15 MIN READ
The guide to safely working at height in the workplace
Accidents and injuries can happen in any type of workplace, but if your business requires any staff member to work at height, like ladders or scaffolding, the chances of a serious or even fatal accident are even greater.
In 2021/22, 8% of all non-fatal accidents reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) related to falls from height. And falling from a height, including from ladders, scaffold, working platforms, roof edges and through fragile roofs, was the main cause of all deaths in the workplace in the UK.
It’s a serious danger and if your small business requires any form of work to performed at height, it’s your responsibility to make sure that you and your staff are doing so safely. Failure to protect your staff could put them at risk of injury and could leave you with a hefty claim on your hands.
So read AXA’s guide to help make sure that you, your staff and your small business are being safe when working at height.
What is working at height?
Working at height means working in any place where, if precautions aren’t taken, a person could fall from one level to a lower level, causing personal injury.
There is no minimum height which constitutes working at a height which can make this challenging to define. HSE says you are working at a height if you:
- work above ground/floor level
- could fall from a ledge, platform or ladder
- could fall from an edge, through an opening or fragile surface or
- could fall from ground level into an opening in a floor or a hole in the ground
Some examples of working at height might include a window cleaner working up a ladder, a builder doing work on a roof, or a landscape gardener working around some excavated ground.
Working at height doesn’t include a slip or trip or falling from a permanent staircase.
As part of the Working at Height Regulations 2005, you must ensure:
- all work at height is planned in advance and that necessary precautions are organised
- those involved in work at height are competent and able to complete this work
- that a risk assessment is carried out and appropriate work equipment is selected and used
- the equipment used for work at height is properly and regularly inspected and maintained
For the full details, you can read about the regulation here (The law relating to working at height - HSE).
Whose responsibility is it to assess working from height?
Falls from a height are a serious risk and can cause serious, permanent injury or even death. Some of the most common injuries which can occur from falling from height include broken bones, concussions, brain injuries or other damage to internal organs and limbs.
If you the business owner, your business partner or anyone in your employment is working at height at any time, the law makes it clear that it’s your responsibility to keep them safe whilst working at height. This includes making sure that any contractors working for are also working in a safe manner, so it is important you have also considered the risks associated with this.
The law relating to working at height - HSE states that any working at height task must be properly planned, properly supervised and carried out safely (as far as is reasonably practicable).
So what does that mean for you and your small business exactly?
How to assess working from height?
Before undertaking any work at height, there’s a few steps you should take in advance to make sure you’re being as safe as possible and to make sure you comply with the law.
Avoid it where possible – The best way to avoid falling from height is to avoid working at height in the first place, where possible. Do as much work from the ground as you can and use extendable tools from ground level to remove to work from height.
Carry out a Work at Height Risk Assessment – The law states that employers and self-employed contractors must assess the risk from work at height before starting any work. Factors to consider include the height of the task, its overall complexity, the duration and frequency of the proposed work, any equipment to be used, any safety equipment such as harnesses that need to be used, the condition of the surface being worked on, risks to other people near the working area. Document this and keep it for future reference.
Make sure that suitable and safe equipment has been provided – As part of the risk assessment process it is essential that you identify what equipment is suitable and to enable the task to be completed safely. Plus highlight any requirements for how this equipment must be used safely.
Check the weather – If you’re working outside, take account of weather conditions that could jeopardise worker safety. High winds could easily contribute to someone falling from height, leading to serious injury and rain water can make surfaces slippery.
Undergo the right training – Anyone working at height should be fully trained and competent in the correct procedures from a knowledgeable provider and should be aware of the dangers. Age, medical history and physical condition can all affect an individual’s ability to work safely at height. When erecting equipment such as scaffolding or using mobile elevated working platforms such as cherry pickers and scissors lifts then recognised certificated training will need to be completed.
Don’t work unsupervised – Due to the increased risks associated with working at height it will not be appropriate for some tasks to be completed by lone workers. Having an extra pair of eyes close by can help alert you of any dangers you might not otherwise see yourself. Have another qualified person on hand to add an extra layer of safety when working at height.
