Why No Falls Week Matters

Prioritising People, Protecting Lives

At HF, safety is a core value that underpins everything we do. It shapes our decision-making, influences our project planning and most importantly, protects the people who make our work possible. As we observe No Falls Week, we reaffirm this commitment, because when it comes to workplace safety, especially when working at height, there is no room for complacency.

Falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace fatalities across the UK. According to the latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 50 people lost their lives in 2023/24 due to a fall from height. That accounts for 36% of all workplace deaths — a significant and deeply concerning increase from previous years (25% in 2021/22 and 30% in 2022/23).

These are not just numbers. These are people and behind each figure lies a preventable tragedy. For HF, this stark reality is a call to action. It’s why we take initiatives like No Falls Week seriously and why we place our people at the heart of every health and safety measure.

A Week That Reflects Our Everyday Commitment

No Falls Week serves as a national platform to raise awareness around the dangers of working at height and the importance of robust fall prevention strategies. It’s a moment to pause, reflect and strengthen the safety culture that already exists within responsible companies. For us at HF, it’s also an opportunity to showcase the hard work being done daily by our teams to ensure every engineer, technician and operative returns home safely.

From rope access engineers working on complex structures, to electrical and fire safety teams navigating ceiling voids, roofs, and external elevations — many of our employees regularly operate at height. That’s why our focus on fall prevention is year-round, embedded into toolbox talks, training sessions and risk assessments.

Investing in Training, Equipment, and Culture

We believe the foundation of safety is education. Every HF team member working at height receives thorough, ongoing training tailored to the latest industry standards and practices. Whether it’s harness use, ladder safety, mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) operations, or rescue planning, we ensure our people are not just qualified but confident and competent.

Our safety officers routinely conduct internal audits, site inspections and spot checks, promoting a culture where speaking up about safety is not only encouraged but expected. We’ve also invested heavily in high quality fall arrest systems, scaffolding solutions and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), ensuring no one is put in a compromising position due to lack of gear or poor planning.

Empowering Our People to Speak Up

A vital part of HF’s safety culture is our belief that everyone has the right — and the responsibility — to stop work if something doesn’t feel safe. This isn’t just a policy; it’s a principle we live by.

Our teams are empowered to flag unsafe conditions and raise concerns without fear of backlash. We believe that the best way to prevent incidents is to create a workplace where everyone, regardless of their role, feels accountable for their own safety and the safety of those around them.

HF Group is made up of real people — not just employees but individuals with families, hobbies, and futures. It’s this human element that drives our safety-first philosophy.

When we talk about “zero falls,” we’re not just chasing a statistic, we’re striving to protect the very real lives of the people we value most. No job is worth a life, and no deadline is more important than someone’s wellbeing.

“If it can’t be done safely, it shouldn’t be done at all. That’s not just a guideline — that’s our standard.”
Pat Rafferty, Health & Safety Manager

Collaboration Across Divisions

Because HF works across multiple sectors including electrical, mechanical, fire & security, telecommunications and control systems — cross-collaboration is key to reinforcing consistent safety messaging.

In our fire & security operations, engineers may be required to access roof spaces or high walls to install detectors or alarm systems. The same goes for our communications team during antenna and wireless infrastructure installations. In each case, strict height safety protocols are applied, shared, and constantly reviewed.

Lessons from the Industry

The HSE’s recent statistics are a sobering reminder that, as an industry, we all still have work to do. While technology and training have come a long way, the data clearly shows that the risk of falling from height remains a deadly hazard on UK sites.

The key takeaway? Preventing falls is not just a technical challenge; it’s a cultural one. It requires every business to nurture a mindset where safety is not an afterthought but a starting point.

As part of our commitment during No Falls Week, we are running internal refresher training sessions, hosting awareness workshops and revisiting current safety documentation to ensure everything is up to date and fit for purpose.

But more importantly, we’re encouraging all team members from apprentices to project managers to engage in honest conversations about safety. We want to know what’s working, what can improve, and how we can make working at height even safer across every division.

At HF, we don’t wait for tragedy to act. We lead with safety, because we lead with people. No Falls Week reminds us why that matters more than ever.

Let’s protect the lives behind the numbers — today, this week and every day after.