No Falls Week: Why Keeping People Off Ladders Has Been Our Mission for Twenty Years
Falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace fatalities in the UK, with 35 deaths recorded in 2024/25, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). These incidents have a profound impact on families, teams, and businesses. They also highlight why No Falls Week, running 18th to 22nd May, is so important. The No Falls Foundation leads this campaign to raise awareness about the risks and solutions for those who work at height.
Each year, more than a million UK businesses and around 10 million workers in Britain carry out tasks involving work at height. The risks are significant, with non-fatal injuries also a serious concern. Nearly 5,000 injuries were reported last year, although the true figure is likely higher, as many incidents go unreported, especially among the self-employed. HSE figures show that in 2023/24, up to 688,000 working days were lost and costs to businesses and society exceeded £956 million.
For those in facilities management, property maintenance, and industrial cleaning, working at height is often part of the job. We understand the daily challenges teams face when cleaning gutters, roofs, and other elevated areas, especially as safety requirements evolve.
skyVac has focused on solving these problems for twenty years. Our systems are designed to allow operators to carry out high-level cleaning while standing safely on the ground. With high-reach lightweight poles and powerful vacuum units, teams can avoid using ladders or scaffolding for most cleaning tasks. This approach not only helps businesses meet health and safety standards but also protects workers and maintains productivity.
As our Managing Director, Kate, says: “No Falls Week asks the industry an important question: how do we keep people safe when they have to work at height? Our answer, for nearly twenty years now, has been even more direct, wherever possible, don’t put them up there in the first place. Keep your feet firmly on the ground.”
A Mission With Global Reach
skyVac’s commitment to safer working at height has been our mission since day one. Today, our solutions are trusted by customers in 34 countries, supported by a global distributor network. The response to our technology at events including Interclean Amsterdam shows that this is not only a UK issue, but a global one. We continue to invest in product innovation and customer training, helping businesses around the world to keep their teams safe and productive.
The Importance of a Shared Responsibility
No Falls Week is a valuable opportunity to reflect on work-at-height safety. Everyone involved, from employers to site managers and contractors, make a difference by investing in safer equipment and reviewing their work practices. At skyVac, we are committed to providing training, reliable equipment, and ongoing support to help our customers keep their teams safe.
This week, we encourage our partners and customers to take a close look at their work-at-height procedures and consider how new technology can make their operations safer. Working together, we can reduce risks and help more people return home safely at the end of each day.
Further information about No Falls Week and practical resources on safe working at height are available from the No Falls Foundation.
Learn more about how skyVac solutions can make your business safer and more efficient: Request a demo | Speak to our experts | Explore our full product range.
