Permits to Work · Best Practice · Construction
Permit to Work — Working at Height
The Working at Height Permit authorises tasks performed at elevation where a risk of falling exists, confirming that access equipment has been inspected, edge protection is in place, and a rescue plan has been established. It records the specific work area, equipment to be used, and competency of operatives. The permit supplements the RAMS and ensures site management oversight of height-related activities.
Last reviewed: 29 March 2026 — This guide reflects UK law as of this date. WAH Regs 2005 remains current with no amendments enacted as of 29 March 2026. Next scheduled review: 29 March 2027.
| Document ref | E6 — Permit to Work: Working at Height |
| Legal basis | Work at Height Regulations 2005 + MHSWR 1999 Regulation 3 |
| WAH hierarchy | Avoid work at height → Prevent falls (guardrails, platforms) → Mitigate falls (nets, harnesses) |
| When PTW adds value | Fragile roofs, unprotected edges above 2m, leading edge work, work over or near water, work near live traffic, work from MEWPs in high-risk areas |
| Fragile roofs | Asbestos cement sheets, fibre cement sheets, roof lights, liner panels, corroded metal decking — all must be treated as fragile unless tested and certified otherwise |
| MEWP permit | A separate permit section should cover MEWP use — including selection, ground conditions, exclusion zone, wind speed limits, and rescue plan |
| Edge protection | Minimum 950mm guardrail height with intermediate rail and toe board (EN 13374 or BS 6180) — must be in place before access is permitted |
1. Falls from Height — The Leading Killer
Falls from height remain the single largest cause of workplace fatalities in the UK construction industry, accounting for approximately 40 fatal injuries each year. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 impose a strict hierarchy: avoid work at height where it is reasonably practicable to do so; where it cannot be avoided, prevent falls by using collective protection such as guardrails and working platforms; and where falls cannot be prevented, mitigate their consequences using nets, airbags, or personal fall arrest systems. A permit to work for working at height adds a formal authorisation layer that ensures the hierarchy has been applied and that all controls are verified before the work begins.
The permit to work is not a substitute for the risk assessment and method statement — it is a formal check that confirms the controls described in the RAMS are physically in place before a specific task at height is authorised. It should be time-limited, task-specific, and signed off by an authorising person who has inspected the work area. The PTW system is particularly valuable for high-consequence scenarios such as work on fragile roofs, leading edge work during steel erection, and any activity where the fall distance or the environment below (water, traffic, confined areas) increases the severity of the outcome.
Fragile roofs: the most lethal surface on a construction site
Asbestos cement sheeting, fibre cement panels, plastic roof lights, liner panels, and corroded metal decking are all classified as fragile. A person falling through a fragile roof typically falls the full internal height of the building — often 6 to 12 metres — onto a hard surface below. Deaths from fragile roof falls are among the most preventable in the industry, yet they continue to occur because workers either do not know the roof is fragile, or access the roof without the controls specified in the permit. Every permit for roof work must explicitly address fragile materials, crawling boards, and exclusion zones around roof lights.
2. WAH Permit — Key Content
The following table sets out the fields that a working at height permit to work should contain. Each field must be completed before the permit is issued, and the authorising person must verify the information by physical inspection of the work area — not by desk review alone.
| Permit field | Required content |
|---|---|
| Task description | Specific description of the work to be carried out at height — including exact location, floor or roof level, and the nature of the task (installation, inspection, maintenance, demolition) |
| Fall height and surface below | Measured or estimated fall distance and description of the surface below the work position — concrete, steel frame, water, public highway, or other hazard |
| Hierarchy of control applied | Record of how the WAH hierarchy has been applied: why the work cannot be done from ground level, what collective protection is in place (guardrails, platforms, nets), and what personal fall protection is used where collective protection is not reasonably practicable |
| Access equipment specified | Type and specification of access equipment to be used — scaffold, MEWP (type and reach), podium step, roof ladder, crawling boards. Equipment must be inspected before use and any statutory inspection certificates confirmed current |
| Edge protection / fragile surface controls | Confirmation that edge protection is in place (minimum 950mm guardrail with intermediate rail and toe board), that fragile surfaces are identified and protected (crawling boards, barriers, warning notices), and that exclusion zones are established around roof lights and other fragile elements |
| Rescue plan | Documented rescue procedure for each work position — including how a person suspended in a harness will be recovered within the critical 15–20 minute window to prevent suspension trauma. Named rescue personnel, equipment location, and emergency contact details |
| Weather restrictions | Wind speed limits for MEWP use (typically 28 mph / 12.5 m/s unless manufacturer specifies lower), prohibition on work during electrical storms, and conditions under which work must stop (ice, heavy rain reducing visibility or grip) |
| Permit validity and sign-off | Start time, end time, maximum duration (typically one shift), name and signature of the authorising person, name and signature of the person carrying out the work, and cancellation sign-off confirming the area has been left safe on completion |
3. Common Mistakes
No rescue plan for harness users
Issuing a permit that authorises harness use without a documented rescue plan is a critical failure. A worker suspended in a harness after a fall can develop suspension trauma (orthostatic intolerance) within 15 to 20 minutes, which can be fatal. The rescue plan must specify how the person will be reached, lowered or raised, and the equipment and trained personnel required. A plan that relies on calling the emergency services alone is not adequate — the response time exceeds the survival window.
