Risk Assessments · Mandatory · Pre-Construction

RAMS — Working at Height

This RAMS addresses the risks of working at height, the single largest cause of fatal injuries in construction. It covers access equipment selection, edge protection, fall arrest systems, rescue plans, and competency requirements under the Work at Height Regulations 2005. Work at height must be avoided where possible, and collective protection prioritised over personal protection.

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.

Legal basis	Work at Height Regulations 2005
Height threshold	No minimum height threshold — the regulations apply at any height where a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury
Hierarchy	Avoid, Prevent, Minimise (WAH Regulations 2005, Regulation 6)
Rescue plan	Mandatory before any fall arrest equipment is used — a harness without a rescue plan is not compliant
Fatal statistics	Falls from height account for approximately 50% of all construction fatalities — around 35 deaths per year
Enforcing authority	Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

1. What It Covers

Falls from height are the single biggest killer on UK construction sites. They account for approximately 50% of all construction fatalities — around 35 deaths per year — and a far greater number of serious injuries including spinal fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and permanent disability. No other hazard category comes close.

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury. There is no minimum height threshold — a fall from a stepladder can be fatal. The regulations cover scaffold work, roof work, work from mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), ladder use, work on or near fragile surfaces, steel erection, edge protection, and any other activity where a person could fall a distance sufficient to cause injury.

Every RAMS that involves any element of working at height must address the specific risks, the hierarchy of control, the equipment to be used, the competence requirements for operatives, and the rescue arrangements in the event of a fall.

Falls from height: UK construction's leading killer

HSE data consistently shows that falls from height account for around half of all fatal injuries in the construction sector. In the most recent five-year period, falls from height caused more deaths than the next three hazard categories combined (struck by moving vehicle, struck by moving object, and trapped by collapse or overturn). The risk is not confined to high-rise work — a significant proportion of fatal falls occur from heights of less than two metres, including falls from ladders, stepladders, and low-level working platforms.

2. The WAH Hierarchy

The Work at Height Regulations 2005, Regulation 6, establishes a strict hierarchy of control that must be followed in sequence. You cannot move to a lower level of the hierarchy until you have demonstrated that the level above is not reasonably practicable. This hierarchy is the foundation of every working at height risk assessment.

“Every employer shall ensure that work at height is—(a) avoided so far as is reasonably practicable; (b) where work at height cannot be avoided, that work is carried out using suitable work equipment or other measures to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, a fall occurring; and (c) where the risk of a fall cannot be eliminated, the distance and consequences of a fall are minimised so far as is reasonably practicable.”— Work at Height Regulations 2005, Regulation 6(3)

Level	What it means	Construction examples
AVOID	Eliminate work at height entirely — carry out the task at ground level or redesign to remove the need for height access	Pre-fabricate roof trusses at ground level; install services before roof is closed; use ground-level assembly for steelwork connections; design out parapet work by specifying pre-cast copings lifted into place
PREVENT	Where work at height cannot be avoided, use collective protection measures that prevent any person from falling	Scaffold with full guardrails and toe boards; edge protection to open edges; MEWPs with guardrails; safety nets positioned directly below the working area; temporary barriers around floor openings
MINIMISE	Where falls cannot be prevented, minimise the distance and consequences of a fall using personal or collective measures	Fall arrest harnesses with lanyards (with rescue plan); fall restraint systems that prevent reaching the edge; safety nets positioned to arrest a fall; soft landing systems; airbags for fragile roof work

Collective protection is always preferred over personal protection

The hierarchy requires that collective protection — measures such as scaffolding, guardrails, MEWPs, and safety nets that protect everyone in the area without requiring individual action — is always considered before personal protection such as harnesses. A harness protects one person and relies on correct fitting, training, inspection, and a rescue plan. A guardrail protects everyone who works behind it without any individual action. The RAMS must demonstrate why collective protection is not reasonably practicable before specifying personal fall protection.

3. Equipment

The choice of work at height equipment must follow the hierarchy in Regulation 6. The table below sets out the principal equipment types used on construction sites, when each is appropriate, and the competence requirements for operatives.

