When we talk about working at height safety, most conversations naturally focus on equipment, inspections, training, and compliance.
But after attending the No Falls Conference last year, one thing that really stayed with us was how much pressure, stress, fatigue, and workplace culture influence the decisions people make every day on site.
It made us reflect on how closely mental wellbeing and safety culture are actually connected.
Because in reality, many unsafe behaviours do not happen because somebody intentionally wants to work unsafely.
More often, they happen when people are:
In industries involving working at height, those moments can have serious consequences.
At HLS, this is something we have also explored in our HLS Working at Height Expert Guide 2026, which shares practical guidance around safer planning, risk assessments, rescue procedures, equipment selection, and creating stronger safety cultures in practice
Most adults spend a large proportion of their lives at work, meaning the workplace can have a huge impact on mental wellbeing.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), around 964,000 UK workers experienced work-related stress, depression, or anxiety during 2024/25, resulting in 22.1 million lost working days.
At the same time, falls from height continue to be one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities worldwide.
At HLS, this is something that really made us reflect after attending the No Falls Conference.
One of the biggest takeaways from the event was that many serious incidents are not simply caused by a lack of knowledge. They are often influenced by human factors such as stress, fatigue, pressure, poor communication, and unsafe behaviours gradually becoming normalised.
When people are mentally overloaded or rushing, unsafe shortcuts can start to feel easier to justify.
Sometimes that may look like:
Have you ever seen unsafe shortcuts slowly become accepted as “normal” in workplaces?
At HLS, we strongly believe that policies and paperwork alone do not create safe workplaces.
Safety culture is what shapes everyday decisions and behaviours on site.
A positive safety culture creates environments where people feel comfortable:
Because when people feel under constant pressure, shortcuts can quickly become part of the workplace culture.
We regularly see situations where:
Over time, these situations can influence behaviours without people fully realising the risks.
We think most people in industry have probably heard phrases like:
But these mindsets can slowly shape unsafe habits if they are not challenged.
That is why creating environments where people feel comfortable speaking up is such an important part of improving both wellbeing and safety.
One thing we regularly discuss at HLS is how much proper planning can reduce both stress and risk.
Clear:
remove uncertainty before the task even begins.
When workers understand:
they are less likely to improvise under pressure.
Good planning also sends an important message:
that working safely matters more than rushing.
Because when people feel supported and prepared, they are far more likely to make safer decisions.
At HLS, we also see how much the right equipment can influence confidence and behaviour on site.
Providing suitable, well-maintained equipment is not just about compliance.
It reduces:
This is why:
play such an important role in safety culture.
Sometimes small unresolved equipment issues slowly become accepted as “good enough” until they create much bigger problems later.
And when equipment is unavailable or poorly maintained, pressure often increases elsewhere on site.
We believe good training does far more than tick a compliance box.
It gives people confidence.
Training should not only focus on operating equipment safely, but also:
Because safety is not just technical, it is behavioural too.
Good training also reinforces that speaking up should never be viewed negatively.
Asking questions or stopping unsafe work should be encouraged, not criticised.
Mental Health Awareness Week is a reminder that creating safer workplaces is not about one awareness campaign or poster.
It is about everyday actions and behaviours.
Sometimes the biggest improvements come from simple things:
At HLS, we believe wellbeing and safety go hand in hand.
Because when people feel supported, listened to, and properly prepared, they are more likely to make safer decisions.
One thing the No Falls Conference really reminded us is that behind every safety statistic is a real person, a family, and a future affected by those decisions.
Falls from height continue to be one of the leading causes of workplace injuries and fatalities.
At HLS, we believe safer workplaces are built through:
Because ultimately, everyone deserves to go home safe and well at the end of the day.
What do you think organisations still need to improve when it comes to wellbeing and safety culture?