Businesses are not taking proper precautions to prevent accidents at work despite 'Working at Height' regulations passed a year ago, according to a leading insurer.

Norwich Union warns that firms are setting themselves up for a fall by not adhering to the laws which make managers responsible for assessing risk, avoiding work at height where possible, maintaining equipment properly and taking measures to prevent falls.

It is not only builders who work on roofing and scaffolding at risk, as Norwich research shows that falls frequently involve people working in other careers such as decorating, building and farming.

"Our own files reveal the human cost of falls, and often from unlikely places," revealed Phil Grace from Norwich Union.

"Painters and decorators fall from ladders more often than people would imagine, and the resulting broken ankles and wrists can put workers out of action permanently.

"And on farms, it has become common for people to be lifted up using pallets or potato boxes balanced on fork lift trucks, which is clearly unsuitable."

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is actively investigating and pursuing claims like this and are able to issue prohibition and improvement notices to those businesses who breach regulations.