Autumn has arrived, bringing changes that can affect how safely work is planned and carried out. Shorter daylight hours can reduce visibility, while wetter weather can create slippery surfaces and changing ground conditions can introduce additional risks. Stronger winds can also make work at height more hazardous by affecting the stability of equipment, materials and workers, particularly when using MEWPs or working on exposed platforms. These seasonal changes highlight the importance of reviewing risks and adapting working practices as conditions change.
That raises an important question:
Would the risk assessment you completed for a task in July still accurately reflect the conditions your team could face in October?
In our September Safety Update, we look at two recent HSE cases, consider when working at height risk assessments should be reviewed, explore how changing autumn conditions can affect existing safety plans, and share recent safety insights from IPAF and IOSH.
Recent HSE cases can provide valuable lessons for workplaces, helping us understand what went wrong and consider how similar risks could be identified and managed on our own sites.
A 24-year-old labourer sustained serious spinal injuries after stepping backwards through an unprotected stairwell opening at a construction site in Sowerby Bridge.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the opening had not been securely covered, and its edges were unprotected. The house builder was fined £300,000 following the HSE investigation.
Why does it matter?
Working at height does not only mean somebody standing on a ladder, scaffold or MEWP.
A fall through an opening in a floor or from an exposed edge can present a serious fall from height risk.
In this case, the task itself may not immediately have appeared to involve working at heigh, but the environment surrounding the worker exposed them to a significant fall hazard.
What can you do?
Before work starts, take a moment to assess the task and the surrounding area. Ask:
Our HLS Work at Height Risk Assessment Form can help you identify hazards and consider the controls needed for the specific task.
Key takeaway: Fall prevention starts before the working at height task begins.
In a separate case, a worker sustained life-changing injuries after a crate weighing approximately 1.2 tonnes fell from a forklift truck during an unloading operation.
The HSE found that the operation had not been adequately assessed, planned, or supervised, including whether the forklift was suitable for the load.
The company was fined £230,000.
Why does it matter?
Loading and unloading may be a familiar part of day-to-day operations, but an unusual load, different equipment or a change in the usual process can introduce new risks.
What can you do?
Before lifting begins, take time to assess the load, equipment and surrounding area. Ask:
If the task is unusual or conditions have changed, reassess the risks rather than treating the lift as routine.
Key takeaway: Do not treat a non-standard lift like a routine task.
Although these two incidents involved different equipment, environments and activities, they highlight a similar lesson: a task can become unsafe when the original plan no longer reflects what is actually happening on site.
Before work continues, it is worth asking:
Taking a few moments to check that the plan still matches the reality of the task can help identify risks before work begins.
Our HLS Work at Height Checklist can help you review areas including equipment, training, rescue planning and safe working procedures.
Download the HLS Work at Height Checklist
Would you carry out the same task in October exactly as you did in July?
For some tasks, the answer may be yes. However, as the season changes, the conditions surrounding the task may not be the same. This makes autumn a useful time to check whether existing risk assessments and working practices still reflect what is happening on site.
Lighting and visibility
Shorter daylight hours can mean tasks that were previously carried out in good natural light now take place in lower visibility. Consider whether work areas, access routes and potential hazards are still clearly visible at the start and end of a shift, and whether additional lighting may be needed.
Wet and changing ground conditions
Rain, fallen leaves and mud can make walkways, access routes and work areas slippery or uneven. These conditions may also affect where access equipment can be positioned safely.
Indoors, wet or dirty floors can introduce additional slip risks as people and equipment move between areas. Suitable floor care equipment can help keep busy workplace surfaces clean and safe throughout the wetter months.
Wind and weather
Wind can significantly affect the safety of work at height, particularly when using MEWPs or working with materials at height. Work should be postponed if weather conditions pose a danger to health or safety. Always monitor wind speed with an anemometer and check that it does not exceed the equipment’s wind rating. If conditions change during the task, stop and reassess before continuing.
Equipment condition
Seasonal changes are a good opportunity to check that equipment remains suitable for the task and environment. Pre-use checks, inspections and planned maintenance should be up to date, with any defects identified and addressed before equipment is used.
