Working from a height is a regular part of the job in plenty of industries, not just construction, but also retail, agriculture, and entertainment. Whilst getting the job done is critical, making sure you do it safely is the absolute priority. After all, the last thing anyone wants is for a team member to be injured.

We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about working safely at height, including the key legal requirements and essential safety tips to keep your people protected.

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What is working at height?

If a person could fall from where they’re working and get hurt, they’d be classed as working at height. It applies to a broad range of situations, whether your employee’s heading up a ladder to change a fitting or operating heavy machinery way above ground level. 

It’s worth noting that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) doesn’t set a minimum height at which the working at height regulations kick in. This means, whether your workers are 5 feet off the ground or 5 inches, you always need to assess the risks.

What tasks are classed as working at height?

You might be wondering what actually counts as working at height. It’s more common than you might think, and there’s a chance you’ve already been working at height without even realising it.

Some everyday examples include:

  • Climbing ladders, including standard stepladders
  • Using scaffolding to reach high areas
  • Working on a flat or pitched roof
  • Working near a fragile surface or an unprotected edge

Working at height regulations you need to know

When your team’s working at height, there are legal requirements you need to keep on your radar. If you fail to follow them, you could face hefty, unlimited fines that have been known to reach as much as £3 million, so it pays to stay compliant.

Work at Height Regulations 2005

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 were introduced to prevent deaths and injuries from falls from height. As an employer, it’s up to you to make sure all work is properly planned, supervised, and carried out by people who know what they’re doing.

This means using the right type of equipment for the job and taking the time to assess any risks properly. Failing to comply with these working at height regulations can lead to serious legal repercussions and financial penalties, so business owners need to be clued up on their responsibilities.

Here’s a breakdown of what the Regulations require you to do:

  • Avoid unnecessary heights: Work from the ground as much as you can, and only work at height when it’s necessary.
  • Carry out risk assessments: Take the time to regularly review any and all risks associated with the work.
  • Use the right equipment: Your equipment needs to be regularly tested to make sure it’s still safe for use, especially scaffolding and ladders.
  • Make sure staff are competent: Your team needs the proper knowledge to stay safe. A working at height training course keeps workers and anyone else safe.
  • Avoid risks associated with fragile surfaces: Take precautions against falls through roofs or other weak surfaces.
  • Look out for falling objects: Protect the people below from dropped tools or materials.

Hierarchy of control measures

The Work at Height Regulations outline a handy ‘hierarchy of control measures’ that sets out the priority order of your safety planning. This works in three stages:

  1. Avoid: This stage involves assessing if you can carry out the work from the ground and whether working from a height is 100% necessary.
  2. Prevent: If you absolutely can’t avoid working at height, use work equipment such as guardrails to prevent a fall.
  3. Mitigate: If the risk of a fall is still there, use equipment like safety nets or harnesses to minimise the distance and the consequences of a fall.

What are the risks of working at height?

There are multiple risks associated with working at height, and each of them can spell trouble for your business. Here are some of the key risks to be aware of:

  • Slips, trips and falls: A simple misstep is annoying on the ground, but it can have much bigger consequences when you’re up high.
  • Falling objects: Dropped tools or materials can seriously injure anyone walking below your work area.
  • Working with ladders: Ladders can easily slip or tip if they aren’t positioned and secured properly, or if you’ve overloaded the weight limit.
  • Fragile surfaces: Things like roofing or old timber can easily break under pressure, providing zero support for ladders, scaffolding, or a worker’s weight.
  • Weather conditions: This is especially important to factor in when using scaffolding. Strong winds, lightning strikes, ice, and heavy rain can make high platforms and ladders dangerous.
  • Wrong equipment: Using a ladder when you really need scaffolding is a recipe for disaster.
  • Poor PPE: Without the right personal protective equipment, your team is completely exposed to hazards.

Ladder safety in the workplace

Ladders are an essential tool for lots of businesses. But they also come with risks, so ladder safety needs to be a top priority for any employer.

Choosing the right ladder

Picking the right ladder for the task at hand is your first step toward a safe shift. The most commonly used types of ladders include:

  • Stepladders (A-frame): Great for freestanding tasks at a lower height.
  • Extension ladders: Ideal for reaching higher areas, as long as they have a solid, flat surface to lean against.
  • Platform ladders: These provide a small standing area for extra comfort during slightly longer tasks.
  • Telescopic ladders: Compact and easy to transport, making them perfect for tight spaces.
  • Roof ladders: Designed with specific hooks to safely grip onto a roof’s peak.
  • Loft ladders: Permanently fixed in place for regular access to loft spaces.
  • Multi-purpose ladders: Can be easily folded and adjusted for a variety of different jobs.

Each ladder comes with different height and weight limits, so you’ll need to check that: 

  • It’s strong enough to hold the user and their tools
  • The ladder’s height is up to the task and doesn’t make your team overreach 
  • The ladder meets any relevant safety standards and certifications before anyone climbs it

Carrying out ladder safety inspections

Inspecting your ladder before use is an essential step to make sure it’s safe. Thoroughly inspect the ladder before each use, looking out for:

  • Visible damage — Keep an eye out for cracks or dents that could compromise the structural integrity of the ladder.
  • Secure parts — Make sure rungs, steps, and locking mechanisms are intact and fully functional.
  • Wear and tear — Check for signs of deterioration, like corrosion or rust.
  • Worn feet — Always check the anti-slip feet at the base of the ladder, as worn feet can cause the ladder to slide out from under you.

Scaffolding safety at work

Scaffolding enables large-scale work on buildings, bridges, and other structures. But, without strict safety measures in place, it can quickly become dangerous. Let’s take a look at common scaffolding risks and their causes.

