Working at Height Risk Assessment

A risk assessment for working at height evaluates hazards and risks associated with working above ground/floor level. It is both a moral and legal obligation of employers to have a risk assessment done prior to working at height in order to formulate and implement preventative measures against potential injuries and fatalities associated with working at heights.

Hazards from Working at Height

Identifying the Hazards

The first step of a risk assessment is to identify the hazards from working at height, that are present in the workplace.

You can identify the hazards from working at height through:

• Workplace observations.
• Obtaining feedback from employees.
• Checking the manufacturer’s instructions or data sheets for any equipment.
• Reviewing past accident and ill health records.

This could involve looking out for things such as slip and trip hazards, lone-working, manual handling, cleaning chemicals or fire risks etc.

For working at height activities, the Work at Height Regulations 2005 state that certain work-specific factors also need to be considered in the risk assessment.

These factors are:

• The working conditions and the risks to the safety of people at the place where any work equipment is to be used.
• The distance and consequences of any potential fall.
• The duration and frequency of use of work equipment.
• The necessity for an easy and timely evacuation and rescue in an emergency.
• Any additional risk posed by the use, installation or removal of work equipment or by the evacuation and rescue from it.
• Whether the work equipment is appropriate to the nature of the work to be performed.
• Whether the work equipment allows passage without risk.

The below list highlights common hazards that may need to be identified and controlled when assessing working at heights:

• Unprotected edges
• Sharp edges on structures
• Fragile surfaces
• Weather
• Ground conditions
• Proximity of utility services
• Overhead obstructions
• Proximity of large bodies of water
• Moving vehicles
• People working above
• Falling objects, tools

Determine who may be harmed

This doesn’t require you to list everyone by name. You can group people by type such as:-

• Workers
• Nearby workers
• Occupants
• Visitors
• General public

Implement Precautions and Control Measures

Determining suitable controls

When undertaking a risk assessment relative to working at height, the competent person must ensure the following control measures are in place:

• The job has been properly planned
• It has been risk assessed
• A safe system to work has been developed
• Suitable supervision is in place
• The work is to be carried out in suitable weather conditions
• All workers have the correct training
• All workers are fit to undertake the work
• The correct equipment for undertaking the work is provided and is fit for purpose

If you are unsure about any aspect of working at height or would like to learn more about working at height risk assessments – don’t hesitate to contact us.