As October draws to a close, our latest HLS Safety Update outlines practical steps businesses can take to reduce risk, keep access equipment safe, and prepare for changing conditions. Recent HSE prosecutions remind us why careful planning, suitable equipment and awareness of surrounding hazards are essential when working at height.
In this issue, we explore the latest fatal injury statistics, lessons from two HSE cases and the importance of pre-use equipment checks. We also look ahead to November, with considerations for festive installations and end-of-year maintenance.
Plus, catch up on the latest HLS news, including our upcoming Ho Ho Hugo Christmas Giveaway, our visit to Healthcare Estates Conference, Exhibition and Awards 2026 and a spotlight on the pre-owned Haulotte Star 10.
Falls from height remain the most common cause of fatal injuries to workers in Great Britain. Over the five years from 2021/22 to 2025/26, they caused an average of 37 worker deaths each year, including 19 in construction. They accounted for more than half of all construction worker fatalities during this period.
A recent prosecution highlights the failures behind one such death. Richard “Felix” Roper, a 59-year-old carpenter and father of two, died after falling through an unsafe first floor during refurbishment work in Gloucestershire. Sections of flooring had been removed, leaving open gaps, while some floor joists were missing or unsecured.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Gloucestershire Police found that the work had not been properly planned, appropriately supervised or carried out safely. Workers could access areas where flooring and structural supports had been removed, without sufficient measures to prevent a fall. W G Carter Limited was fined £120,000.
Following the incident, the company introduced a safer method: installing floor joists from below using suitable access equipment and preventing access to the first floor while the work took place. HSE stated that appropriate controls could have prevented Felix’s death.
This case should prompt employers to look closely at their own arrangements. Where work changes the condition of a floor or structure, the risks can change as the job progresses. Those risks must be controlled before anyone is exposed to them.
Employers should consider:
For a wider look at the figures and the lessons for employers, read our HSE Workplace Fatality Statistics 2025/26 blog.
Safe work at height also means identifying hazards around the task. A second prosecution shows the devastating consequences of failing to assess the risks from overhead power lines.
Connor Lambert, a 24-year-old trainee painter, was fatally electrocuted while moving a fully extended ladder with a colleague at a domestic property near Chester. The ladder either contacted an overhead power line or came close enough for an electrical arc to form. His colleague suffered burns to his hands, feet and stomach.
An HSE investigation found that the work had not been properly planned, supervised or carried out safely. Equipment and working methods were unsuitable, electrical risks had not been adequately assessed or controlled, and investigators identified issues with training and competence.
Connor’s stepfather was the painter and decorator responsible for the work. He received a suspended prison sentence.
Connor and his partner were expecting their first child. Their daughter was born just 23 days after his death. He never had the chance to hold her, and she will grow up without her own father.
Both prosecutions reveal the same fundamental failures in planning and supervision. Seeing these failings repeated is deeply concerning, particularly when the consequences extend across families and generations.
For employers, the question is immediate: have you checked that the equipment, working methods and supervision in place will protect your workers from every foreseeable hazard?
Access equipment may appear ready to use, but damage, wear or faults are not always immediately obvious.
Carrying out a MEWP pre-use inspection help identify potential problems before equipment is put into operation.
Depending on the equipment and manufacturer's instructions, checks may include:
Pre-use inspections should always follow the manufacturer's instructions and be appropriate for the equipment being used.
Remember: If equipment is found to be unsafe, it should not be used until the issue has been appropriately addressed.
Download our HLS MEWP Pre-Use Inspection Checklist
Christmas is getting closer, and Ho Ho Hugo is bringing an early treat! 🎅
Our Christmas giveaway launches on Thursday 5th November 2026, offering the chance to win one month’s FREE hire of an HLS Hugo Lift.
Fancy getting a little extra before the giveaway begins?
Register your interest now to receive exclusive access 24 hours before the official launch, plus a bonus entry into the giveaway.
You will also have another opportunity when the giveaway launches to earn an additional bonus entry by referring a colleague from your business or another organisation.
🎁 Register your interest in Ho Ho Hugo
Want to see Hugo in action? Discover how it is helping behind the scenes at the Hazlitt Theatre and share the story with a colleague who could use a lift!
🎭 Read and share the Hazlitt Theatre case study
This October, the HLS team visited the Healthcare Estates Conference, Exhibition & Awards 2026, bringing together professionals from across healthcare engineering, estates, and facilities management.
This year’s theme, “Mind the Gap: Are We Heading Towards a Two-Tier Estate?” explored the divide between healthcare estates and the challenges of providing facilities that meet the needs of patients and staff. The event offered opportunities to share knowledge and explore practical solutions for the sector.
For HLS, attending as visitors was an opportunity to learn more about the challenges facing healthcare estates teams and connect with professionals from across the industry.
We support healthcare and facilities management organisations with access equipment for maintenance, inspections and working at height. This includes helping teams take a Ladders Last approach, reviewing existing practices, and identifying suitable alternatives.
In one of many NHS hospitals, HLS introduced the Hugo Lift to help the facilities team move away from steps and ladders. Its compact design allowed it to move through confined spaces and passenger lifts, supporting safer and more efficient maintenance with minimal disruption to patients and staff.
Discover how Hugo supports hospital facilities maintenance
Find out more about Healthcare Estates 2026
Pre-Owned Equipment Spotlight: Haulotte Star 10
Need to work at height where space is tight? Our pre-owned Haulotte Star 10 could be the solution.
Its compact design makes it a practical option for accessing areas where space is limited, helping your team tackle a range of maintenance and working at height tasks.
Available through HLS for outright purchase or contract rental, it offers a cost-effective way to add access equipment to your operations, with flexibility to suit your business.
Want a closer look? Keep an eye out for our upcoming Star 10 content, where we will explore its features and show how they could support tasks on your site.
Take a look at our pre-owned Haulotte Star 10
With November approaching, now is a suitable time to consider how changing conditions could affect your upcoming work at height.
The Met Office’s long-range forecast suggests a settled start to November, with fog and chilly nights possible, followed by an increased chance of rain and intense winds later in the month. Local conditions will vary, so keep checking forecasts as work approaches.
Whether you are putting up Christmas decorations, installing festive displays, or completing end-of-year maintenance, planning can help keep tasks safe and on schedule.
HLS can help you explore suitable access equipment for your site, supporting everything from putting up decorations to completing those final maintenance jobs before the Christmas break.
Speak to HLS about your access requirements
From selecting suitable access equipment to providing specialist training and practical safety resources, HLS is here to help businesses plan and carry out work at height safely.
Whether you are planning an upcoming task or reviewing your working at height arrangements, the HLS team can help you explore suitable solutions for your business.
Get in touch to discuss your working at height requirements
Helping you work safely, confidently, and efficiently at height.
Have a Happy Halloween! 🎃