Do you or your workers carry out work at height?
Quick check to point you in the right direction
Why working at height matters
Falls from height are the single biggest cause of workplace deaths in the UK. Every year, around 40 workers die and over 6,000 are seriously injured after falling from height. These accidents account for roughly 30% of all workplace fatalities.
The human cost is devastating. Behind each statistic is a family, a lost breadwinner, life-changing injuries, or preventable deaths.
The law is clear: employers and those who control work must take reasonable precautions to prevent falls. This isn't discretionary. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 place absolute duties on duty holders to manage height work properly.
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, work at height must be properly planned, supervised, and carried out by competent people. Where you cannot avoid working at height, you must prevent falls using equipment that is appropriate, inspected, and properly used.
What counts as "working at height"?
You are working at height if you could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. This includes:
- Any elevated work — scaffolds, ladders, roofs, platforms, cherry pickers
- Work at ground level — if there's a risk of falling through a fragile surface, into an excavation, or through an opening
- Work near edges — loading bays, platforms, flat roofs, mezzanines
- Below ground level — if there's a risk of falling further, e.g. down a shaft
Height work isn't defined by a specific distance. Even falling from a kerb can cause injury. If a fall could hurt someone, it's work at height and the regulations apply.
There is no "safe" height. The regulations apply to any height where injury could occur.
Who needs to worry about working at height?
Anyone who controls, directs, or carries out work at height has duties under the regulations. This includes:
- Employers — responsible for protecting employees and others affected by the work
- Self-employed workers — must protect themselves and others
- Contractors and subcontractors — responsible for work they carry out or control
- Building owners/managers — where they control the work or specify how it must be done
- Facilities managers — managing or commissioning maintenance work
- Anyone with control — through contract, tenancy agreement, or operational responsibility
Duties cannot be transferred by contract. You remain responsible for health and safety even if you hire contractors to do the work. You must check they're competent and have proper systems in place.
Working at height by sector
Different sectors have different height work risks. Here's how the regulations apply:
| Sector | Common Height Work | Key Controls |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Scaffolding, roofing, formwork, steelwork | Scaffold inspections, edge protection, fall arrest, method statements |
| Maintenance | Ladder work, access platforms, roof access | Ladder assessments, guardrails, safe access routes, permit systems |
| Cleaning | Window cleaning, gutter clearing, façade work | Risk assessment, proper equipment, rope access training, weather checks |
| Warehousing | Racking, mezzanines, loading bays | Edge protection, safe access equipment, segregation, training |
| Retail | Stockroom access, display changes, signage | Step stools (not chairs!), podium steps, stable platforms, training |
| Agriculture | Barn maintenance, silo work, tree work | Mobile platforms, restraint systems, scaffold towers, safe access |
| Facilities | Roof access, lamp changes, building maintenance | Safe access routes, collective protection, work permits, training |
This is general guidance. All work at height requires task-specific risk assessment.
The hierarchy of control
The Work at Height Regulations require you to follow a strict hierarchy when planning work at height:
1. Avoid work at height if you can
Can the work be done from ground level? This is always the safest option.
Examples:
- Use extension poles for cleaning or painting instead of ladders
- Design buildings to allow roof access equipment (RACS) to be maintained from inside
- Install ground-level control systems instead of rooftop access
- Use long-reach tools for pruning or gutter clearing
- Pre-assemble components at ground level
2. Prevent falls where you cannot avoid working at height
If work at height is unavoidable, use equipment to prevent falls. This is collective protection and is always preferred over personal fall protection.
Examples:
- Edge protection — guardrails, toe boards, barriers on flat roofs, scaffolds, platforms
- Working platforms — mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), scissor lifts, scaffold towers
- Covers over openings — secured and marked to prevent falling through
- Permanent barriers — around loading bays, mezzanines, platform edges
Collective protection protects everyone without individual effort. It's always better than relying on harnesses or personal restraint systems.
3. Mitigate the consequences if you cannot prevent a fall
Where collective protection isn't reasonably practicable, use equipment to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall.
Examples:
- Fall arrest systems — safety harnesses connected to secure anchor points
- Soft landing systems — airbags, safety nets
- Rope access systems — for specialist work (requires specific training and certification)
Fall arrest systems are a last resort, not a first choice. They don't prevent falls — they arrest them. Workers still fall, and suspension injuries can be serious. Use collective protection wherever reasonably practicable.
Ladders and stepladders
Ladders are still widely used, but they're no longer the default choice. The regulations require you to use a more suitable work platform unless the task is low risk, short duration, and a ladder is justified.
When you can use a ladder
Ladders are acceptable only when:
- The task is low risk (not carrying heavy or bulky loads, not working with both hands)
- The task is short duration (HSE guidance suggests up to 30 minutes in one position)
- You cannot reasonably use safer equipment (e.g., the site doesn't allow a platform)
Three-point contact rule
When ascending, descending, or working from a ladder, maintain three points of contact (two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand) at all times.
