March 2026 saw multiple serious HSE prosecutions highlighting ongoing failures in working at height safety, risk assessment, and supervision.
From a fatal electrocution involving a cherry picker striking an overhead powerline, to preventable falls caused by unsafe access methods, these cases reinforce a consistent message:
👉 Many incidents are avoidable with proper planning, risk assessment, and the right equipment.
In this blog, we break down the latest HSE enforcement cases, key failings identified, and what your organisation should be doing to stay compliant with the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
A tragic incident at a Devon biogas site resulted in the death of Carl Parsons, 34, and life-changing injuries to a colleague after a cherry picker struck an 11,000-volt overhead powerline.
What happened:
Key failings identified by HSE:
Outcome:
Two companies were fined following sentencing at Exeter Crown Court on 3 March 2026.
Key safety lesson:
👉 Working near overhead power lines requires strict planning, exclusion zones, and specialist guidance.
This case highlights the importance of following both HSE and IPAF guidance on MEWP use near power lines.
A worker at a Bolton bakery suffered a hip fracture after falling from height while standing on a pallet box to dispose of waste into a skip.
What happened:
HSE findings:
Outcome:
Key safety lesson:
👉 Improvised access solutions (like standing on pallets) are a major cause of workplace injuries.
Employers must ensure:
A recycling company in West Sussex was fined after an employee suffered a broken leg when falling from height while clearing a blockage.
What happened:
HSE findings:
Key safety lesson:
👉 Maintenance and cleaning tasks are high-risk and often overlooked in risk assessments.
Employers must:
Across all three cases, several recurring issues were identified:
Failure to carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments
Poor supervision and monitoring
Lack of proper training and competence
Unsafe or inappropriate equipment being used
👉 These are not complex failures; they are basic safety principles not being followed.
Under UK law, employers must:
Failure to meet these duties can result in:
To prevent similar incidents, organisations should focus on:
1. Risk assessments that reflect real tasks
Not just paperwork, but practical, task-specific planning.
2. Selecting the right equipment
Avoid improvisation. Use equipment designed for the task.
3. Training and competence
Ensure teams understand both risks and safe working methods.
4. Supervision and behaviour
Unsafe practices often develop over time, they must be actively managed.
5. Considering safer alternatives
Adopting a “Ladders Last” approach can help reduce reliance on higher-risk methods.
At HLS, we work closely with organisations to reduce risk and improve compliance across their sites.
Our support includes:
✔ Site surveys and risk assessments
Identify hazards and recommend compliant access solutions
✔ Equipment selection and supply
From low-level access platforms to MEWPs and alternatives to ladders
✔ Training and certification (IPAF approved)
Ensure your teams are competent and compliant
✔ Maintenance, inspections and LOLER compliance
Keep equipment safe, legal, and operational
✔ Ongoing support and advice
Helping you embed safer working practices long-term
📄 Download the HLS Working at Height Expert Guide to access practical advice, best practices, and compliance guidance.
Or get in touch to discuss how we can support your site with safer, more efficient working at height solutions.