Working at Height Regulations: Essential Safety Requirements for UK Businesses

Falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace deaths in the UK.

Whether it's cleaning gutters, accessing storage on high shelving, repairing a roof or using a ladder to change a light bulb, working at height is something most businesses face at some point. The good news? Most falls are entirely preventable with proper planning and the right precautions.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the Work at Height Regulations 2005, explaining what you need to know to keep your people safe and your business compliant.

Why Working at Height Safety Matters

According to the HSE, falls from height accounted for 35 workplace deaths in 2024/25, making it the most common cause of fatal injuries at work. Construction sees the highest number of incidents, but falls happen across all sectors, from warehouses and retail to offices and factories.

What Are the Work at Height Regulations 2005?

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 (amended in 2007) are the main laws covering work at height in the UK. They apply to all work activities where there's a risk of a fall that could cause injury.

What Counts as "Working at Height"?

The regulations define working at height as:

Work in any place where, if precautions were not taken, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury.

This means:

There's no minimum height. Even stepping onto a small platform or working near an edge counts.
It includes working on ladders, scaffolding, roofs or mobile platforms.
It covers working near fragile surfaces like old roofing sheets or skylights.
It applies to working near edges, holes or excavations.
It even includes ground-level work where you could fall through a fragile surface.

Who Do the Regulations Apply To?

The regulations apply to:

All employers, whether you're a large company or a sole trader with one employee.
Self-employed people whose work could affect others.
Anyone who controls work at height, like building owners or facilities managers.

If your work involves any activity where someone could fall and get hurt, these regulations apply to you. It doesn't matter what industry you're in, from offices to construction sites, shops to warehouses.

Your Legal Responsibilities as an Employer

Under the Work at Height Regulations, you have three main duties:

1. Plan the Work Properly

Before any work at height begins, you must plan it carefully:

Think about how the work will be done safely.
Consider what equipment you'll need.
Plan for emergencies and rescue procedures.
Check the weather forecast for outdoor work.
Work out how long people will be working at height and minimise this time.

2. Make Sure It's Supervised

Work at height shouldn't be left to chance:

Appoint someone competent to supervise the work.
Make sure supervisors understand the risks and safety measures.
Check that workers are following the safe systems of work you've put in place.

3. Conduct a Risk Assessment

You must carry out a risk assessment for all work at height activities. This involves:

Identifying what could go wrong and who could be harmed.
Deciding what precautions you need to take.
Recording your findings (if you have five or more employees).
Reviewing it regularly, especially if anything changes.

The regulations work alongside the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which place a general duty on employers to protect workers' health and safety.

The Golden Rule: Avoid, Prevent, Minimise

The regulations follow a simple hierarchy that you must follow:

Step 1: Avoid Work at Height If You Can

The best way to prevent falls is to avoid working at height altogether:

Can the job be done from ground level? Use extension poles, long-handled tools or remote cameras instead.
Can you bring the work down? Pre-assemble components at ground level before lifting them into place.
Can you redesign the task? Install permanent access or make future m

aintenance easier to reach.

If you genuinely can't avoid working at height, move to the next step.

Step 2: Prevent Falls Using Equipment

When work at height is unavoidable, use equipment that prevents people from falling in the first place. This is always better than trying to catch them if they fall.

Collective Protection (Protects Everyone)

Scaffolding with guardrails: Provides a stable platform with edge protection all around.
Mobile access towers: Quick to set up for short-term work, with built-in guardrails.
Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs): Cherry pickers and scissor lifts that provide protected working platforms.
Edge protection: Guardrails, barriers and toe boards that stop people and materials from falling.

Collective protection is the preferred option because it protects everyone in the area without relying on individual behaviour.

Step 3: Minimise the Distance and Consequences of a Fall

Use equipment that minimises fall distance or reduces injury:

Personal Fall Protection

Safety harnesses and lanyards: Connected to secure anchor points to arrest falls.
Work restraint systems: Prevent workers from reaching fall edges in the first place.
Safety nets: Catch falling workers or materials.

Ladders (Only for Low-Risk, Short-Duration Work)

Ladders and stepladders should only be used when the work is low risk, light work and won't take long (typically under 30 minutes).
For anything more substantial, use scaffolding, towers or MEWPs instead.

For more on safe equipment use, see our guide on PUWER Regulations.

Conducting Your Working at Height Risk Assessment

A good working at height risk assessment follows the five-step process:

Step 1: Identify the Hazards

Walk around and look for anything that could cause a fall:

Edges, openings or holes in floors and roofs.
Fragile surfaces like old asbestos cement roofs or skylights.
Unstable platforms or structures.
Poor weather conditions (wind, rain, ice).
Inadequate lighting.
Overhead power lines.
Unsecured ladders or damaged equipment.

