Working At Height Safety Guide

Why Working at Height Safety Matters

Around 40% of major injuries on construction sites involve falls from height. Falls can cause serious injuries including fractures, spinal injuries, head injuries, and fatalities.

More than 50% of falls from height can result in death. Working at height must always be properly planned, supervised, and carried out using suitable equipment and safe systems of work.

Before Working at Height

Choose the Right Access Equipment

Ladders and stepladders are only suitable for light work of short duration where there is a low risk of falling. They should not be used where safer access equipment is reasonably available.

Use Safer Access Where Possible

Ideally, safer access equipment should be provided. This may include scaffolds, mobile towers, podium steps, mobile elevated work platforms, or properly designed working platforms.

Install Edge Protection

Roof-edge barriers, scaffolds, guard-rails, and toe-boards must be erected where required to prevent people and materials falling from height.

Secure Access Ladders

Access ladders must extend at least one metre, or approximately five rungs, above the stepping-off point. They must also be properly secured to prevent slipping or movement.

Identify Fragile Surfaces

Fragile surfaces such as asbestos cement roof sheets, fragile roof panels, and skylights must be identified with signs. Suitable measures must be taken to stop workers falling through them.

Set Ladders at the Correct Angle

Ladders must be rested at the correct angle. The correct ratio is one unit out for every four units up.

Common Hazards When Working at Height

Falls from Height

Any fall can result in serious injury. Collective fall protection such as guard-rails, toe-boards, barriers, and working platforms should be used before relying on personal protective equipment.

Falling Materials

Materials, tools, and waste can fall from height and injure people below. Toe-boards, debris netting, exclusion zones, and proper material handling procedures should be used.

Adverse Weather

Wet, windy, or icy weather can make work at height extremely dangerous. Weather conditions should be anticipated and suitable precautions taken before work begins.

Overloaded Working Platforms

Too much material on a working platform can restrict access, create trip hazards, and make scaffolds or platforms unstable.

Poor Housekeeping

Rubbish should not be allowed to accumulate. Waste should be lowered safely or removed using a chute where suitable.

Safe Working on Roofs

Use Competent Operatives

Only competent operatives should be used for roofing works. Roof work can involve fragile materials, open edges, weather exposure, and difficult access.

Use a Safe System of Work

A safe system of work must be devised and implemented where a roof could collapse under a person’s weight. A temporary platform is often used to spread the load and provide safe access.

Use Harnesses Only Where Necessary

If edge protection or a soft-landing system cannot be used, it may be necessary to use a harness and lanyard. A secure anchorage point and suitable training are required.

Control Fire Risks

Bitumen boilers require a drip tray and suitable fire extinguisher. Hot works on roofs must be carefully controlled to prevent fire.

Guard or Cover Openings

Openings must be covered or guarded. If covers or guards are removed for any reason, they should be replaced as soon as practical.

Employer Responsibilities

• Plan work at height properly
• Provide suitable access equipment
• Install collective fall protection where required
• Identify fragile surfaces before work starts
• Ensure workers are trained and competent
• Assess weather conditions and site hazards
• Provide harnesses, lanyards, and anchorage points where required
• Ensure equipment is inspected and maintained

Worker Responsibilities

• Use the access equipment provided
• Do not work near unprotected edges
• Keep platforms clear and tidy
• Do not overload scaffolds or working platforms
• Report damaged ladders, guard-rails, or platforms
• Follow the safe system of work
• Use harnesses only when trained and instructed
• Stay away from fragile surfaces unless proper controls are in place

Work at Height Questions for Toolbox Talks

• What should be identified before work at height starts?
• Above what height must edge protection, toe-boards, and guard-rails be erected?
• When might a temporary platform be used?
• How far should ladders extend above a stepping-off point?
• Why should collective fall protection be used before PPE?
• What weather conditions can make work at height unsafe?

Conclusion

Working at height is one of the highest-risk activities on construction sites. Falls can cause life-changing injuries or fatalities, so work must be properly planned and controlled.

Ladders should only be used for light, short-duration work where the risk is low. Safer access equipment, edge protection, guard-rails, toe-boards, and suitable working platforms should be used wherever possible.

Fragile surfaces, adverse weather, falling materials, and overloaded platforms must all be considered before work starts. Employers and workers must work together to ensure safe systems are followed and falls are prevented.