Equipment	When used	Competence and key requirements
Scaffolding	Medium to long duration work at height; where a stable, full-width working platform with edge protection is required; multi-level access	CISRS-qualified scaffolders for erection, alteration and dismantling. TG20 compliance for standard configurations. Non-standard designs require a scaffold design from a qualified engineer. Scaffold must be inspected before first use, at least every 7 days, and after any event likely to affect stability.
MEWP (Mobile Elevating Work Platform)	Short to medium duration tasks requiring flexible positioning at height; external cladding, painting, services installation; where scaffold is not reasonably practicable	IPAF PAL card for operators (category-specific: 3a scissor, 3b boom, etc.). Ground conditions must be assessed for bearing capacity. Exclusion zone required at ground level. Daily pre-use checks by the operator.
Mobile tower scaffold	Short duration internal and external work at low to medium height; where a fixed scaffold is disproportionate; painting, light maintenance, services installation	PASMA-trained operatives for assembly, use and dismantling. Manufacturer instructions must be followed. Outriggers and stabilisers must be deployed as specified. Must not be moved while occupied.
Ladder	Short duration work (up to 30 minutes) at low height; light duty tasks; access to scaffold or other working platforms; where the task allows three points of contact to be maintained	Competent person to select, inspect and position. Must be secured at the top or footed at the base. Not suitable for tasks requiring two hands or carrying heavy materials. Industrial grade (Class 1 or EN 131) required on construction sites.
Step ladder	Very short duration tasks at low height; where the work can be completed with the user facing the stepladder; light duty only	Competent person to select and inspect. User must not overreach or stand on the top two steps. Not suitable for side-loading tasks or heavy tools. Platform stepladders preferred where available.
Fall arrest harness	Where collective protection is not reasonably practicable; steel erection, leading edge work, work on structures where edge protection cannot be installed in advance	Operatives trained in correct fitting, use, inspection and limitations. Harness must be inspected before each use and formally examined at intervals not exceeding 6 months. Anchor points must be rated for the load. A rescue plan must be in place before any fall arrest equipment is used.
Safety nets	Roof work, steel erection, and other elevated work where a net can be positioned below the working area to arrest falls; often used in combination with other measures	Installation by competent riggers. Nets must comply with BS EN 1263-1. Net positioning and clearance distances must be calculated. Regular inspection required. Nets must be removed and replaced if they have arrested a fall.

4. Key Hazards

The following table identifies the principal hazards associated with working at height on construction sites, who is at risk, the contributing risk factors, and the controls that must be addressed in the RAMS.

Hazard	Who at risk	Risk factors	Controls
Falls from open edges	All operatives working near unprotected edges; particularly roofers, steel erectors, cladding installers	Missing or incomplete edge protection; guardrails removed and not replaced; working outside protected areas; poor lighting	Edge protection (guardrails, toe boards, brick guards) installed before work begins; scaffold with full edge protection; MEWPs; fall restraint to prevent reaching the edge; warning signage at unprotected edges
Falls through fragile surfaces	Roofers, maintenance workers, anyone accessing roofs with fragile materials (fibre cement sheets, rooflights, liner panels)	Fragile materials not identified or marked; crawling boards or staging not provided; operatives walking directly on roof sheets; deteriorated materials not assessed	Fragile surface survey before access; warning signage at access points; crawling boards or staging across fragile areas; safety nets below; platform over covers secured over rooflights; permanent edge protection
Falls from ladders	All operatives using ladders for access or short-duration tasks	Ladder not secured at top; incorrect angle (not 75 degrees / 1:4 ratio); overreaching; carrying materials; using damaged ladder; using ladder for prolonged tasks	Ladder secured at top or footed at base; correct angle; three points of contact maintained; industrial grade ladder; pre-use inspection; tasks limited to 30 minutes; alternative equipment considered first
Falling objects	All persons at lower levels; pedestrians; other trades working below	Tools or materials dropped from height; unsecured materials on scaffold platforms; wind displacing loose items; inadequate toe boards or brick guards	Toe boards and brick guards on all scaffold platforms; tool lanyards for hand tools; exclusion zones below overhead work; fans or netting to catch debris; materials secured against wind; no materials stored on scaffold beyond immediate need
Collapse of working platform	All operatives on the platform; persons below	Scaffold not erected to design; unauthorised modification; overloading; inadequate foundations; mobile tower not stabilised; MEWP on unsuitable ground	Scaffold erected by CISRS-qualified scaffolders; handover inspection before use; 7-day inspections recorded; no unauthorised alterations; load limits displayed and enforced; MEWP ground bearing assessment; mobile tower outriggers deployed
Adverse weather	All operatives working at height, particularly those on exposed scaffolds, roofs, and MEWPs	High wind speeds; rain making surfaces slippery; ice on platforms and ladders; reduced visibility in fog; lightning risk on exposed structures	Wind speed monitoring with defined stop-work thresholds (typically 17 m/s for general work, lower for crane-dependent lifts and MEWPs); anti-slip surfaces on platforms; ice clearance procedures; task-specific weather assessment in RAMS; lightning risk assessment for steel erection

5. Rescue Plan

The rescue plan is the most overlooked requirement in working at height RAMS. The Work at Height Regulations 2005, Regulation 4, requires that work at height is planned to include the selection of rescue equipment. Where fall arrest equipment is specified, a rescue plan must be in place before work begins. Without one, the fall arrest system is not compliant — and the consequences of suspension in a harness without prompt rescue can be fatal.

A harness without a rescue plan is not compliant — and can be fatal

Suspension trauma (also known as harness hang syndrome or orthostatic intolerance) can cause serious injury or death within minutes of a fall being arrested by a harness. Blood pools in the legs, reducing return to the heart and brain. An operative suspended motionless in a harness can lose consciousness within 5 to 20 minutes and can die shortly afterwards. A rescue plan with a target response time and named rescuer is not optional — it is a legal requirement and a life-or-death necessity.

