Falls from height remain a major workplace hazard. HSE’s provisional 2025/26 figures record 31 worker deaths from falls from height in Great Britain. A suitable risk assessment identifies where someone could fall, who could be harmed and how the work can be done safely. This guide explains the hierarchy of controls, equipment selection, recording and review under the Great Britain regulations; Northern Ireland has separate equivalent rules.
- 31 worker deaths from falls from height in Great Britain in provisional 2025/26 HSE figures.
- 950mm minimum top guardrail height for construction work; other settings require suitable dimensions.
- 30 min HSE guide: consider alternative equipment if a ladder task would take longer at one time; assess risk first.
- 5+ employees: record the significant findings of your risk assessment.
What is a working at height risk assessment?
A work at height risk assessment considers tasks where someone could fall to a lower level and be injured. It includes ladders, platforms, roof work and falls into openings. Same-level slips and trips and normal use of permanent building stairs are outside this particular definition, though their risks still need managing.
The assessment should be proportionate to the task. Identify hazards, choose controls and plan safe access, equipment, competent people and rescue arrangements. Avoid work at height where reasonably practicable; otherwise prevent falls, then minimise any remaining fall distance and consequences. Employers with five or more employees must record significant findings.
Major hazards associated with working at height
Falls from height are the most significant risk in elevated work. Workers commonly fall from ladders, scaffolding, working platforms and roof edges. Ladder incidents occur when equipment is incorrectly positioned, damaged or used beyond its safe working load. Scaffolding hazards include inadequate guardrails, missing toe boards and unstable foundations. Platform failures happen when a temporary surface cannot support the combined weight of workers, tools and materials.
Falling objects put people at risk both at height and at ground level. Tools drop when they are not secured, construction materials and fasteners fall during lifting operations, and structural debris is dislodged by demolition or maintenance work. Proper tool tethering and exclusion zones help prevent falling-object injuries.
Fragile roofs and surfaces can collapse suddenly under a person's weight. Roof lights and skylights frequently break when stepped on, and deteriorated roofing — asbestos cement sheets, metal panels and plastic coverings weakened over time — can give way without warning. Workers must never walk directly on a suspected fragile surface.
Steps to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment
1. Identify the hazards. The first step is a thorough examination of all potential dangers associated with the specific task. Physical hazards include unstable surfaces, weather conditions and electrical equipment. Equipment hazards cover faulty ladders, damaged scaffolding and inadequate fall-protection systems. Environmental factors such as poor lighting, noise and proximity to traffic or machinery add further risk.
2. Decide who may be harmed. The assessment must extend beyond the people doing the work. Primary workers face the most direct exposure, but contractors and subcontractors nearby may not know the site-specific hazards, ground-based personnel risk injury from falling objects, and members of the public near a site need consideration too.
3. Evaluate the risks and choose precautions. Consider both the likelihood and seriousness of harm. A risk matrix can help, but a numerical score is not compulsory and does not establish that a task is safe. Apply the work at height hierarchy, checking that each chosen control is suitable for the actual task and conditions.
Essential risk control measures
Apply the hierarchy in order: avoid work at height where reasonably practicable, prevent falls where height work remains, and minimise remaining fall distance and consequences. At each stage prioritise collective protection over personal protection. Personal work restraint prevents access to a fall position; safety nets and fall arrest deal with a fall that can still occur.
Collective protection includes suitable guardrails, scaffold platforms and MEWPs. For construction work, top guardrails must be at least 950mm high, with unprotected gaps no greater than 470mm and suitable toe boards. These are not universal dimensions for every building or machine; non-construction protection must be suitable for its setting and applicable requirements.
Personal systems require careful selection and correct use. Work restraint should prevent the user reaching any fall position. Fall arrest requires compatible equipment, suitable anchorages, sufficient clearance and a workable rescue plan. Anchor strength and clearance must follow the system’s design and instructions; a single 15kN figure is not a universal specification.
Equipment, procedures and environmental considerations
Ladders and platforms. A ladder may be suitable when higher-protection equipment is not justified by low risk and short duration, or existing features cannot be altered. HSE recommends considering alternatives for more than 30 minutes at a time; shorter use is not automatically safe. Check ladders before use. Select and inspect scaffolds or MEWPs for their own risks, including ground conditions, loading and access.
Safe work procedures. Communicate the agreed method and precautions before work starts. For complex or higher-risk work, a clear method statement can help describe the sequence, equipment, responsibilities and emergency arrangements. Keep it consistent with the assessment and stop to reconsider if conditions change.
Weather and planning. Assess wind, rain, ice, temperature and visibility. Check forecasts and conditions as appropriate to the job, apply equipment operating limits and agree when to stop work. Provide suitable lighting and safe surfaces; do not proceed when conditions compromise safety.
Training and competence. People need the skills, knowledge and experience for their task, or appropriate training under competent supervision. Equipment-specific instruction and practical capability matter. Training records help manage skills and refreshers, but a certificate alone does not prove competence or legal compliance.
Documentation, training and reviewing assessments
Recording findings. Employers with five or more employees must record significant findings, including hazards, people at risk and controls. A useful record identifies responsibilities and outstanding actions. Smaller employers still need to assess and control risks; a written record can help communicate arrangements even where that threshold does not require one.
Risk assessments must be reviewed regularly to stay effective. A brand-new assessment is not needed for every job, but major changes do require fresh evaluation. Review triggers include incidents or near misses, changes in work methods, the introduction of new equipment, seasonal conditions and regulatory updates. Reviews should involve the workers who actually perform the tasks, and the frequency should reflect the complexity and risk of the work.
Keep the assessment connected to the work: check controls, maintain equipment, listen to workers and act on defects or incidents. Records support these arrangements but do not replace them or guarantee compliance. Plan emergency and rescue procedures before work begins, without relying entirely on the emergency services.
Sources & references
- HSE — Fatal injuries in Great Britain, provisional 2025/26; Work at Height Regulations 2005, as amended (Great Britain); HSENI — Working at height and Northern Ireland legislation
- HSE — Definitions, guardrails, ladders and competence; HSE — Avoid, prevent and minimise: step-by-step guide; HSE — Working at height: a brief guide (INDG401)
- HSE — Risk assessment, recording and review; HSE — Scaffold design, guardrails and inspections; HSE — Mobile elevating work platforms
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Mark writes about working at height, workplace health and safety, compliance and accredited training for Working at Heights Course, part of Online CPD Academy.