What do the Work at Height Regulations require?
Updated · UK law and HSE guidance
Short answer
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require duty holders to plan and organise work at height, ensure competence, assess risks, select suitable equipment and inspect and maintain it. Follow the hierarchy: avoid work at height where reasonably practicable; prevent falls where it cannot be avoided; then minimise fall distance and consequences.
| Main law | Work at Height Regulations 2005 |
|---|---|
| Height threshold | None; applies where a fall could cause personal injury |
| Control order | Avoid, prevent, then minimise |
| People covered | Employers, self-employed and those controlling others' work |
| Worker standard | Competent or appropriately supervised while training |
When the Regulations apply
Work at height means work in any place, including below ground level, where a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury if precautions were absent. There is no two-metre trigger for the general duty. Access and egress can be included. Duty holders include employers, self-employed people and those who control the work of others.
- Assess roofs, ladders, platforms, edges, openings and fragile surfaces
- Consider falling objects and people below
- Plan rescue and emergencies before work starts
Apply the hierarchy
Avoid work at height where reasonably practicable, for example by assembling at ground level. If it cannot be avoided, prevent a fall using an existing safe place or suitable collective equipment such as guarded platforms. Where fall risk remains, minimise distance and consequences, giving collective measures priority over personal systems. Select equipment for the task, duration and site conditions.
- Do not select a ladder simply because one is available
- Protect fragile surfaces and prevent access where needed
- Use personal fall protection only with suitable anchorage, clearance and rescue arrangements
Plan, supervise and inspect
Work must be properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out by competent people. Consider weather and stop conditions. Ensure equipment is assembled, used and inspected by people with the necessary capability; keep required inspection records. Reassess when the method or environment changes. A clear method statement can communicate the precautions. Coordinate with other work above and below. SitePaper can generate work-at-height risk-assessment and method-statement drafts.
- Confirm equipment is suitable, stable and maintained
- Exclude people from areas at risk of falling objects
- Monitor whether the planned method is followed
Sources
- Work at Height Regulations 2005
- HSE: Construction work at height FAQ
- HSE: Assessing construction work at height
This guide summarises UK law and HSE guidance for small businesses. It is not legal advice; check the sources and your own circumstances.