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risk assessment –
working at height

PROMPT SHEET – This sheet should only be used for guidance, in order for you to complete your
own risk assessment on working at height. The purpose of this assessment is to assess the
management of working at height activities. Individual tasks should be assessed separately.

Hazard  Suggested action/control measure

Something with a potential to If hazard This list is not exhaustive. Below are
cause harm. exists some control measures which you may
and who it find useful when completing your risk
could assessment.
harm
01. Poor maintenance of access Regular inspections of equipment before
equipment e.g. ladders, steps, every use and records kept.
scaffolds. Three-monthly inspections of access
equipment by a competent person and
records kept. This will normally be in-
house and carried out by the competent
person trained to work at height.
Defective equipment to be reported to
manager.
Immediate removal and repair or
disposal of access equipment found to
be defective.

02. Inappropriate use of tower Equipment to be used only where there

scaffolds causing trips and is a firm, level surface.
falls. All equipment to be visually inspected
before use and records kept.
Appropriate footwear to be worn.
Safe system of work in place for work
involving tower scaffolds.
Staff who use tower scaffolds to be
PASMA trained.
Equipment should be suitably stored
after use.
Work at height training to be undertaken.

03. Inappropriate use of Refer to HSE’s ‘Safe use of ladders and

ladders/stepladders. stepladders’ guide.
Ladders only to be used for low risk work
and a short duration of time. If any
longer than 30 minutes, alternatives
should be considered.
Ladders to be made secure by tying or
footed by a person at the base of the
ladder.
Health and Safety Team May 2018
 Consider the use of a stand-off device to
ensure a strong resting point if the upper
surface where the ladder would make
contact is fragile or weak.
Ladder should be placed on a suitable
firm and level base. Also consider the
use of a stability device.
Safe procedures e.g. three points of
contact to be maintained at all times
when working to avoid overreaching.
Equipment used must be class 1
‘Industrial’ or EN131 ‘trade/industrial’
types. From 2018 new ladder standards
are replacing the previous these
standards. New ladders will now be
classed as EN131 Professional or
EN131 Non-Professional. Any new
ladder purchased will need to be of the
EN131 Professional standard, although
the old Class 1 Industrial is still
acceptable for use. There is no need to
replace old ladders in order to meet the
standard unless they require
replacement due to condition.
Appropriate footwear to be worn.
Equipment should be suitably stored
after use.
Work at height training to be undertaken.

04. Working on fragile surfaces; Refer to HSE guidance ‘Working on

carrying out roof work. roofs’ for full information and
requirements.
Complete ‘Health and safety roof work
checklist’.
Avoid the need to work on/near/pass
across a fragile surface wherever
possible, e.g. repairing a skylight from
underneath using a tower scaffold.
No access to fragile surface allowed
except by authorised persons or
specialist contractors using appropriate
equipment.
Use of suitable fixed access e.g.
stairs/ladders rather than temporary
equipment where possible.
Fragile surface identified with suitable
and prominent signage.
Use of suitable working platforms with
guard rails during work on or near a
fragile surface. Skylights will normally be
classed as a fragile surface.
Use of suitable personal protective
equipment (PPE) identified from the

Health and Safety Team May 2018

 personal protective equipment checklist.

05. Falls from height. Specific risk assessment to be

undertaken prior to all work at height
activities.
Use of long handled tools where
appropriate.
Suitable equipment used for specific
jobs.
Staff not to use furniture or other
inappropriate fixed/mobile structures for
working at height.
Consider use of fall arrest systems
depending on nature of task, equipment
and duration.
Adequate and appropriate signs in place
to warn of hazards below work area.
Work scheduled to take place when
persons/others are not in the immediate
area.
Ensure operatives are trained to work at
height. See ‘Lack of training’ below.

06. Carrying materials. Only carry light materials and tools –

read the manufacturers’ labels on the
ladder and assess the risks;the person
and anything they are taking up should
not exceed the highest load stated on
the ladder.
Avoid holding items when climbing
(consider using a tool belt).

07. Poor weather conditions No work at height to be conducted

causing slips. outside in poor weather.

08. Risk of electrocution. Contact with overhead and hidden

cables. Contact with overhead and
hidden cables. Do not work within 6m
horizontally of any overhead power line,
unless it has been made dead or it is
protected with insulation. Use a non-
conductive ladder (eg fibreglass or
timber) for any electrical work.
Use of hand tools or battery operated
tools wherever possible.
All portable equipment must be PAT
tested every year.
Regular inspections of equipment before
and after use.

