftop maintenance
- Tower climbing
- Aerial lifts (MEWPs)
- High-rise construction
🚧 Key Hazards You Must Understand
Falls from Height
Unprotected edges
Unsafe ladders
Equipment failure
Loss of balanceFragile Surfaces
Skylights
Weak roofing sheets
Temporary covers
👉 Looks safe—but isn’t.
- Falling Objects Tools Materials Debris
Solution:
Toe boards
Tool lanyards
Safety nets
Environmental Risks
Wind
Heat (critical in UAE)
Rain
Poor visibilityHuman Factors
Fatigue
Overconfidence
Rushing
Distraction
🛡️ The Hierarchy of Fall Protection
✅ 1. Eliminate the Risk
Do work from ground
Use remote tools
🧱 2. Prevent Falls (Best Practical Solution)
Guardrails
Scaffolds
Platforms
👉 Protects everyone—not just individuals
🪢 3. Fall Arrest Systems (Last Line of Defense)
ABC Rule:
A – Anchor
B – Body Harness
C – Connector (lanyard/SRL)
These systems don’t prevent falls—they save lives after one happens.
🎓 Working at Heights Training (UAE)
Training is mandatory, not optional.
What You Learn:
- Hazard identification
- Equipment usage
- Risk assessment
- Rescue procedures
Format:
- Theory + Practical
- 1–2 days duration
- Certification valid for 2–3 years
👉 Best practice: Blended learning (online + hands-on)
🧰 Fall Protection Equipment Basics
- Full-Body Harness
- Distributes force safely
- Must fit properly
- Inspect before every use
- Lanyards & Energy Absorbers
- Limit fall impact force
- Must be replaced after use
- Self-Retracting Lifelines (SRL)
- Minimal fall distance
- Maximum mobility
- Anchor Points
Must support ≥ 22kN load
Always position above worker
🔍 Daily Safety Checklist
Before starting work:
✔ Harness inspected
✔ Anchor verified
✔ No damaged equipment
✔ Proper fit ensured
✔ Rescue plan ready
🚑 The Most Ignored Risk: Rescue Planning
A worker suspended after a fall can die within 15–30 minutes due to suspension trauma.
👉 That means:
Rescue plan is mandatory
Equipment must be ready
Team must be trained
🏭 Industry Applications in UAE
- Construction
- Scaffolds, high-rise work
- Requires Class 3-level protection
- Oil & Gas
- Offshore platforms
- Requires advanced rescue readiness
- Telecom
- Tower climbing (30–80m)
- Needs specialized training
- Maintenance
- Rooftops, window cleaning
- Portable systems required
⚖️ UAE Legal Requirements
Employers must:
- Conduct risk assessments
- Provide PPE
- Ensure training
- Implement safe systems
- Maintain records Failure = fines, shutdowns, legal action.
🚨 Common Mistakes That Cause Accidents
- Using damaged harnesses
- No anchor point verification
- Skipping training
- No rescue plan
- Rushing work
👉 Most accidents happen due to human error—not equipment failure
💡 Final Thoughts
Khalid’s colleague survived because:
The equipment worked
The system was in place
The training was done
Without those?
The outcome would be very different.
