A sector watchdog is recommending that employees who work at height, such as painters, decorators and builders, should be safeguarded from falls.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is calling for firms to implement strict safety precautions to prevent workers from falling off structures such as scaffolding, which may apply to liability insurance customers.
According to the organisation, it is important that all tower scaffolds are erected and dismantled correctly and that guard rails are fitted as a further safeguard.
Russell Beckett, an inspector for the HSE, commented: "All too often tower scaffolds are used incorrectly without the correct handrails. All working platforms must be provided with suitable edge protection. Guard rails should be at least 950mm high and an intermediate guard rail should be provided."
The warning comes after HSE inspector Melvin Stancliffe recently pointed to recent statistics released by the watchdog which show that 32 workers died after falls from height in 2007-08, which illustrates the need for painters and decorators liability insurance.