Permit issued without physical inspection of the work area
The authorising person must inspect the work area before signing the permit. A desk-based review of the RAMS is not sufficient. Edge protection must be confirmed in place, fragile surfaces must be identified and protected, access equipment must be checked, and the rescue plan must be verified as operational. A permit signed without this inspection provides no assurance that the controls are actually in place.
Fragile roof materials not identified on the permit
Every permit for roof work must explicitly identify whether fragile materials are present and what controls are in place. Asbestos cement sheets, fibre cement panels, plastic roof lights, and corroded metal decking are all fragile. If the permit does not address fragile materials, workers may walk on surfaces that will not support their weight. Roof lights are a particular hazard because they can be obscured by dirt, moss, or paint and are easily mistaken for solid panels.
Edge protection removed and not reinstated
Edge protection is frequently removed by one trade to facilitate their work and not reinstated before the next trade accesses the area. The permit system must require that edge protection is confirmed in place before each new permit is issued. Any temporary removal must be covered by an alternative control (e.g. harness and lanyard with a competent banksman) and reinstated immediately after the task is complete. A gap in edge protection is an uncontrolled fall hazard.
MEWP used without ground condition assessment
A MEWP (Mobile Elevating Work Platform) can overturn if the ground beneath the wheels or outriggers is not capable of supporting the imposed loads. The permit must confirm that ground conditions have been assessed, that outrigger mats are in place where required, that underground voids (basements, drains, service runs) have been identified and avoided, and that the MEWP is positioned on firm, level ground. Overturning MEWPs account for a significant number of WAH fatalities each year.
5. Frequently Asked Questions
Is a permit to work legally required for all working at height?▾
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 do not explicitly mandate a permit to work by name. However, Regulation 4 requires that work at height is properly planned, appropriately supervised, and carried out in a manner that is safe so far as is reasonably practicable. A permit to work system is the recognised mechanism for demonstrating that these duties have been discharged for high-risk WAH activities. The HSE expects to see a PTW system for activities such as work on fragile roofs, leading edge work, and any task where the fall height or consequences are significant. Operating without a PTW in these circumstances would be difficult to defend in any investigation.
At what height does a permit become necessary?▾
There is no specific height threshold in the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The Regulations apply to any work where a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury — which in practice means any fall of any height. The decision to require a permit is based on the risk assessment, not on an arbitrary height. However, most site permit systems are triggered at 2 metres or above, and always for work on fragile surfaces, near unprotected edges, or from MEWPs regardless of height.
What is suspension trauma and why must the rescue plan address it?▾
Suspension trauma (orthostatic intolerance) occurs when a person hangs motionless in a harness after a fall. The harness leg straps compress the femoral veins, restricting blood return to the heart. Blood pools in the legs, reducing cardiac output and causing loss of consciousness. If the casualty is not rescued and placed in a semi-recumbent position within approximately 15 to 20 minutes, the condition can be fatal. The rescue plan must ensure that a suspended person can be reached and lowered within this window. A plan that relies solely on the emergency services is inadequate because typical response times exceed the survival period.
Can a single permit cover an entire scaffold for the duration of the project?▾
No. A permit to work must be task-specific and time-limited. A blanket permit covering all work on a scaffold for the duration of the project provides no assurance that conditions have been checked before each specific task. Each permit should cover a defined task, at a defined location, for a defined period (typically one shift). The authorising person must physically inspect the work area and confirm that edge protection, access, and rescue arrangements are in place before each permit is issued.
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Get started freeThis guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, regulations change and individual project circumstances vary. Construction Suite is a trading name of Xzist Digital Ltd, registered in England and Wales.