Working at height is often associated with tall structures, rooftops, or large scaffolding towers. Yet some of the most serious incidents happen much closer to the ground. Across maintenance, engineering, and industrial environments, one belief continues to put people at risk:
“It’s only a couple of metres… It’s low risk.”
This mindset leads to rushed jobs, untrained workers and the most common shortcut of all: ladders. They are familiar, quick to grab and widely misused. But at 2–3 metres, the margin for error is almost zero, and the consequences are far greater than most teams expect.
The Myth: Low Height Means Low Risk
A recent research article illustrates the danger clearly. As it states, “Over 30 percent of fatalities from falls at height are from 3 metres or below.”
These incidents happen because workers underestimate the task. Safety gear is skipped. Ladders become the default. And the mindset becomes “I’ll just get this done.”
At two metres, a fall takes less than a second. Reflexes cannot respond. A slip, a shift or a misstep is all it takes for a fall that can lead to:
- Fractures
- Spinal injuries
- Head trauma
- Permanent disability
- Fatal impact
Low height is not low consequence. It is simply less room to recover.
Ladders: The Hidden Risk Multiplier
Most low-height injuries involve ladders being used as working platforms. The common patterns are the same across industries:
- Workers carrying tools while climbing
- Overreaching
- Ladders slipping on oily or uneven floors
- Using steps or frames as makeshift platforms
- No guardrails, no stability and no protection
A ladder forces the worker into a position with limited movement, no fall protection and poor ergonomics. The risk comes from exposure, not height.
The Real Cost of a Two-Metre Fall
A “shortfall” can trigger long-term disruption:
Direct Costs:
- Medical care
- Compensation
- Recovery time
- Compliance investigations
Indirect Costs:
- Downtime
- Machine stoppages
- Emergency contractor call-outs
- Delayed maintenance
- Loss of confidence across the team
One incident can exceed the annual cost of proper access equipment.
Solving Low-Height Safety Risks with the LOBO System
Maintenance teams carry out a huge amount of work at 2–3 metre: running cables, accessing machinery, inspecting equipment, and completing mechanical or electrical repairs. Because these tasks appear “low risk”, ladders often become the default choice. Outsourced scaffolding is slow, costly, and disruptive, so teams regularly take shortcuts to keep work moving.
This is exactly where the LOBO System delivers a safer, smarter, and more controlled alternative.
The Real Challenge
The misconception that “low height means low risk” exposes workers to unnecessary danger. Ladders are commonly used as work platforms, limiting stability and offering no fall protection. When reactive scaffolding is required, maintenance schedules stall and downtime increases.
The result is a cycle of risk, delays, and avoidable cost.
How LOBO Solves It
LOBO replaces unsafe ladder practices and slow scaffold deployment with a modular, tool-free system designed for rapid, safe, in-house access.
Teams gain:
- Enclosed working platforms with guardrails
- Stable footing for confident two-handed working
- Configurable height and shape for restricted or complex spaces
- Rapid assembly without external contractors
- A safer access solution for both low and elevated tasks
LOBO ensures maintenance can be carried out efficiently and safely, whenever it’s needed, wherever it’s needed.
Organisations using LOBO consistently report:
- Fewer near misses
- Reduced injuries
- Better compliance
- Lower downtime
- Significant cost savings
Low Height Still Requires High Safety Standards
Research highlights that over 30 percent of fall-from-height fatalities occur from three metres or below. This reinforces a simple truth: if a worker can fall far enough to hit the ground, the risk is real.
LOBO directly tackles this risk by replacing ladders and improvised access with a certified, enclosed, engineered platform that keeps employees protected at every stage of the job.
Protect Your Workforce. Protect Your Operation. Protect Your Future.
Safe access makes all the difference, whether the job is two metres off the ground or twenty.
LOBO delivers:
- Stable, compliant access
- Full guardrail protection
- Rapid deployment by your own team
- Safe maintenance in any environment
- A proven reduction in fall risks
With LOBO, maintenance teams stay safe, productive, and in control, no matter the height.