Step 2: Who Might Be Harmed?

Think about everyone who could be affected:

The workers doing the job at height.
Other staff working nearby or below.
Visitors, contractors or members of the public.
People who may be more vulnerable, like inexperienced workers, those with health conditions or lone workers.

Step 3: Evaluate the Risks and Decide on Controls

For each hazard, ask:

How high is the work? The higher it is, the greater the risk.
What surface are people working on? Is it solid, fragile or slippery?
How long will they be at height?
What's the condition of the equipment?
Could weather make it more dangerous?

Then apply the avoid, prevent, minimise approach to control the risks.

Step 4: Record Your Findings

Write down:

What hazards you found and who could be harmed.
What equipment you'll use and why.
What emergency arrangements you've made.
Who's responsible for supervising the work.
When you'll review the assessment.

Step 5: Review Regularly

Review your assessment:

Before each new work at height activity.
If anything changes (new equipment, different location, different workers).
After any incidents or near-misses.
At least annually for routine work at height tasks.

Common Working at Height Scenarios

Using Ladders Safely

Ladders are only suitable for:

Short-duration work.
Light work (no heavy or awkward loads).
Low-risk situations.

Safety checklist for ladder use:

Inspect the ladder before each use for damage.
Set it at the correct angle.
Secure the ladder at the top or bottom to prevent slipping.
Make sure it extends at least 1 metre above the landing point.
Maintain three points of contact when climbing (two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand).
Never overreach, descend and move the ladder instead.
Check the ground is firm and level.

For anything more than quick, light work, use a platform or tower instead.

Scaffolding

Scaffolding must be:

Erected by trained, competent scaffolders.
Inspected before first use, after any changes and at least every seven days.
Tagged to show it's been inspected and is safe to use.
Fitted with guardrails, toe boards and intermediate rails.
Strong enough for the loads it will carry.

Never modify scaffolding yourself. If something needs changing, speak to a qualified scaffolder.

Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs)

MEWPs (cherry pickers and scissor lifts) are a safer alternative to ladders for many tasks, but operators must be:

Trained and hold a valid IPAF PAL Card for the specific type of machine.
Competent in conducting pre-use checks.
Aware of overhead hazards and ground conditions.

Before using a MEWP:

Check the ground can support it (level, firm, no underground services).
Look for overhead obstructions, especially power lines.
Make sure there's an emergency descent system and someone knows how to use it.
Check weather conditions, particularly wind speed.

Working on Roofs

Roof work is high risk due to:

Fragile materials that can't support body weight (asbestos cement sheets, old corrugated panels, skylights).
Unprotected edges.
Slippery surfaces in wet or cold conditions.

Control measures for roof work:

Survey the roof first to identify fragile areas.
Mark all fragile surfaces clearly.
Use crawling boards, roof ladders or purpose-built platforms that spread the load.
Install edge protection around the work area.
Use safety nets or harness systems where edge protection isn't possible.
Never walk directly on fragile surfaces.

Working Near Fragile Surfaces

Fragile surfaces are materials that can't support a person's weight and include:

Asbestos cement roof sheets.
Old metal roof panels.
Deteriorated roof coverings.
Roof lights and skylights.
Fragile ceiling panels.

These must be clearly marked with warning signs, and you should use platforms or coverings to prevent anyone stepping on them. Where possible, avoid access to areas with fragile surfaces altogether.

Equipment Inspection and Maintenance

All work at height equipment must be inspected regularly and kept in good condition.

Inspection Requirements

Scaffolding:

Before first use after erection.
At least every seven days.
After any event that could affect its safety (high winds, impacts).

Ladders:

Visual check before each use.
Detailed inspection every 3–6 months depending on how often they're used.

MEWPs:

Daily pre-use checks by the operator.
Thorough inspection every six months.
Annual statutory inspection under LOLER.

Harnesses and Fall Arrest Equipment:

Check before each use.
Detailed inspection by a competent person every six months.
Withdrawn immediately if involved in a fall.

Keep Records

You must keep written records of all inspections, including:

Date of inspection.
Equipment inspected.
Any defects found.
Whether it's safe to use.
Name of the person who inspected it.

Keep these records until the next inspection. They prove you're meeting your legal duties and help track equipment condition over time.

Training and Competence

No one should work at height unless they're competent to do so or being trained under supervision.

What Does "Competent" Mean?

Competent means having:

The right training for the specific task and equipment.
Enough experience to recognise hazards.
The knowledge to work safely and know when to ask for help.

Essential Training

Workers need training on:

The risks of working at height and how falls happen.
How to use the specific equipment safely (ladders, scaffolds, MEWPs, harnesses).
Emergency procedures, including what to do if someone falls.
How to conduct pre-use equipment checks.
When to stop work due to changing conditions.

MEWP Training

Anyone operating a MEWP must complete recognised training and hold a valid PAL Card. This covers:

Pre-use safety checks.
Safe operation of the specific machine type.
Understanding load limits and stability.
Emergency descent procedures.
Hazard awareness (overhead obstructions, ground conditions).

Different types of MEWPs require different training categories.

Keep Training Records

Document all training:

Who was trained and when.
What training they completed.
When refresher training is due (typically every 3–5 years).

For more on establishing competence, see our guide: The Role of a Competent Person in Health and Safety.

Common Hazards and How to Control Them

Bad Weather

Hazards: Wind can destabilise ladders and platforms. Rain makes surfaces slippery. Ice creates slip hazards. Poor visibility in fog.

Controls:

Check the weather forecast before planning outdoor work at height.
Stop work if wind speeds exceed safe limits (typically 17mph, lower for some equipment).
Postpone work during heavy rain, snow or ice.
Don't work in fog if you can't see properly.
Let workers stop work without pressure if conditions become unsafe.

Falling Objects

Hazards: Tools, materials or debris falling and hitting people below.

Controls:

Set up exclusion zones with barriers below the work area.
Use toe boards on all platforms to stop materials rolling off.
Attach tools to lanyards so they can't be dropped.
Lower materials in containers rather than throwing them down.
Provide hard hats for anyone who needs to be in the area.
Keep the work area tidy and clear of loose materials.

For more on preventing workplace accidents, see: How to Prevent Slips, Trips and Falls in the Workplace.

Overhead Power Lines

Hazards: Electrocution from contact with power lines or arcing.

Controls:

Identify all overhead power lines before work starts.
Contact the electricity provider to confirm locations and voltages.
Keep equipment and scaffolding well away from power lines (minimum distances vary by voltage).
Request temporary disconnection or insulation where possible.
Set up barriers to prevent equipment entering danger zones.

Poor Access and Egress

Hazards: Difficulty getting to or from the work area safely.

Controls:

Plan safe routes to reach the work area.
Use proper access equipment, not makeshift solutions.
Make sure routes are clear, well-lit and free from obstructions.
Provide handrails on stairs and walkways.
Don't climb up the outside of scaffolding, use the built-in access ladders.

What Happens If You Don't Comply?

The HSE takes working at height safety very seriously. If you breach the regulations, you could face:

Enforcement Action

Improvement Notices: The HSE tells you what needs fixing and gives you a deadline (usually at least 21 days). Ignoring an improvement notice is a criminal offence.

Prohibition Notices: Work must stop immediately until you fix the problem. This happens when there's risk of serious injury.

Prosecution: You can be taken to court, with cases heard in magistrates' courts or Crown Courts depending on seriousness.

Penalties

Magistrates' Court:

Fines up to £20,000 per offence.
Up to 6 months imprisonment for individuals.

Crown Court:

Unlimited fines (often hundreds of thousands or millions of pounds for serious cases).
Up to 2 years imprisonment for individuals.

Recent prosecutions show these aren't empty threats. Construction companies have received fines exceeding £1 million following fatal falls from height.

The Real Cost

Beyond fines, non-compliance costs you:

Increased insurance premiums or loss of cover.
Inability to bid for contracts.
Reputational damage that affects customer relationships.
Business disruption during investigations.
Compensation claims from injured workers.
Personal liability for directors if there's been serious negligence.

Prevention through compliance is far cheaper than dealing with the consequences of failure.

Practical Steps to Get Started

If you're not sure where you stand with working at height safety, here's what to do:

1. List All Work at Height Activities Write down every task where someone could fall and get hurt. Don't just think about obvious things like roof work; include changing light bulbs, accessing high storage, cleaning windows or any work on platforms.

2. Assess Each Activity For each task on your list:

Can it be avoided or done from ground level?
If not, what equipment will prevent falls?
What training do people need?
How will you inspect and maintain the equipment?

3. Document Your Decisions Record your risk assessments, safe working procedures and equipment inspection schedules. Keep training records for everyone who works at height.

4. Get the Right Equipment Invest in proper equipment suitable for your tasks. Cheap or unsuitable equipment is a false economy if someone gets hurt.

5. Train Your Team Make sure everyone understands the risks and knows how to work safely. Training isn't optional; it's a legal requirement.

6. Review Regularly Set reminders to review your risk assessments and inspect your equipment. Don't let things slide.