Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of serious injury and fatality across industry, despite sustained regulatory focus and widespread awareness. The issue is no longer knowing the risks. The issue is competency.
In an environment driven by compliance frameworks and certification pathways, many workers are deemed “competent” based on minimal training and limited verification. This creates a dangerous gap between knowledge and safe execution in high-risk, real-world conditions. In this session, Scott Barber, CEO of the Working at Height Association (WAHA), challenges the industry’s reliance on “ticket-based” competency and explores the systemic factors contributing to this disconnect, from constrained vocational training models to the realities of subcontracting and workforce mobility.