Risks to be aware of

There are a few major risks you’ll need to look out for when using scaffolding on site:

  1. Falls from height: Falls are the leading cause of injuries and fatalities in the construction industry – in 2024/25, over a quarter of all construction fatalities were falls from height. It’s a smart move to invest in harnesses, guardrails, and fall protection systems, alongside safety nets for an extra layer of security.
  1. Structural instability: Putting scaffolding together incorrectly can have serious consequences, including complete collapses. Make sure the ground is level for a secure base, put the scaffolding up according to the design specifications, and carry out regular inspections to look for any signs of wear and tear that could threaten its integrity. Make sure any and all repairs are made quickly to stop them from snowballing.
  1. Falling objects: Materials, tools, and debris falling from scaffolds can cause harm to the workers and pedestrians below. You can reduce this risk by installing toeboards and guardrails to stop items from slipping over the edge.

Workers should also be provided with PPE, like hard hats, to protect them from anything that does still make its way through the cracks. Make sure you remind the team to secure their tools to keep risks to a minimum, and keep the work environment tidy with routine clean-ups.

  1. Electrocution: Electrocution is one of the most common injuries that result from working on a scaffold, as workers can get electrocuted if they come into contact with exposed wires.

Training workers to recognise and respond to electrical hazards is really important so they can take the necessary precautions. Proper insulation, grounding methods, and regular safety briefings go a long way in protecting your team from electrical risks.

What causes scaffolding accidents at work?

Now that we’ve covered the common risks, let’s look at what actually causes them:

  • Improper training: A significant contributor to scaffolding accidents is a lack of proper training. Workers who aren’t trained properly might use equipment in the wrong way or forget critical safety procedures. Your training programmes should cover scaffold assembly, safe usage, and emergency procedures.
  • Wrong use of ladders: Ladders are regularly used to access scaffolds and move between levels, but using them in the wrong way can lead to accidents. It’s vital to make sure all ladders are secured, positioned properly, and that weight is evenly distributed to reduce the risk of a fall. It’s also worth considering safer alternatives to ladders, like installing stair towers.
  • Overloading scaffolds: It’s important to never exceed the load capacity of scaffolds, as this can lead to structural failure and collapse. Workers need to be trained to recognise load limits and understand the importance of weight distribution. Regular inspections should be carried out to make sure you’re staying compliant with load ratings.
  • Not replacing worn parts: If inspections aren’t carried out and worn pieces aren’t removed and replaced, this can weaken the structure of the scaffolding and eventually cause it to collapse.

How to stay safe when working at height

Sometimes working from a height is unavoidable, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a danger zone. Whether you’re navigating a massive scaffolding structure or just popping up a stepladder to change a bulb, here are some steps you need to take to keep your team safe and sound.

Invest in PPE for working at height

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is an absolute must whenever you or your team are working at height. Even with all the right guardrails and safety nets in place, providing the right gear is what ultimately keeps people safe from serious injuries.

Make sure your staff have access to specific types of PPE for working at height. This includes things like:

  • Safety harnesses and lanyards to prevent falls
  • Hard hats with chin straps so they don’t blow off in the wind
  • Non-slip footwear for a solid grip
  • High-visibility clothing so everyone can be easily seen on site

Carry out ladder safety training

Climbing a ladder might seem like common sense, but carrying out proper ladder training is essential for keeping your team safe from accidental falls. It covers all the basics, from how to properly inspect a ladder before use to setting it up at the perfect angle, distributing weight evenly, and safely carrying tools up and down.

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require businesses to make sure their employees are fully trained and competent, so investing in training is a legal necessity. To make things easy, see our working at height training course to get your team up to speed.

Create a working at height rescue plan

A working at height rescue plan is exactly what it sounds like: a clear, step-by-step strategy that details how to safely retrieve someone if things go wrong.

It works by outlining specific emergency procedures and assigning clear roles so everyone knows exactly what to do when panic sets in. You’d need a tried and tested plan for scenarios like:

  • A worker left suspended in a safety harness after a fall
  • Someone who becomes unwell while on a scaffold and can’t get down safely
  • A Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) breaking down while raised
  • Someone has fallen through a roof or a fragile surface
  • A ladder is at risk of falling

Having this plan written down and practised means you aren’t left waiting for emergency services to arrive while the clock is ticking.

Use the right equipment

It’s crucial to use equipment that’s suitable for the job. Cutting corners by overreaching from a stepladder when you really need a scaffold is just asking for trouble. You also have to make sure your chosen equipment can support the required weight of the worker and their tools. On top of that, it needs to be regularly checked and maintained to make sure it’s fit for purpose before anyone sets foot on it.

Use regular working from height risk assessments

Regular risk assessments are at the heart of safety compliance. You should constantly look for potential hazards and put control measures in place to prevent them from causing an accident.

When carrying out your assessments, you should be looking for things like:

  • Fragile roofs, skylights, or weak surfaces
  • Extreme weather conditions that could make surfaces slippery or unstable
  • Unprotected edges and potential trip hazards
  • Faulty equipment that needs to be repaired or replaced
  • Lack of toe boards or guardrails to avoid falling objects
  • Employees who seem unsure about how to work at height safely

To conduct your risk assessment, walk around the entire site, thoroughly evaluate the work area before any tasks begin, and make sure you record your findings. If you notice anything concerning, you’ll need to take steps to change your working practices.

If you want to make the process a little easier, you can grab our customisable working at height risk assessment template to make sure you’re ticking all the right legal boxes.

Improve your safety with HS Direct

When it comes to working safely at height, a little preparation goes a long way. Sometimes, writing documentation and keeping your staff up to date on safety training can feel like a full-time job in itself, but that’s where we come in.

From online e-learning courses to risk assessment support, HS Direct is on hand to make sure you’re compliant and maintain a safe environment for your whole team. Simply get in touch today to find out more!