Working at Height

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 provides a legal framework to protect people where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury.  The regulations define that a place is “at height” if a person could be injured falling from above, at or below ground level, for example, using a step stool, a step ladder, Mobile Elevating Work Platform, or undertaking roof work/fragile surfaces.

The regulations place duties on employers, and those who control any Work at Height activity (such as Facilities managers, or others who may contract others to work at height), who therefore have a responsibility to manage and minimise the risks from work activities, identify hazards and assess the risks, and put in place actions to prevent and control these risks and review them regularly.

All Work at Height activities must be clearly identified and, wherever possible, working at height should be avoided.  It is a requirement of the regulations that work should not be undertaken at height where it is reasonably practicable to carry out the work safely otherwise than at height.

Regular inspection of places of work at height should be undertaken. The regulations clearly state that:  ‘Every employer shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure that the surface and every parapet, permanent rail or other such fall protection measure of every place of work at height are checked on each occasion before the place is used’.

All Work at Height activities must be properly planned and organised, forming part of a risk assessment and safe system of work process.   Weather conditions must also be considered before commencing any work at height that is undertaken outside.