The No Falls Foundation, the first and only UK-based charity for the work at height sector, is proud to be holding its third annual ‘No Falls Week’ from 18 – 22 May 2026, to promote safe working at height.

Following the success of their previous campaigns, which have so far seen over 3,600 organisations sign up to take part, No Falls Week returns to raise awareness about the importance of safe working at height, prevent falls and ensure everyone that works at height comes down safely.

It is estimated over 1 million businesses, and 10 million workers, carry out work involving some form of working at height every year¹. No Falls Week provides the opportunity for organisations across all sectors to place a focus on work at height safety.

Falls from height are consistently the leading cause of workplace fatalities in the UK, with 35 people losing their lives at work due to a fall from height in 2024/2025². Latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that falls from height were responsible for almost one third of all workplace deaths last year. This is almost twice as many as the second most common kind of accident, ‘Struck by a moving vehicle’. This latest figure may represent an 8% reduction from 2023/24, however, prior to that, the proportion of falls from height continued to rise, reaching an unacceptable 36% last year³.

As awful as the fatality statistics are, there are an even greater number of non-fatal injuries resulting from a fall from height, with almost 5,000 people in Great Britain having been reported injured at work in 2024/25⁴. However, the No Falls Foundation know there is substantial underreporting of non-fatal falls from height for all workers, particularly the self-employed, who were found to report just 12% of workplace incidents⁵. According to the self-reported accidents from their preferred source, the Labour Force Survey (LFS), the HSE estimates the number of workplace falls from height over the last 10 years may be up to 425,000 (between 2014 – 2024)⁶.

Along with the lives, families and businesses affected by these accidents, up to 688,000 working days were lost through non-fatal falls from height in Great Britain in 2023/24 alone⁷.

Not only that, the latest figures from 2023/24 show the total cost of falls from height was estimated to be over £956 million, made up of costs to the employer and the individual, government tax losses and benefit payments⁸.

Hannah Williams, Charity Manager at the No Falls Foundation, said: “Too many people are still being killed falling from height. In the last five years, 188 people have been killed because of a fall from height. Over the last 10 years, that number rises to 361, enough to fill a jumbo jet⁹.

“These deaths are not just statistics. Behind every number is a devastated family, group of friends, colleagues and employers who are left to face the long-term consequences these accidents can have.

“That’s why No Falls Week is so important. Whether you work in construction, manufacturing, agriculture or any other sector, No Falls Week is an opportunity for everyone to shine a spotlight onto the mental, physical, and societal consequences of working at height accidents.

“Everyone who needs to work at height should be able to work safely and return home unharmed at the end of every shift. If we work together, we can prevent avoidable deaths and injuries.”

Organisations can sign up to get involved in the week-long campaign via the No Falls Week website, where there are a host of toolkits and resources from members of the Access Industry Forum (AIF) to help organisations plan activities during No Falls Week.

For further information and to sign up for No Falls Week, please visit: https://nofallsweek.org/get-involved/

As the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) releases the latest work-related fatal injuries statistics for Great Britain, the No Falls Foundation has renewed its call on industry to commit to stop falls from height and reduce the number of avoidable deaths and injuries.

The latest issue of the HSE’s Work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain published this week, reveals that, in the past year alone, 35 people have died following a fall from height at work¹.

Although this is a significant reduction from the shockingly high 49 deaths in 2023/24², and some might say a step in the right direction, the charity stresses that the worryingly high previous year should not be the benchmark for ‘success’ this year. 35 people left for work last year and did not return home – that’s 35 too many.

To coincide with the release of the statistics, the No Falls Foundation, the first and only UK-based charity dedicated exclusively to the work at height sector, has called on industry to make a firm commitment to reducing falls from height at work and ensure every worker goes home safely at the end of each day.

Despite advances in height safety, ongoing campaigning and increasing awareness of the risks of working at height, the charity is also disappointed to see that falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace fatalities in Great Britain, accounting for almost one third of the 124 fatalities last year³. This is almost twice as many as the second most common kind of accident, ‘Struck by a moving vehicle’. This latest figure may represent an 8% reduction from 2023/24, however, prior to that, the proportion of falls from height continued to rise, reaching an unacceptable 36% last year⁴.

