Working at height remains the biggest single cause of fatal and serious injuries across many industries, particularly in construction. Over 60% of work at height deaths involve falls from ladders, scaffolds, platforms and roof edges. A thorough working at height risk assessment is the legal and practical foundation for preventing those falls — identifying hazards before work begins and putting the right control measures in place. This guide walks through what a work at height risk assessment is, the hazards it must cover, how to carry one out step by step, and how to record and review it under the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
- 60%+ of work at height deaths involve falls from ladders, scaffolds, platforms and roof edges.
- 950mm minimum height for standard guardrails, with intermediate rails and toe boards.
- 30 min maximum recommended duration for any single spell of work on a ladder.
- 15kN minimum force each anchor point must support, per person attached.
What is a working at height risk assessment?
A working at height risk assessment is a formal process where an employer evaluates the dangers associated with any work activity in which a person could fall and be injured. It covers all situations where falling hazards exist — work on ladders, scaffolding, roofs or elevated surfaces — and extends beyond obvious high-level tasks to include work near excavations, on fragile surfaces, or anywhere a fall could cause harm.
In practice the assessment identifies fall hazards, evaluates risk levels, determines the right control measures, plans safe methods of work and sets out training requirements. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 make risk assessments legally mandatory for all work at height activities. Employers must avoid work at height where it is reasonably practicable to do so; where it is unavoidable, they must prevent falls or minimise the consequences through proper planning, equipment and supervision, and record the 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. Risk evaluation combines the severity of a hazard with the likelihood of it occurring, typically using a risk matrix that multiplies severity by probability. The control hierarchy then prioritises elimination and substitution over personal protective equipment, with engineering controls such as guardrails, safety nets and fall-arrest systems providing reliable protection, supported by administrative controls like training, permits to work and supervision.
Essential risk control measures
The hierarchy of control provides a systematic approach that must be followed in order: avoid work at height wherever possible; prevent falls by using an existing safe place of work; prevent falls with collective protection equipment; and, where falls cannot be prevented, mitigate the consequences with nets positioned close to the work surface.
Collective protection — guardrails and edge protection — protects everyone in an area without relying on individual equipment. Standard guardrails must be at least 950mm high with intermediate rails and toe boards. Scaffolding systems provide comprehensive collective protection, tower scaffolds offer mobility for smaller jobs, and mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) combine access and protection in one system.
Personal protective equipment and fall-arrest systems are the final control measure, used when collective protection is not reasonably practicable. Work-restraint systems use short lanyards that stop a worker reaching a fall position; fall-arrest systems stop a fall after it begins; and full-body harnesses distribute the forces safely across the body. Anchor points must support a minimum force of 15kN per person attached.
Equipment, procedures and environmental considerations
Ladders and scaffolding. Ladders may only be used for work at height when the risk assessment shows other equipment is not justified because the risk is low and the task short. As a guide, work on a ladder should not exceed 30 minutes at a time, and ladders must be inspected before each use. Scaffolding requires professional installation and regular inspection, while MEWPs offer a safer alternative to traditional scaffolding for many tasks.
Safe work procedures. Method statements identify the specific hazards and precautions for each task and give workers clear instructions on equipment requirements before they start. Good procedures follow the hierarchy of controls systematically.
Weather and planning. Wind significantly affects safety at height, rain creates slippery surfaces, temperature extremes affect both workers and equipment, and poor lighting requires extra illumination before work proceeds. Managers should monitor forecasts continuously and set clear criteria for stopping work.
Training. Workers need comprehensive training before performing height work, covering equipment use, hazard recognition and emergency procedures. Toolbox talks reinforce key safety messages, and training records demonstrate compliance.
Documentation, training and reviewing assessments
Employers must record the significant findings of their risk assessments. A risk assessment template helps standardise the process and should include sections for hazard identification, risk ratings, control measures, equipment requirements, training needs and review dates. Method statements work alongside the assessment to communicate safety requirements on site.
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.
Ongoing compliance takes continuous effort: keeping current with legal requirements and industry standards, holding regular safety meetings, maintaining equipment inspection schedules, running incident reporting systems and building a culture of continuous improvement. Training is central to all of it — and the records prove your compliance to inspectors.
Sources & references
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE) — Work at height guidance and falls-from-height statistics
- The Work at Height Regulations 2005 (legislation.gov.uk)
- HSE — The hierarchy of control for work at height and INDG401 guidance
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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.