Working at Height

Working at heights encompasses any type of work involving differences in level that pose a risk of injury due to falls. Such activities are common in many sectors including construction, forestry, energy, cleaning, and maintenance. In particular, the construction sector is one of the areas where risks associated with working at heights are most frequently observed, due to the increasing number of tall structures and complex work processes.

Accidents and Statistical Findings

A significant proportion of workplace accidents in the construction sector originate from working at heights. In Türkiye in 2018, 80.9% of all workplace accidents occurred in construction, and 56.7% of these accidents resulted in fatalities due to falls from height. Research has shown that even falls from less than two meters result in serious injuries in 74% of cases. This demonstrates that the definition of working at heights is not limited solely to high elevations.

Factors Leading to Falls from Height

The causes of falls from height are generally categorized under four main headings:

• Direct Factors: Lack of personal protective equipment, use of inappropriate equipment, environmental conditions, and individual awareness levels.
• Organizational Factors: Inadequate training, insufficient management and supervision, and planning errors.
• Corporate Factors: Insufficient company culture and occupational safety policies.
• Environmental Factors: Inadequate regulations, sectoral implementation differences, and social perceptions.

Compliance with Inspection and Standards

In inspections related to working at heights in the construction sector, non-compliance with regulations is observed in many areas beyond the use of personal protective equipment. Significant deficiencies exist in equipment quality, cleanliness and order, worker behavior, and management activities. This situation stems from both workers and employers failing to give adequate importance to relevant standards.

Technological Approaches and Risk Reduction

The integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM), Extended Reality (XR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies aims to reduce risks associated with working at heights. These technologies enable more effective modeling of work areas, digitalization of occupational safety processes, and optimization of inspection activities.

Additionally, the integration of technologies such as digital twins, photogrammetry, drones, and computer vision into occupational safety practices holds significant potential for substantially reducing the risk of falls from height.

Sectoral Practices and Lack of Training

Risks associated with working at heights are also common in the forestry sector. Tree climbing for pruning and maintenance tasks carries high risks of falls, injuries, and fatalities. Workers in this field are typically untrained individuals who have learned through experience. The performance of high-risk procedures such as chainsaw use by untrained personnel increases the likelihood of workplace accidents. Studies using risk assessment matrices indicate that training is essential to support the use of ergonomic equipment, safe climbing techniques, and personal protective equipment.