In 2024/25, fatalities to employees almost halved from the previous year (from 23 deaths to 12) and fatalities to the self-employed decreased by 11% from 26 deaths to 23)⁵. However, the balance has shifted over the years to a point that self-employed deaths now account for the majority of fall from height deaths – this year, two thirds of the total, and a figure that’s been rising by around 10% each year since 2021/22 when the proportion was 33%⁶.

As awful as the fatality statistics are, there are an even greater number of non-fatal injuries resulting from a fall from height, with almost 5,000 people in Great Britain having been reported injured at work in 2024/25⁷. However, the No Falls Foundation know there is substantial underreporting of non-fatal falls from height for all workers, particularly the self-employed, who were found to report just 12% of workplace incidents⁸. According to the self-reported accidents from their preferred source, the Labour Force Survey (LFS), the HSE estimates the number of workplace falls from height over the last 10 years may be up to 425,000 (between 2014 – 2024)⁹.

Hannah Williams, Charity Manager of the No Falls Foundation, said: “Too many people are still being killed falling from height. In the last five years, 188 people have been killed because of a fall from height. Over the last 10 years, that number rises to 361, enough to fill a jumbo jet¹⁰. Something needs to be done to stop this.

“These deaths are not just statistics. Behind every number is a devastated family, group of friends, colleagues and employers who are left to face the long-term consequences these accidents can have. The statistics might show some improvement from last year, but it’s still not good enough.

CALL FOR ACTION

“So today, the No Falls Foundation has renewed our call to industry to sit up and take immediate action by placing a focus on height safety. In May 2024, we launched No Falls Week, the charity’s annual safe work at height campaign. After our second-year success in 2025, we’re urging organisations across all sectors to shine a spotlight on height safety every week of the year, not only during No Falls Week.

“Organisations can sign up at any time to support the campaign and get instant access to a huge range of practical resources they can use right now to raise awareness of safe work at height. Everyone who needs to work at height should be able to work safely and return home unharmed at the end of every shift. If we work together, we can prevent avoidable deaths and injuries.”

 Sign up now to support No Falls Week and place a focus on height today, and all year round:

www.nofallsweek.org/get-involved

—

Sources:

^1/2  RIDFATAL – RIDDOR reported fatal injuries in Great Britain

³  Work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain, 2025

⁴ RIDKIND – RIDDOR reported fatal and non-fatal injuries in Great Britain by kind of accident and broad industry group  

^{5 /6} RIDFATAL – RIDDOR reported fatal injuries in Great Britain

⁷ RIDKIND – RIDDOR reported fatal and non-fatal injuries in Great Britain by kind of accident and broad industry group

⁸ Health & Safety Executive Research Report RR528 An investigation of reporting of workplace accidents under RIDDOR using the Merseyside Accident Information Model, 2007

⁹ Labour Force Survey

¹⁰ RIDKIND – RIDDOR reported fatal and non-fatal injuries in Great Britain by kind of accident and broad industry group  

-END-

For more information, please contact:

Hannah Williams

Charity Manager

The No Falls Foundation

hannah.williams@nofallsfoundation.org 

What a day! Last week (during No Falls Week), we held the very first No Falls Foundation conference followed by the return of our charity ball.

The energy and commitment in the room was inspiring – how incredible to be surrounded by so many people who are actively working to prevent falls from height and improve safety.

In the afternoon, host Tony Seddon welcomed a powerful lineup of speakers:

Jason Anker MBE
Abbi T.
Tim Marsh
Gary Latta, PhD, CFIOSH, MIFSM
Billy Hare
Peter Bennett OBE
David Thomas
Rob Harris
Hash Maitra
Dan Atkinson

Each brought their unique perspective and experience to the stage, sparking important conversations about safety at height.

Meanwhile, our exhibitors – Safety, Health & Wellbeing Live, Versalift United Kingdom Limited, International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), SAEMA Ltd, SPS SAFENET LTD, Simulanis, Guardian, SpanSet UK, HSS Training and JLG Industries – showcased how their organisations support safe working at height.