If you need both hands to carry out work, you cannot safely work from a ladder. Use a platform instead.
Ladder safety checklist
Before using any ladder:
- Check it's not damaged (rungs, stiles, feet)
- Ensure it's secured (tied at the top or footed at the base)
- Use the correct angle (1 unit out for every 4 units up — roughly 75 degrees)
- Extend at least 1m above the landing point (or access via a safe handhold)
- Place on firm, level ground
- Never overreach — keep your belt buckle between the ladder stiles
Many accidents happen when workers overreach because they don't want to take the time to move the ladder. It takes seconds to reposition a ladder; recovering from a fall takes months.
Key legal requirements
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 set out specific duties:
1. Plan, supervise, and carry out work safely
All work at height must be:
- Properly planned — consider risks, equipment, emergency plans
- Appropriately supervised — competent person oversees the work
- Carried out by competent workers — trained and experienced
2. Avoid work at height where possible
Take all reasonable steps to complete work from ground level before working at height.
3. Prevent falls using equipment
Use collective protection (guardrails, platforms) to prevent falls wherever reasonably practicable.
4. Minimise the distance and consequences of falls
Where falls cannot be prevented, use equipment (nets, fall arrest) to minimise harm.
5. Select appropriate work equipment
Choose equipment appropriate to the task, duration, risks, and site conditions. Factors include:
- The height to be reached
- The duration of use
- Whether workers need both hands free
- Ground conditions and access constraints
- Weather and environmental conditions
6. Inspect equipment regularly
All work equipment for working at height must be inspected:
- Before first use (if new or modified)
- After installation (scaffolds, platforms)
- At suitable intervals (depending on use and conditions)
- After any event likely to affect safety (impacts, weather, misuse)
Inspections must be carried out by competent persons and results recorded.
7. Protect against fragile surfaces
Identify fragile surfaces (roof lights, old corrugated sheets, glass panels) and either:
- Prevent access, or
- Provide platforms to distribute weight, or
- Use fall protection systems
Fragile surfaces are a major cause of fatal falls. Never assume a surface is safe to walk on. Roof lights and old roofing sheets can fail without warning.
8. Protect against falling objects
Prevent objects and materials from falling and injuring people below by:
- Using toe boards, barriers, or brick guards
- Storing materials and tools securely
- Throwing nothing from height
- Creating exclusion zones below work areas
9. Consider weather conditions
Do not carry out work at height in adverse weather where conditions create unacceptable risk. This includes:
- High winds
- Heavy rain (slippery surfaces)
- Ice and snow
- Lightning risk
- Extreme heat (working on metal roofs)
Common questions
There is no minimum height. You are working at height if you could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. This includes falling through a fragile surface at ground level, into an excavation, or off a kerb if injury could result. The regulations apply at any height where injury is possible.
Yes, but only when justified. Ladders are acceptable for low-risk, short-duration tasks (typically up to 30 minutes in one position) where using safer equipment isn't reasonably practicable. If you need both hands to work, a ladder isn't suitable — use a working platform instead.
Scaffolds must be inspected by a competent person — someone with the training, knowledge, and experience to identify whether the scaffold is safe to use. This is often a trained scaffold inspector or supervisor, not just any worker. Inspections are required after erection, before first use, weekly thereafter, and after any event likely to affect safety.
Yes. If you're using fall arrest equipment (harnesses), you must have a rescue plan. Workers suspended after a fall can develop suspension trauma within minutes. Your plan must cover how to rescue someone quickly and safely, who will do it, and what equipment is needed.
Workers must be trained in the general principles of working at height (understanding risks, hierarchy of controls) and the specific equipment they'll use (ladders, scaffolds, MEWPs, harnesses). Training should be refreshed periodically, especially after incidents or long periods between height work. Records of training must be kept.
It depends on the equipment and how it's used. Scaffolds must be inspected weekly and after any event that could affect safety. Ladders should be inspected before each use (visual check) and periodically by a competent person. Mobile towers should be inspected after assembly and daily if in long-term use. Fall arrest equipment should be inspected before each use and at intervals specified by the manufacturer.
Generally, no. Work at height should be supervised, and someone should be available to raise the alarm if something goes wrong. Lone working at height is acceptable only for very low-risk tasks where the worker is competent, the risks have been assessed, and emergency arrangements are in place. For fall arrest work, lone working is almost never acceptable due to rescue plan requirements.
A fragile surface is one that cannot safely support a person's weight. Common examples include old asbestos cement roof sheets, corrugated metal, roof lights, glass panels, and weathered plastic skylights. Fragile surfaces must be identified before work begins, and either avoided (use platforms) or protected (covers, barriers). Many fatal falls occur when workers step on roof lights thinking they'll hold.
Yes. Self-employed workers have duties to themselves and others who may be affected by their work. You must assess risks, use appropriate equipment, and follow the hierarchy of controls. You cannot claim exemption because you're working alone or it's your own business.