Element	Required content
Named rescuer	A specific, named individual trained in rescue techniques who is on site and available whenever fall arrest equipment is in use. The rescuer must not be the person working at height.
Rescue equipment on site	Appropriate rescue equipment must be on site, inspected, and ready for immediate deployment. This may include a rescue descent device, rescue harness, man-riding winch, MEWP designated for rescue, or other system appropriate to the location and height.
Communication method	A defined communication method between the person working at height, the rescuer, and site management. This may be radio, mobile phone, visual signal, or audible alarm depending on site conditions.
Emergency services	Procedure for contacting emergency services if site-based rescue is unsuccessful or the casualty requires medical attention. Must include site address, access routes, and designated meeting point for emergency vehicles.
Time target	A maximum target time from fall arrest to rescue completion. Industry guidance recommends rescue within 10 to 15 minutes to reduce the risk of suspension trauma. The rescue plan must demonstrate that this is achievable with the equipment and personnel available.
Test before use	The rescue plan must be tested (drilled) before live use to confirm that the equipment works, the rescuer is competent, and the target time can be achieved. A rescue plan that has never been tested is not reliable.

Non-entry rescue preferred

Where possible, rescue plans should specify non-entry rescue methods — that is, methods that allow the rescuer to reach and lower the casualty from a safe position without placing themselves at the same risk. Using a MEWP to reach a suspended worker, or a remotely operated descent device, is preferred over a rescuer climbing to the casualty's position. Non-entry rescue is faster, safer for the rescuer, and more reliable under stress.

6. Common Mistakes

Specifying harnesses as primary protection without considering collective protection first

The WAH hierarchy requires that collective protection (scaffolding, guardrails, MEWPs) is considered before personal fall protection (harnesses). A RAMS that specifies harnesses as the primary control without demonstrating why collective protection is not reasonably practicable fails the Regulation 6 hierarchy. Harnesses should only appear where collective protection has been ruled out with documented justification.

No rescue plan in place when fall arrest equipment is used

Fall arrest equipment without an accompanying rescue plan is not compliant with the Work at Height Regulations. The rescue plan must name the rescuer, specify the equipment, define the communication method, and set a target rescue time. Suspension trauma can cause death within minutes. This is not an administrative gap — it is a potentially fatal omission.

Using ladders for tasks that require two hands or extended duration

Ladders are only suitable for short-duration tasks (up to 30 minutes) where three points of contact can be maintained. Tasks that require two hands, carrying heavy materials, or extended working time are not ladder tasks. The RAMS must specify an alternative — a scaffold, tower, or MEWP — for anything beyond light, short-duration work.

Scaffold inspections not recorded in a written register

Scaffolds must be inspected before first use, at least every 7 days, and after any event likely to affect stability (such as high winds or a modification). Each inspection must be recorded in writing by a competent person. An inspection that is carried out but not recorded provides no evidence of compliance. The inspection register must be available on site for review.

MEWP deployed without a ground bearing assessment

MEWPs exert significant point loads through their stabilisers and wheels. Deploying a MEWP on ground that cannot support these loads risks overturning. The RAMS must include a ground bearing capacity assessment, specify the MEWP weight and outrigger loads, and define ground preparation requirements. Soft ground, slopes, voids below surface, and underground services must all be assessed.

Weather conditions not addressed in the RAMS

Wind, rain, ice, and reduced visibility all increase the risk of falls from height. The RAMS must define stop-work thresholds for wind speed (typically 17 m/s for general work at height, lower for MEWPs and crane-dependent operations), procedures for ice clearance on platforms and access routes, and arrangements for monitoring weather conditions throughout the working day.

7. Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Work at Height Regulations apply to work from ladders at ground level?▾

Yes. The regulations apply to any work where a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. A fall from a ladder at ground level — even a stepladder — can cause serious injury or death. There is no exemption for low-level work. The hierarchy of avoid, prevent, minimise applies regardless of the height involved.

Is there a minimum height threshold below which the regulations do not apply?▾

No. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 do not specify a minimum height. They apply wherever there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury. HSE fatality data consistently shows that a significant number of fatal falls occur from heights of less than two metres. The absence of a height threshold is deliberate — the regulations are risk-based, not height-based.

Can one RAMS cover all working at height activities on a project?▾

In principle, a single RAMS can cover multiple height activities — but only if each activity is individually risk-assessed with its own hazard identification, hierarchy justification, equipment specification, competence requirements, and rescue arrangements. A generic statement that "harnesses will be worn" across all height tasks does not meet the standard. In practice, separate or supplementary RAMS for distinct activities (e.g. scaffold work, roof work, MEWP operations) are usually more practical and more defensible.

When must a scaffold be inspected?▾

A scaffold must be inspected by a competent person: (1) before first use after erection; (2) at intervals not exceeding 7 days; (3) after any event likely to have affected its strength or stability, such as high winds, heavy rain, impact damage, or any alteration to the scaffold. Each inspection must be recorded in writing. The inspection record must be kept on site and made available to anyone who requests it. The competent person carrying out the inspection should hold a relevant qualification such as CISRS scaffold inspection.

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