Our hope? That everyone left with new knowledge, tools and connections to help make their workplaces safer.

Then came the evening: an unforgettable night of dinner, dancing and fundraising – brilliantly hosted by Steve Booker. We also heard moving words from ambassador Dylan Skelhorn (Safety Up and Ladder Locker), reminding us how the funds raised directly support those affected by a fall, while driving vital research and prevention work.

Falls from height are still causing too many injuries and deaths, but together, we can change that. Thank you to everyone who made this special day possible and to all who support our mission to ensure that everyone who works at height makes it back down safely.

The No Falls Foundation, the first and only UK-based charity for the work at height sector, is proud to be holding its annual ‘No Falls Week’ from May 12 to 16, 2025, to promote safe working at height.

Following the success of their inaugural campaign last year, which saw almost 2,000 organisations sign up to take part, No Falls Week returns to raise awareness about the importance of safe working at height, prevent falls and ensure everyone that works at height comes down safely.

It is estimated over 1 million businesses, and 10 million workers, carry out work involving some form of working at height every year¹. No Falls Week provides the opportunity for organisations across all sectors to place a focus on work at height safety.

Falls from height are consistently the leading cause of workplace fatalities in the UK, with 50 people losing their lives at work due to a fall from height in 2023/2024². Latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that falls from height were responsible for 36% of all workplace deaths last year, up from 30% the year before (and 25% the year before that)³.

As awful as the fatality statistics are, there are an even greater number of non-fatal injuries resulting from a fall from height, with almost 5,000 people in Great Britain having been reported injured at work in 2023/24⁴. However, the No Falls Foundation know there is substantial underreporting of non-fatal falls from height for all workers, particularly the self-employed, who were found to report just 12% of workplace incidents⁵. According to the self-reported accidents from their preferred source, the Labour Force Survey (LFS), the HSE estimates the number of workplace falls from height over the last 10 years may be up to 425,000⁶.

Along with the lives, families and businesses affected by these accidents, up to 688,000 working days were lost through non-fatal falls from height in Great Britain in 2023/24 alone⁷.

Not only that, the total cost of falls from height last year was estimated to be over £956 million, made up of costs to the employer and the individual, government tax losses and benefit payments⁸.

Hannah Williams, Charity Manager at the No Falls Foundation, said: “Everyone who needs to work at height should be able to work safely and return home unharmed at the end of every shift. Unlike most other types of workplace injuries, the consequences of a fall from height are usually life-changing for the person involved, with many unlikely to return to their previous occupation, as well as having long-term consequences for employers, colleagues and families.

“We were delighted with the participation in No Falls Week 2024, which saw almost 2,000 companies sign up and take practical steps to raise awareness of safe working at height. Whether you work in construction, manufacturing, agriculture or any other sector, No Falls Week is an opportunity for everyone to shine a spotlight onto the mental, physical, and societal consequences of working at height accidents.

“As well as hoping to build on the success of last year, 2025 sees the launch of the No Falls Foundation Conference and Charity Ball which takes place on Thursday 15 May, during No Falls Week. The Conference will be host to a range of expert speakers and is a great opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and practical takeaways on preventing falls.”

Employers can sign up to get involved in the week-long campaign via the No Falls Week website, where there are a host of toolkits and resources from members of the Access Industry Forum (AIF) to help organisations plan activities during No Falls Week.

For further information and to sign up for No Falls Week, please visit: https://nofallsweek.org/get-involved/

For further information on the No Falls Foundation Conference and Charity Ball, visit:

https://ti.to/aims/no-falls-foundation-conference-charity-ball

Sources:

¹ APPG on Working at Height Report ‘Staying Alive: Preventing Serious Injury and Fatalities while Working at Height’:https://workingatheight.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Staying-alive.pdf

^{2 / 3 / 4} RIDDOR – Kind of accident statistic in Great Britain, 2024 

⁵ Health & Safety Executive Research Report RR528 An investigation of reporting of workplace accidents under RIDDOR using the Merseyside Accident Information Model, 2007

^{6 / 7} Labour Force Survey

⁸ HSE Costs to Britain Model

24/03/2025 – The No Falls Foundation, the first and only UK-based charity dedicated exclusively to the work at height sector, welcomes the recent announcement that the Government and regulators are set to review outdated health and safety regulations, including plans to simplify and streamline reporting of workplace accidents.

Falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace fatalities and injuries in Great Britain, accounting for 36% of all fatalities in 2023/24¹. Unlike most other types of workplace injuries, the consequences of a fall from height are usually life-changing for the person involved, with many unlikely to return to their previous occupation, as well as having long-term consequences for employers, colleagues and families.

These workplace incidents are required by law to be reported by employers through RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations), with over 5,000 non-fatal falls from height reported by employers in 2022/23² alone. The No Falls Foundation know however there is substantial underreporting of non-fatal falls from height for all workers, particularly the self-employed, who were found to report just 12% of workplace incidents³. This is most likely due to a combination of factors; a lack of awareness about what is reportable, uncertainty about who is responsible for reporting, and a perception that reporting is a burdensome task. A simplified reporting system would address these issues.

The charity has long supported a call for simplified reporting, backing the previous All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Working at Height’s recommendations to streamline reporting and make it easier for employers to report incidents when they do occur.

Peter Bennett OBE, Chair of the No Falls Foundation, said: “We fully support the Government’s plans to review the current RIDDOR reporting system and ensure businesses can comply in the most efficient way possible, and we welcome the opportunity to contribute to the consultation and review process.

“In the past, RIDDOR has proven to be a vital UK regulation aimed at improving workplace health and safety through the reporting of work-related injuries, however right now, the data collected on workplace accidents is limited.

“The implementation of a streamlined service that simplifies reporting of workplace incidents would address any shortfalls of the current system, enabling the gathering of better-quality data, reducing the administrative burden for businesses, and providing valuable insight to help make more informed decisions to keep workers safe.”

Sources

¹ HSE Work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain, 2024, https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/assets/docs/fatalinjuries.pdf

² RIDDOR – Kind of accident statistic in Great Britain, 2023 

³ Health & Safety Executive Research Report RR528 An investigation of reporting of workplace accidents under RIDDOR using the Merseyside Accident Information Model, 2007

16/05/2024 – Falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace fatalities and injuries in the UK, accounting for an alarming 30% of all deaths in 2022/2023¹.

In order to gather more comprehensive data on the underlying causes and circumstances of falls from height, the No Falls Foundation, the first and only UK-based charity devoted exclusively to the work at height sector, is embarking on the largest study of its kind in the UK to date.

Released to coincide with the charity’s safe work at height campaign, No Falls Week, the UK falls from height research study is aimed at anyone who has experienced, witnessed, or investigated falls from height.

Year on year, falls from height statistics show little improvement, with up to 425,000 non-fatal falls estimated to have occurred over the past decade².

And behind every statistic is a human story. No Falls Foundation ambassadors Jason Anker MBE, Paul Blanchard and Dylan Skelhorn’s stories serve as stark reminders of the long-term and life-changing consequences of a fall from height; mental health problems, financial worries and long-term care needs. While ‘Abbi’s Story’ highlights the wider reaching implications of loved ones. The effects for all can last a lifetime.

Along with the lives, families and businesses affected by these accidents, up to 992,000 working days were lost through non-fatal falls from height in Great Britain last year alone³.

Not only that, the total cost of falls from height in 2022/23 is estimated to be over £847 million⁴, made up of costs to the employer and the individual, government tax losses and benefit payments.

Despite statistics provided by the Health and Safety Executive and a call from industry to introduce a simplified system of reporting to more accurately reflect the cause of workplace accidents, there is still a lack of data available surrounding falls from height at work and at home.

Hannah Williams, Charity Manager at the No Falls Foundation said, “Current reporting focusses on the type of incident, as opposed to what caused it in the first place. We want to gain insight into the root cause which will inform future research projects and focus resources to prevent falls from height.

