Working at Height

Working at Height Regulations 2005

The Regulations apply to all work at height.

Work at Height means any work at any height where there is risk of a fall that is liable to cause personal injury.

The Regulations place duties on employers, the self-employed and any person who controls the work of others (such as facilities managers or building owners who may contract others to work at height).

As part of the Regulations, dutyholders must ensure:

the risks from work at height are assessed
all work at height is properly planned and organised
those involved in work at height are competent
appropriate work equipment is selected and used
the risks of working on or near fragile surfaces are properly managed
equipment used for work at height is properly inspected and maintained

There is a simple hierarchy for managing work at height and selecting the appropriate access equipment.

Dutyholders must:

Falls from height account for a substantional per centage of reportable three-day accidents.

There is no longer a "2 meter" rule. Work at height is defined by the possible consequences of the fall, not the height at which the work is being done. However, as the HSE put it "it is important that a sensible and pragmatic approach is taken when managing the risk of low falls. Precautions should only be taken when the scope and duration of the work presents a risk of injury. If the risk is trivial, and it is not reasonably practical to take precautions, then no action needs to be taken apart from training and instruction. "

At whatever height, employers are required to conduct a Work at Height Risk Assessment and to introduce the approprite control measures to prevent accidents. Some of the simplest measures can be the most effective.

We will conduct a working at height safety audit at your workplace for £125 to identify areas and activities of concern and existing control measures. We will then work with you to develop safe systems of work for working at height at a cost that you can afford based upon a written quote agreed in advance.

Please contact us to book an appointment. See the areas we serve.

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Quick Guides are not intended to be a full statement of the Law.
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Contains public sector information published by the Health and Safety Executive under the Open Government Licence