Work at Height Regulations

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 address all issues surrounding working at height, in all industries. Following the risk assessment, the hierarchy below should allow you to select the most appropriate methods for work at height.

The overriding principle is to prevent, as far as is reasonably practicable, any person falling a distance likely to cause personal injury.

The hierarchy

1. AVOID the risk by not working at height — where it is reasonably practicable to carry out the work safely other than at height, then you should do so.
2. PREVENT falls — where avoidance is not reasonably practicable, assess the risks and take measures to allow the work to be done whilst preventing, so far as is reasonably practicable, people or objects falling. This might include carrying out the work from an existing safe place of work, or choosing the correct work equipment.
3. MINIMISE the consequences of a fall — where the risk of falling still remains, take steps to minimise the distance and consequences.
4. At all stages give COLLECTIVE protective measures (e.g. scaffolding, guardrails, nets, airbags) precedence over personal protective measures (e.g. safety harnesses).

What WAHR requires of you

• ✓Assess the risk to help you decide how to work safely.
• ✓Follow the hierarchy: Avoid, Prevent, Minimise — give Collective measures priority.
• ✓Plan and organise your work properly, taking account of weather conditions and the possibility of emergencies (e.g. worker suspended from a lanyard).
• ✓Ensure those working at height are competent to do so.
• ✓Make use of appropriate work equipment.
• ✓Manage the risks from working on or around fragile surfaces and from falling objects.
• ✓Inspect and maintain the work equipment to be used, and inspect the place where the work will be carried out (including access and egress).