“We encourage anyone who has experienced, witnessed, or investigated a fall from height to participate in this important research survey to help us ensure everyone who works at height comes down safely.”

Take part in the UK falls from height research study: https://nofallsfoundation.org/index.php/research/study/

Sources

¹ RIDDOR – Kind of accident statistic in Great Britain, 2023
² Labour Force Survey
³ Labour Force Survey
⁴ Labour Force Survey

Taking place between 13 and 17 May 2024, No Falls Week’s mission is simple yet crucial; to raise awareness about the importance of safe working at height, prevent falls and ensure everyone that works at height comes down safely.

It is estimated over 1 million businesses, and 10 million workers, carry out work involving some form of working at height every year¹. No Falls Week will provide the opportunity for organisations across all sectors to place a focus on work at height safety.

Falls from height are consistently the leading cause of workplace fatalities in the UK, with 40 people losing their lives at work due to a fall from height in 2022-2023². Latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that falls from height were responsible for a third of all workplace deaths last year, up from a quarter the year before³.

As awful as the fatality statistics are, there are an even greater number of non-fatal injuries resulting from a fall from height, with over 5,000 people in Great Britain having been reported injured at work in 2022/23⁴. However, the No Falls Foundation know there is substantial underreporting of non-fatal falls from height for all workers, particularly the self-employed, who were found to report just 12% of workplace incidents⁵. According to the Labour Force Survey (LFS), the HSE estimates the number of workplace falls from height over the last 10 years may be up to 425,000⁶.

Along with the lives, families and businesses affected by these accidents, up to 992,000 working days were lost through non-fatal falls from height in Great Britain in 2022/23 alone⁷. Not only that, the total cost of falls from height last year was estimated to be over £847 million, made up of costs to the employer and the individual, government tax losses and benefit payments⁸.

Hannah Williams, Charity Manager at the No Falls Foundation, said: “Everyone who needs to work at height should be able to work safely and return home unharmed at the end of every shift. Unlike most other types of workplace injuries, the consequences of a fall from height are usually life-changing for the person involved, with many unlikely to return to their previous occupation, as well as having long-term consequences for employers, colleagues and families.  

“Whether you work in construction, manufacturing, agriculture or any other sector, No Falls Week is an opportunity for everyone to shine a spotlight onto the mental, physical, and societal consequences of working at height accidents.” 

Employers can sign up to get involved via the No Falls Week website, where there are a host of toolkits and resources from members of the Access Industry Forum (AIF) to help organisations plan activities during No Falls Week. This may include hosting toolbox talks, workshops or safety demonstrations, distributing informational materials, and engaging in social media campaigns. 

For further information and to sign up for No Falls Week, please visit: https://nofallsweek.org/get-involved/  

¹ APPG on Working at Height Report ‘Staying Alive: Preventing Serious Injury and Fatalities while Working at Height’:

https://workingatheight.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Staying-alive.pdf

^{2 / 3 / 4} RIDDOR – Kind of accident statistic in Great Britain, 2023 

⁵ Health & Safety Executive Research Report RR528 An investigation of reporting of workplace accidents under RIDDOR using the Merseyside Accident Information Model, 2007

^{6 / 7} Labour Force Survey

⁸ HSE Costs to Britain Model

ENDS 

For more information, please contact: 

Hannah Williams 

Charity Manager 

The No Falls Foundation 

hannah.williams@nofallsfoundation.org   

Images available for download with this release: 

No Falls Week logo  |  No Falls Week Main Banner  |  No Falls Week Slim Banner  |  Hardhat Banner  |  Hannah Williams, Charity Manager Headshot 

Notes to Editors 

About the No Falls Foundation: 

The No Falls Foundation is the charity devoted exclusively to the work at height sector. The Foundation is dedicated to preventing falls from height and helping people affected by the life-changing consequences of a fall. 

The No Falls Foundation, in partnership with stakeholders such as the Access Industry Forum (AIF), other trade associations, professional bodies and organisations who are committed to preventing falls from height, has three distinct objectives: