Working at height

Working at height remains one of the biggest causes of fatalities and major injuries. Common cases include falls from ladders and through fragile roofs.  

Work at height means work in any place, including at or below ground level (for example in underground workings), where a person could fall a distance liable to cause injury.

This section shows how employers can take simple, practical measures to reduce the risk of any of their workers falling while working at height.

What do I have to do?

You must make sure that all work at height is properly planned, supervised and carried out by people who are competent (someone who has the skills, knowledge and experience) to do the job. This must include the use of the right type of access equipment.

To prevent or minimise risk when planning for work at height, consider what needs to be done and take a sensible, risk-based approach to identify suitable precautions.

Control measures

There is a simple hierarchy of control measures (as described below) which you should follow to minimise the risk of a fall from height. The hierarchy should be followed systematically and only when one level is not reasonably practicableThis means balancing the level of risk against the measures needed to control the risk in terms of money, time or trouble. The decision is weighted in favour of health and safety so that the measures are adopted unless they are grossly disproportionate. may the next level be considered.

Those in control of the work need to:

• avoid work at height where they can
• use work equipment to prevent falls where work at height cannot be avoided
• where the risk of a fall cannot be eliminated, use work equipment to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall if one occurs
• always consider measures that protect all those at risk, ie collective protection measures (scaffolds, nets, soft landing systems) before measures that only protect the individual, ie personal protection measures (a harness)

Dos and don’ts of working at height

Do….

• make sure the surface/access equipment in use is stable and strong enough to support the worker’s weight and that of any equipment. Any edge protection should be wide enough and strong enough to prevent a fall
• as much work as possible from the ground or partly from the ground, for example assemble structures on the ground and lift them into position with lifting equipment
• take precautions when working on or near fragile surfaces, eg an asbestos cement roof, to prevent a fall or to minimise the distance and consequences in the event of a fall
• ensure workers can get safely to and from where they want to work at height and also consider emergency evacuation and rescue procedures
• make sure everyone involved is competent to do the work they are responsible for, including those who plan and organise it
• choose the most appropriate equipment for the type of work being done and how often it will be used
• provide protection from falling objects
• make sure equipment used for work at height is well maintained and inspected regularly

Don’t…

• overload ladders – the person and anything they are taking up should not exceed the highest load stated on the ladder
• overreach on ladders or stepladders – keep your belt buckle (navel) inside the stiles and both feet on the same rung throughout the task
• use ladders or stepladders if the nature of the work is deemed to be ‘heavy’ or if the task will take longer than thirty minutes or so to complete
• use ladders if workers cannot maintain three points of contact (hands and feet) at the working position. If this is not possible, consider an alternative safe system of work
• let anyone who is not competent (someone who doesn’t have the skills, knowledge and experience to do the job) carry out work at height  

Find out more

• HSE's falls from height website
• WAIT (Work at height Access equipment Information Toolkit) shows you some possible solutions for avoiding falls