Falling between levels

Falling between levels is its own registered hazard type — falls of over 300mm from windows, balconies, walkways or stairwells. It shares its capture module with falls on the level and falls on stairs, but is scored, triaged and reported as a distinct hazard.

What it is

GOV.UK’s own emergency examples for this hazard are specific: a broken window lock in a high-rise flat with young children present, or loose external railings on a third-floor walkway. The window-restrictor and drop-height/landing-surface fields on the shared Falls card carry most of the weight for this profile. It is a Phase 2 hazard: capturable in full today, with its statutory clock not yet commenced except where a case is judged an emergency.

How to do it

1. On the Falls card, record window restrictor presence and whether they’re working — this is the field that matters most for this hazard.
2. Record the measured drop height and landing-surface hardness for any relevant window, balcony, walkway or stairwell edge.
3. Record any other hazards observed relevant to a fall between levels — a loose railing or an unprotected edge, for example.
4. Complete Hazard Triage, citing the household’s own vulnerabilities — GOV.UK specifically names under-5s alongside mobility and sensory impairment for this hazard.

How it integrates

All three falls hazard types share one AI preset (housing-falls): image analysis restates only what’s visible — a window restrictor issue, an open drop or unprotected edge, missing or defective guarding — never a drop-height measurement or a fall-likelihood judgement, which stays yours. The finished record uses the “Falls Hazard Assessment Report” template. Everyday trips unrelated to a building defect are explicitly out of GOV.UK’s scope.

Common problems

• I only see one “Falls” section for three hazard types. Expected — the capture module is shared, but each survey is scored and reported against the single falls profile chosen for that job.
• There’s no due date on this job. Expected while Phase 2 remains unconfirmed, except for an emergency-severity case.
• A defect involves a staircase, not a window or balcony. Falling on stairs etc. is likely the more accurate hazard type for that defect.