Safety in Focus: Centreco’s Lifesaving Approach to Working at Height

In support of No Falls Week, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness and reduce falls from height, Centreco is spotlighting the role of rigorous safety protocols and a strong culture of care in preventing incidents before they occur.

At Centreco, safety is more than policy, it’s a culture, and it’s embedded into every decision made on-site.

Working at Height: Safety by Design

Centreco adheres strictly to the Working at Height Hierarchy of Control, tailoring our approach to suit the variety of roof profiles and working environments our teams encounter. Whether it’s a steep apex or a low-pitch structure, collective edge protection, such as certified scaffolding, robust guardrails, and toe board, is a non-negotiable requirement before any work begins.

All activities are underpinned by:

• Thorough planning led by Project Managers who ensure competent personnel and sound site preparation.
• On-site leadership by Supervisors / Team Leaders who carry out pre-use, in progress and post-task inspections.
• Trained operatives empowered to stop work if conditions aren’t safe.
• A dedicated internal HSE Team to support in the planning and mitigation of risks from height

Our rooftop edge protection systems are installed by competent persons to meet BS EN 13374:2013 standards, and we work exclusively with approved scaffolding and access partners to maintain consistency and integrity in edge protection design and more generally for fall protection and safe access for working at height across our projects

Listening to Our Teams

Continuous improvement is at the heart of our approach. We regularly gather feedback from site teams who report feeling significantly safer with the evolving standards. Many have shared that improvements to edge protection, clear procedural guidance, and site-specific planning have not only reduced risk but improved morale and confidence while working at height.

Safety Is the Starting Point

We’ve also introduced innovations such as QR code-based hazard reporting, enabling quick and easy escalation of potential issues on-site. Every submission is tracked and reviewed, with clear accountability assigned to ensure timely follow-up and close-out by management. This not only improves visibility but strengthens our culture of accountability and shared responsibility across all levels of the organisation.

At Centreco, the message is simple and firm: If the safety measures aren’t in place, the work doesn’t start. This principle (the Certas Energy Safety 1^st Vision Zero framework) has prevented countless potential incidents, reinforcing that a proactive approach to safety protects both people and projects.

Throughout No Falls Week, Centreco is proud to stand alongside industry peers in promoting greater awareness of working at height risks. We’re using this opportunity to drive targeted conversations across our sites, distribute updated safety materials, and reinforce critical behaviours through toolbox talks and engagement activities. By aligning with the resources and messaging from the official campaign—available at https://www.nofallsweek.org—we’re strengthening our ongoing commitment to safety and prevention.