Health and Safety Team May 2018

 09. Lack of training. All staff who are involved with working at
height need to be trained and be
competent. This includes involvement in
organisation, planning, supervision and
the supply and maintenance of
equipment.
For use of stepladders below 4 steps,
online ‘work at height’ training may be
undertaken or receive a toolbox talk from
a competent person. For use of ladders
or stepladders above 4 steps a ‘face to
face’ training course must be
undertaken, incorporating a practical
element of instruction.

10. Lack of personal protective PPE may be required. As part of the risk
equipment (PPE). assessment, the personal protective
equipment checklist should also be
completed.

11. Being hit by falling objects. Good housekeeping in place to ensure

nothing is stored in such a way that it will
fall from height.
Materials, tools or debris must not be
thrown down from height if it is likely to
unjure anyone.
Areas where there is a risk of a falling
object needs to be clearly indicated and
unauthorised people need to be kept
from it. Use barriers, cones or, as a last
resort, a person standing guard at the
base.
Tool belts to be used to prevent fall of
tools/materials from pockets etc.
PPE may be required. The personal
protective equipment checklist should be
completed.

12. Poor flooring or area where Each individual area where work at
work at height is to be carried height is to be carried out needs to be
out. inspected before use, e.g. floors
surfaces, guard rails etc, and records
kept.

Health and Safety Team May 2018

Health and Safety Team May 2018
Generic risk assessment

Topic/activity/operation: Working at height

Name of establishment/school:
Risk assessment completed by: (name) Signed:
Name of operative:
Sign here only after giving consideration to
additional control measures. Date:
Head of establishment: (name) Signed:

Sign here only after agreeing control measures Operative’s signature:

and action points. Date:
Review date:

Risk rating: (Liklihood) Outcome:

Insignificant injury Significant injury Major injury
Unlikely Trival risk Low risk Medium risk
Possible Low risk Medium risk High
Date Signed: risk
___________________
Probable Medium risk High risk Stop

Risk level: Action and timescales:

Trivial No action required and no documentary records are required.
Low Consider if the risk can be reduced further. Monitoring is required to ensure that the controls are maintained.
Medium Risk reduction measures should be implemented within a defined period.
High Give priority to removing or reducing the risk urgent action should be taken.
Stop ‘Work’ activity should NOT be started or continued until the risk has been removed or at least reduced.

Health and Safety Team May 2018

 Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5
What are the Who might be What are you Current Is anything further Date further action(s) New
hazards? harmed and doing already? risk level needed? was/were completed risk
how? level
By whom and by when? Date of next review
Poor
01. maintenance Date completed:
of access
equipment
e.g. ladders, Name:
steps, Review date:
scaffolds Date:

Inappropriate
02. use of tower Date completed:
scaffolds
causing trips Name:
and falls Date completed:
Date:
Inappropriate
03. use of Date completed:
ladders/
stepladders
Name:
Review date:
Date:
Working on
04. fragile Date completed:
surfaces;
carrying out
roof work Name:
Review Date:
Date:

Health and Safety Team May 2018

 Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5
What are the Who might be What are you Current Is anything further Date further action(s) New
hazards? harmed and doing already? risk level needed? was/were completed risk
how? level
By whom and by when? Date of next review

Falls from
05. height Date completed:
Name:
Review date:
Date:

Carrying
06. materials Date completed:

Name:
Review date:
Date:
Poor weather
07. conditions Date completed:

Name:
Review date:
Date:
Risk of
08. electrocution Date completed:

Name:
Review date:
Date:

Health and Safety Team May 2018

 Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5
What are the Who might be What are you Current Is anything further needed? Date further action(s) was/were
hazards? harmed and how? doing already? risk level completed

By whom and by when? Date of next review

Lack of
09. training Date completed:
Name:
Review date:
Date:

Lack of
10. personal Date completed:
protective
equipment Name:
(PPE) Review date:
Date:
Being hit by
11. falling objects Date completed:

Name:
Review date:
Date:
Poor flooring
12. or area where Date completed:
work at height
is to be carried
out Name:
Review date:
Date:

Health and Safety Team May 2018