Safety working practices – Make sure that work is always completed in a safe manner and in accordance with the requirements of the risk assessment. Never use inappropriate or defective equipment, even for quick jobs, as this could easily lead to serious accidents happening.
First Aid and emergency response – Have in place a plan to effectively respond to health and safety incidents and other emergencies that might occur.
So you’ve done your prep work and determined that working at height is still a necessary option. Now it’s time to make sure the work is being done as safely as possible in order to avoid injury where possible.
How to avoid injury when working from height?
Before getting to work, you have to make sure that you and any employee carrying out any work at height are up to speed with the latest guidelines, and follow our easy steps to working at height safely below:
Follow the guidelines in your risk assessment
The best way to avoid accidents is to make sure the guidelines in your risk assessments are always followed. You should train all staff on the content of the risk assessment and keep a copy available so that employees can refer to it as needed.
Only use appropriate and safe equipment and check before use
Only use the equipment specified in the risk assessment and make sure you check any ladders, stepladders, scaffolding or other equipment carefully before you start your work, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Follow the guidelines on safe use of ladders by the HSE: Safe use of ladders and stepladders: overview - HSE.
Key areas to remember are
Make sure that nothing is broken, dented, twisted or cracked on your ladder or stepladder. Make sure that the feet are stable and won’t slip when you’re working at height, and make sure all rungs are secure too. Make sure equipment such as mobile elevated working platforms are checked before use and only used by trained and competent operators. See this link which describes training for operators: The PAL Card | IPAF.
Use a buddy system when working on ladders
Have someone at the bottom of the ladder to stop the ladder from moving or slipping, and to supervise the person working at height.
Position and secure ladders correctly
If practical on a leaning ladder, secure it at the top to prevent it moving sideways or outwards. Have the ladder located in the right place for the task being completed so you don’t have to stretch or overreach.
Always maintain three points of contact with the surface you’re working from to maintain stability and balance. When ascending or descending the ladder, keep your hands free of tools or other equipment, these should be carried in a holster or hoisted up to the height you’re working at. And make sure your footwear is suitable for the task at hand to prevent slipping when going up or down the ladder.
Only use scaffolding when properly trained
Unsafe use of scaffolding is a major cause of serious accidents. Only use scaffolding according to the maker or manufacturer’s instructions. If hiring scaffolding, make sure you receive instructions on how to erect it from the hiring agency. Scaffolding should be secured to the structure being worked on, if possible, castors should be in the brake position when the scaffold is in use and the tower should not be moved unless everyone had left the platform.
Carry and store tools appropriately
As with ladders when ascending or descending scaffolding you must keep your hands free of any tools or equipment – these should be carried in a holster or tool belt or hoisted to you. Never throw anything from the scaffold and try to avoid accidentally dropping anything from the height, as this could lead to serious injury for those on the ground.
Understand when safety harnesses are needed
In some cases, it will be necessary to use a safety harness when working at height. As with any equipment, always check and inspect harnesses before use and don’t use them if there’s any sign of wear or tear. When attaching a harness to an anchor point, you have to check that the anchor point is secure and capable of taking a person’s weight. Harnesses should be regularly check by a competent person and anchor points should be regularly formally inspected.
Check the area where the work is going to completed
Make sure the area where the work is going to be completed has been checked to ensure that the task can be safely completed, including considering the weather for outside tasks.
Make sure the team completing the work trained, competent and adequately supervised
It is essential that anyone completing these actives is trained and competent and adequately supervised at all times.
What to do if someone is injured while working at height
So if the worst case scenario should happen and someone has fallen from height at your workplace, what do you do?
Get them help immediately
The first and biggest priority on your list is the safety and health of the person injured. Get a First Aider to provide assistance immediately and, wherever relevant or if there is any doubt, call an ambulance or the emergency services or seek medical attention as quickly as possible.