A change in season does not necessarily mean a change of equipment, but it does mean checking that the equipment remains appropriate for the conditions.
People and supervision
Workers need the appropriate training to use equipment safely, but managers and supervisors also have an important role when conditions change. Teams should know what to look out for, when to raise a concern and when a task should be paused and reassessed.
Ultimately, the question is not simply whether the task has changed. It is whether the original plan still works in the conditions your team faces today.
Are Electrical Hazards Being Considered Before Your MEWP Leaves the Ground?
In September, the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) hosted a live webinar exploring findings from its Global Safety Report 2026. The report examines serious and fatal incidents reported to IPAF involving powered access equipment.
One of the significant areas highlighted was electrocution and electric shock involving powered access.
For businesses using MEWPs, the findings reinforce the importance of identifying nearby electrical hazards before selecting equipment, positioning a machine or beginning work.
Before work starts, consider:
Watch the IPAF Global Safety Report 2026 webinar
In this month's IOSH online seminar, speakers from Peoplesafe and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust explored what can happen when employees feel unsafe at work, but do not report their concerns.
Workers may quietly adapt the way they work to protect themselves. For example, they might:
As one speaker explained, self-protection can become part of the job without the organisation necessarily being aware of it.
This may be particularly relevant for people who:
These changes in behaviour matter because a worker may recognise that something does not feel right but still feel pressure to continue with the task. Employers should make it clear when and how workers can stop, seek support and report a concern.
What can you do?
Make sure workers know who to contact and how to report incidents, near misses and situations that simply felt unsafe. Look for patterns in those reports and review whether the measures you have put in place are working.
Clear procedures are important, but so is creating a workplace where people feel comfortable using them.
Key takeaway: You do not have to wait for an incident to find out that someone feels unsafe.
Alongside this month’s safety insights, there have also been several updates from HLS.
We are pleased to share that HLS has achieved IPAF Rental+ certification following our audit.
The standard is designed to give customers assurance throughout the powered access hire process.
Want to find out more? Read our LinkedIn post about achieving IPAF Rental+ certification and what this means for our customers.
For customers, it provides additional assurance around the processes and standards behind the rental service rather than focusing only on the machine being supplied.
If you are planning an upcoming hire, our team can help you consider the working height, environment, access restrictions and tasks before selecting suitable equipment.
Contact our HLS team to discuss your access requirements.
Pre-owned equipment can provide another route for businesses looking to expand an existing fleet, replace ageing machinery or secure equipment for an ongoing application.
When comparing machines, consider:
Our team can help you consider your requirements and identify suitable options from our available pre-owned range.
View HLS pre-owned access equipment
Operators play an important role in using powered access safely, but they are not the only people who influence how MEWP operations are planned and carried out.
Managers and supervisors may be responsible for:
IPAF MEWPs for Managers training is designed for those who plan, supervise or manage the use of MEWPs in the workplace.
Find out more about our IPAF MEWPs for Managers Training.
Our annual Ho Ho Hugo giveaway returns this November, giving UK businesses the chance to win one month's free HLS Hugo Lift hire.
The giveaway officially opens to the public on 5th November 2026, but you do not have to wait until then.
Register your interest, and you will get access to enter the giveaway one day early, on 4th November, before entries open to everyone else.
Be one of the first to enter this year's Ho Ho Hugo giveaway.
Register your interest in Ho Ho Hugo
The HSE cases and wider safety discussions featured in this month's update highlight a common theme: safe working depends on making sure the plan reflects what is actually happening on site. Whether it is changing weather, equipment selection, electrical hazards or workers feeling unsafe, changes should be recognised and acted on.
A familiar task should not automatically become an automatic task.
Before the next task begins, take a moment to consider:
HLS supports organisations with powered access, materials handling and floor care equipment, alongside training, servicing and working at height support.
Planning work at height?
Download the HLS Work at Height Risk Assessment Template.
Want to review your working at height arrangements?
Explore our HLS Work at Height Checklist.
Need support with equipment, training or working at height?
Contact the HLS team to discuss your requirements.