The future of low level access: Rethinking old habits

ACROSS CONSTRUCTION, facilities management, maintenance, and fitout projects, working at height, particularly at low levels, is a routine part of daily operations. For decades, organisations have relied on a mix of access methods, including ladders, podiums, scaffold, and platforms, each chosen according to the task at hand. However, as safety culture evolves and employers place greater emphasis on worker wellbeing, many are now taking a fresh look at the options available.

Modern low-level access (LLA) solutions are part of this rethink. Not necessarily to replace traditional methods, but give decisionmakers and users more choice, more control, and more opportunities to work in ways that support long term health and productivity.

The scale of the issue

Low level access tasks may feel like a standard part of daily operations, but they carry significant risk. UK data continues to show the impact.

According to "No Falls Foundation: 10-year Trend Analysis on Falls" over the last decade, an estimated 425,000 nonfatal falls from height have occurred - while Access Industry Forum commentary (which uses HSE/LFS data to estimate up to ~44,000 LFS self-reported falls and previous figures) reports that, In the 2023/24 period, approximately 37,000 people self-reported a fall-related injury at work, roughly 100 people every day. Nonfatal falls from height result in approximately 688,000 lost working days per year, costing the economy around £850 million. Falls from height can also prove fatal, and are the leading cause of death among workers, with 35 fatalities in 2024/25. 

At the same time, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), often linked to repetitive reaching, constrained posture, and manual handling, affected more than 511,000 workers in 2024/25 and led to 7.1 million lost working days. These strains have great potential to occur in environments where workers regularly access ceilings, fixtures, or plant equipment at height.

No particular type of equipment is to blame for these statistics. The causes may be multi-faceted. However, it is important to recognise that task intensity, frequency, and equipment ergonomics matter when it comes to protecting people. Modern solutions such as powered access equipment may help reduce the strain on people performing these tasks day after day, and can be useful additions to equipment fleets.

What is low-level access?

When talking about low-level access, this typically refers to a working height of 5 metres and below. This may not sound like a high elevation when compared to equipment on the market that lifts more than ten times that. However, this constitutes working at height for the purposes of safety. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guides that working at height means working anywhere where, if no precautions are taken, a worker could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury.

Falls from height are not always “freak accidents”. They more often can be a symptom of a failure to take the right measures, whether that is training, equipment choice, or operator behaviour. Falls tend to be predictable outcomes of predictable habits, like overreaching, carrying tools while climbing, or working onehanded to maintain balance.

The HSE makes its position clear. As much work as possible should be done from the ground, and advises organisations to follow a simple hierarchy of control for work at height:

1. Avoid working at height where possible
2. Prevent falls using appropriate equipment
3. Minimise the distance or consequences of a fall if one occurs.

Modern LLA solutions can support this hierarchy by providing stable, secure enclosed platforms, reducing the need to overreach or adopt awkward positions, and eliminating the need to climb in many scenarios. For instance, choosing JLG Power Towers models may help employers and site managers to take a more controlled, consistent approach to repeated routines. It offers businesses additional routes to support compliance efforts, support workforce protection , and increase flexibility in daily operations.

Designed for people, not just productivity

Today’s workforce not only expects equipment that keeps them safe, but also supports comfort, efficiency, and longterm health. Modern lowlevel access platforms have been designed with these expectations in mind.

• Designed with ergonomics in mind - JLG Power Towers LLA solutions provide space to support natural working postures, which may help reduce shoulder, wrist and back strain common in overhead and repetitive work
• A stable platform for focused working - Guardrails and enclosed platforms are designed to provide collective fall protection, supporting workers to concentrate on the job rather than maintaining balance
• Reduced climbing requirements - Many platforms are designed to reduce the need for climbing, which may help reduce the strain associated with repeated ascent and descent during busy shifts
• Space for tools and materials - Having equipment at platform height can help reduce unnecessary reaching or improvisation and supports more organised, efficient work.

Productivity may therefore be influenced by good design. When a worker feels comfortable, supported, and confident at height, the quality and consistency of their tasks may improve naturally.

None of this diminishes the ongoing role that ladders, scaffolds, or podiums have in many workplaces. Instead, it demonstrates how a broader selection of tools helps employers choose the right method for the right task, taking account of ergonomics, duration, reach, and frequency.

It helps directors, facilities management teams and health and safety professionals to create a culture that puts people first, with ways to select equipment that helps demonstrate strong risk management, aid long-term workforce wellbeing, and optimise productivity. Equipment choice becomes not simply a compliance decision, but a strategic one.

Confident to choose the best option

Changing safety culture must stem from the top. However, equipment operators have a vital role to play as well. Every worker should feel empowered to ask questions about how they complete their tasks. Installers, electricians, maintenance technicians, or anyone working at height need equipment that supports them, protects them, and enables them to produce their best work. Employees should have the confidence to ask: “Is this the best way to work at height today?” Having a choice of solutions to match the task, operator, or environment is key. 

Smart future solutions

Work at height, especially at low levels, is not going away, but the way organisations approach it continues to evolve. With a wider range of access methods, including modern lowlevel access platforms, employers can support teams with equipment that fits today’s expectations of safety, ergonomics, and productivity.

This is not about rejecting traditional methods; it is about expanding what’s possible and reducing avoidable risks. Because safety shouldn’t rely on luck, and people deserve better.

Samuel Butterworth is business development manager UK & I- LLA at JLG Power Towers (a JLG subsidiary).

For more information, visit https://www.jlg.com