Take photos of the accident area, review CCTV and get witness statements
Be sure to take photos of the area of the accident, including the equipment the employee fell from and the surrounding area. In addition, review and archive any relevant CCTV. If there are any witnesses, speak to them, ask them to write down their account of the event, and sign their statement for your records. This will help piece together the series of events which led to the injury.
Make your insurer aware
You should also keep your insurer up to date with any incidents that take place on your work premises.
It’s a legal requirement for a business to have Employer’ Liability insurance for their employees, self-employed contractors or temporary staff and apprentices. If your employee has had an accident while working at height, this can cover the damages, compensation costs and legal fees that could result from the injury. However, if you or a key partner in your business has been injured, Personal Accident cover can provide financial support while the injured person is unable to work.
Fill out an Accident Form
Reporting certain work-related incidents and injuries is a legal requirement. Keeping a record means you have an accurate overview of events, which will help you find out how they arose, whether any further investigation is required and how they can be avoided in future. Complete an Accident Form, ask the injured person to sign it and keep these records in all cases.
Make the area safe
The second priority is to make sure the area is safe to prevent any other accidents happening.
Help them get the help they need
An injured person might need immediate help like a first-aider or an ambulance, but you should also consider the long-term help and assistance that may be required to get everyone back to full fitness as quickly as is safely possible.
If someone suffers an injury as a result of working at height as part of their job, time off will likely be required, meaning your business could be a person down. You may have to pay for cover or have others in the team pick up the extra work, which can put your business under pressure too. Rehab, occupational health, physiotherapy or even some basic at-home exercises can help people get back on their feet, meaning less pain for the injured party and less pain for your business too.
Visit AXA’s guide to making claims clear for more information.
Working from height FAQs
If you’re still unsure about what it means to work from a height or how you can safely partake in it, read on to see if our FAQs cover your remaining questions:
As part of the Working at Height Regulations 2005, you must ensure:
- all work at height is planned in advance and that necessary precautions are organised
- those involved in work at height are competent and able to complete this work
- that a risk assessment is carried out and appropriate work equipment is selected and used
- the equipment used for work at height is properly and regularly inspected and maintained
For the full details, you can read about the regulation here.
There is no minimum height which constitutes working at a height which can make this challenging to define. HSE says you are working at a height if you:
- work above ground/floor level
- could fall from an edge, through an opening or fragile surface or
- could fall from ground level into an opening in a floor or a hole in the ground
Yes, working on scaffolding is likely to be classed as working at height. If it is essential that you use scaffolding, the Working at Height Regulations 2005 have specific requirements around who can assemble scaffolding.
HSE suggests following National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) Safety Guidance SG4 'Preventing falls in scaffolding operations' (PDF) or similar guidance provided by the manufacturers of system scaffolding to ensure that all scaffolding is erected, dismantled and altered safely.
Usually interns are still students, so they may not have as much professional experience as the employee types listed above. However, they usually cost less to hire for tasks because they have not yet achieved a qualification. Typically, they’ll work for a short time such as the summer break or one school term, so they’ll particularly useful as an extra set of hands on a specific project or a task that needs an extra push to be completed.
“You should make sure that people with sufficient skills, knowledge and experience are employed to perform the task, or, if they are being trained, that they work under the supervision of somebody competent to do it.
In the case of low-risk, short duration tasks involving ladders, competence requirements may be no more than making sure employees receive instruction on how to use the equipment safely (eg how to tie a ladder properly) and appropriate training. Training often takes place on the job, it does not always take place in a classroom.
When a more technical level of competence is required, for example drawing up a plan for assembling a complex scaffold, existing training and certification schemes drawn up by trade associations and industry is one way to help demonstrate competence.”
If you wish to undergo a more formal training, there are a number of orgaisations that offer CPD certifications and working at height training.
Whether or not you need a safety harness when working from height will depend on a number of factors including what’s in your health and safety policy and what is in your risk assessment. It may also be worth consulting your insurer to determine if they have any requirements in order for your policy to remain intact should an accident occur.
See this link for the HSE information on frequently asked questions: Frequently asked questions - Working at height - HSE
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All links are checked and valid at time of publishing, 24 August 2023.