Fall restraint prevents workers from reaching a position where they could fall (e.g. a short lanyard that stops them reaching the edge). Fall arrest allows a fall to occur but arrests it using a harness and energy-absorbing lanyard. Restraint is preferred where practicable because it prevents the fall happening. Fall arrest is used where restraint isn't possible.
Equipment guide
Common working at height equipment
Collective Protection (Preferred)
- •Scaffold with edge protection
- •Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs)
- •Scissor lifts and boom lifts
- •Scaffold towers with guardrails
- •Podium steps (small platform with rails)
- •Safety nets
- •Airbag systems
Personal Protection (Last Resort)
- •Full-body harnesses with fall arrest
- •Lanyards (energy-absorbing)
- •Anchor points and anchor devices
- •Fall arrest blocks (self-retracting)
- •Rope access systems (specialist)
- •Work positioning lanyards
- •Rescue equipment
Bottom line: Always use collective protection (guardrails, platforms) where reasonably practicable. Personal fall protection should be used only where collective protection is not possible.
Scaffold inspection schedule
If you use scaffolding, follow this inspection regime:
After erection, before anyone uses it
At least every 7 days while in use
After weather, impacts, alterations, or long periods out of use
When control transfers to another contractor
All inspections must be by a competent person and recorded. Inspection records must include:
- Date and time
- Location of scaffold
- Identification of scaffold (tag number)
- Any defects found and action taken
- Name and signature of inspector
Records must be kept for 3 months after the scaffold is dismantled.
Real enforcement examples
Roofing contractor fined £120,000 after worker falls through roof light
A roofing contractor was prosecuted after a worker fell 4 metres through a roof light, sustaining serious spinal injuries. The worker was cleaning gutters on an industrial unit.
- ✗No risk assessment carried out for the task
- ✗No edge protection or covering of fragile roof lights
- ✗Workers not provided with fall arrest equipment
- ✗Inadequate training on fragile surface risks
- ✗Poor supervision and planning of the work
The company was fined £120,000 plus £15,000 costs. The worker was unable to return to physical work and suffered long-term disability.
Fragile surfaces must be identified and protected before work begins. Roof lights are a major cause of fatal and serious falls. Proper planning and risk assessment are legal requirements, not optional extras.
Source: Based on HSE prosecution records
Construction company director imprisoned after scaffolder falls to death
A construction company director was prosecuted after a scaffolder fell 9 metres to his death when scaffolding collapsed during dismantling.
- ✗Scaffolding not inspected after erection or weekly
- ✗No inspection records maintained
- ✗Workers not properly trained in scaffold erection/dismantling
- ✗Director ignored previous enforcement notices
- ✗No supervision of high-risk work
The director was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. The company was fined £300,000. The family of the deceased received compensation through civil proceedings.
Repeated failures and ignoring enforcement action can result in imprisonment, not just fines. Those who control work at height have personal accountability for ensuring safety measures are in place.
Source: Based on HSE prosecution records
Window cleaning firm fined £40,000 after worker falls from ladder
A small window cleaning company was prosecuted after a worker fell 3 metres from a ladder, suffering a fractured pelvis and wrist.
- ✗Using ladders when safer equipment (water-fed pole system) was available
- ✗No risk assessment for using ladders at this site
- ✗Ladder not secured at top or footed at base
- ✗Worker overreaching to complete job quickly
- ✗No consideration of safer working methods
The company was fined £40,000 plus £8,000 costs. The worker was off work for 6 months and the company lost the contract.
The hierarchy of controls must be followed. If safer equipment exists (e.g. reach and wash poles for window cleaning), ladders are not acceptable. Small companies face fines that can threaten their survival.
Source: Based on HSE prosecution records
Related sectors
Working at height requirements apply across many sectors. Select your sector for tailored guidance:
Construction
Scaffolding, roofing, steelwork, formwork
Roofers
Roof work, fragile surfaces, edge protection
Window Cleaners
Ladder safety, reach and wash systems
Painters & Decorators
Platform selection, scaffold towers, access
Facilities Management
Maintenance access, roof inspections, permits
Warehousing
Racking access, mezzanines, loading bays
Related content
Topics
- Workplace Safety - General workplace health and safety requirements
- Construction Safety - Construction-specific safety guidance
- Risk Assessment - How to assess and manage workplace risks
Articles
- When Can You Use a Ladder for Work?
- Understanding Scaffold Inspection Requirements
- Fall Arrest vs Fall Restraint: What's the Difference?
- Working at Height: Emergency Rescue Planning
Tools
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This guidance is based on the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and HSE guidance current. It provides an overview of legal requirements but does not constitute legal advice. For complex situations or specific legal questions, consult a qualified health and safety professional or legal adviser.
Disclaimer: Health & Safety Platform provides general guidance on UK health and safety law. This content is for informational purposes and should not be relied upon as legal advice. Every workplace is different — you must assess your own circumstances and ensure compliance with current legislation. Where work involves significant risk, we recommend consulting a competent health and safety professional.