Working at Height: A Brief Guide

What is this document?

INDG401 is the HSE's brief guide to working at height. It explains employer duties under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and provides practical guidance on preventing falls from height - the single biggest cause of workplace deaths and serious injuries.

The guide helps employers understand how to plan, organise, and carry out work at height safely.

Who needs to read this?

• Construction workers and contractors regularly working at height
• Maintenance staff accessing roofs, ceilings, or elevated areas
• Warehouse workers using ladders or working on racking
• Window cleaners and facade access workers
• Roofers and scaffolders
• Facilities managers responsible for building maintenance
• Small business owners in any sector where height work occurs
• Anyone using ladders, stepladders, or platforms at work

Key points covered

What counts as work at height?

Work at height means work in any place where a person could fall and injure themselves. This includes:

• Working on roofs, scaffolds, or elevated platforms
• Using ladders and stepladders
• Working near openings, edges, or fragile surfaces
• Working at ground level near excavations or shafts

The hierarchy of controls

The regulations require you to:

1. Avoid work at height where possible - can the task be done from ground level?
2. Prevent falls using guardrails, scaffolds, or platforms with edge protection
3. Minimise consequences if a fall cannot be prevented, using nets, airbags, or harnesses

Planning and organisation

Before any work at height:

• Plan the work properly, including access and rescue arrangements
• Check that workers are competent for the task
• Select the right equipment for the job
• Ensure equipment is inspected and maintained

Equipment selection

Choose equipment based on:

• Duration and frequency of use
• Nature of the task and working conditions
• Distance and consequences of a potential fall
• Risk to others from the equipment itself

Common equipment

The guide covers safe use of:

• Scaffolding and tower scaffolds
• Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs)
• Ladders and stepladders (for short duration, low-risk work only)
• Rope access systems
• Personal fall protection equipment

How this applies to you

Assess your height work

Identify all tasks in your workplace that involve working at height. Consider maintenance activities, cleaning, storage access, and occasional tasks that may be overlooked.

Avoid where possible

Ask whether height work is necessary. Can you:

• Use long-handled tools to clean or maintain from ground level?
• Install equipment at ground level before raising it?
• Design out the need for height access in future work?

Choose the right equipment

If height work is necessary:

• Use work platforms with guardrails in preference to personal fall protection
• Only use ladders for short-duration, low-risk tasks
• Ensure all equipment is suitable for the task and properly maintained

Train your workers

Everyone who works at height must be:

• Competent for the work they do
• Trained in the safe use of equipment
• Aware of the risks and control measures

Inspect regularly

• Inspect equipment before each use
• Arrange formal inspections of scaffolds and other equipment as required
• Keep records of inspections

Related Safety Clarity content

• Working at Height Safety - Detailed guidance on height work risks
• Construction Safety - General construction safety requirements

Source: This page summarises HSE guidance document INDG401↗. For the full official guidance, visit the HSE website.