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Working at heights checklist

Falls remain one of the largest causes of workplace death and serious injury. The duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is to work through the hierarchy: avoid the work at height if you can, prevent falls if you cannot avoid the work, and minimise the distance and consequences if a fall is still possible. This checklist runs those decisions before the job starts.

Who it's for: Supervisors and workers doing roof access, ladder work, scaffold work, elevating work platform operation, or any task near an unprotected edge.

Free to use and adapt · Last updated 2026-08-02 · No email required

Scope note

Height threshold or duty trigger that applies here, and its source

Some jurisdictions set a specific height that triggers particular duties for certain kinds of work, and others impose duties wherever a fall could cause injury regardless of height. Do not work from a remembered trigger height. Record the requirement that applies to you below, from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or your own procedure, and apply the stricter of that and your risk assessment.

Low falls injure and kill people. A fall from a step ladder onto a hard floor is a common source of serious head injury, so do not treat short heights as automatically out of scope.

Job details

Task and exact location
Working height and what is below Hard surface, water, plant, public access
Duration and time of day
Workers involved and their training or licences
Supervisor
Date

Step 1 - Can the work at height be avoided

This is the only control that removes the risk. Exhaust it before moving on.

  • Can the task be done from the ground, for example with extendable tools
  • Can the item be lowered, or brought to ground level, for the work
  • Can the work be designed out, for example by relocating a serviceable item
  • Can remote inspection replace physical access, for example a camera or drone survey
  • If the answer to all of these is no, record why and continue

Step 2 - Select the access method

Work down this list. Choose the highest option that is reasonably practicable, not the one that is quickest to set up.

Access method selected, and why higher options were not reasonably practicable
  • Permanent platform, walkway or stair with fixed guardrail
  • Scaffold with guardrails, erected and inspected by a competent person
  • Elevating work platform or scissor lift, operated by a licensed or trained operator
  • Mobile scaffold tower, correctly assembled, braced and with wheels locked
  • Fall prevention system: guardrails, covers, or a travel-restraint system that stops the worker reaching the edge
  • Fall arrest system: harness and lanyard that arrests a fall in progress, with rescue arranged
  • Ladder, for light, short-duration work only, with three points of contact maintained

Step 3 - Equipment checks

  • Ladder is the right type and rating, undamaged, on firm level ground, secured, and extends far enough above the landing
  • Scaffold has a current inspection tag, is complete, and has not been modified by anyone unauthorised
  • Elevating work platform has current inspection and maintenance records, and the operator holds the required licence
  • Guardrails, toe boards and covers are in place, secure and rated for the load
  • Anchor points are rated, certified, in date and appropriate for the direction of loading
  • Harness is in date, inspected before use, correctly sized and correctly fitted
  • Lanyard and energy absorber are in date, undamaged, and the length is correct for the available fall clearance
  • Fall clearance below has been calculated, so the worker cannot reach the ground or an obstruction before arrest
  • Tools are tethered, and the exclusion zone below is barricaded against falling objects

Step 4 - Conditions

  • Weather is suitable: wind, rain, ice, heat and lightning all assessed, with stop conditions agreed
  • Lighting is adequate for the work and the access route
  • Surfaces have been assessed for fragility, including roof sheeting, skylights and corroded decking
  • Fragile surfaces are covered, barricaded or clearly marked
  • Overhead hazards identified, especially powerlines, with the required clearance maintained
  • Access route to the work position is safe, including getting on and off the platform
  • Public, staff and vehicles are excluded from the area below

Step 5 - Rescue plan

If a fall arrest system is used, a rescue plan is required before work starts. A worker suspended in a harness needs to be recovered quickly, and waiting for emergency services may not be fast enough.

  • Rescue method decided and equipment available on site
  • Rescuers identified, trained and present for the duration
  • Nobody is working at height alone where rescue depends on a second person
  • Method of raising the alarm confirmed, including how to call 999
  • Suspension intolerance understood, and the plan aims to recover the person promptly
  • Rescue plan briefed to everyone before work starts

Sign-off

RoleNameSignatureTime
Supervisor   
Worker 1   
Worker 2   
How to use it

Getting the most out of this template

  • Run the checklist at the job, looking at the actual access point, not in the office beforehand.
  • Do not let a ladder become the default because it is in the van. Record why the higher options were not reasonably practicable.
  • Inspect harnesses and lanyards before every use, and remove anything from service that has arrested a fall.
  • Agree the stop conditions for weather before anyone is on the roof, so the decision is not made under pressure later.
  • Never rely on emergency services as your only rescue plan for a suspended worker.

This template is general information, not legal advice. Requirements differ by jurisdiction and industry; check the guidance published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and seek advice for your specific circumstances.

Questions

Frequently asked

At what height do the rules kick in?
It depends on your jurisdiction and the kind of work. Some set a specific trigger height for particular duties, others impose duties wherever a fall could cause injury. Confirm the position with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and apply the stricter of that and your own risk assessment. Falls from low heights cause serious injuries regularly, so treating a low height as automatically safe is a mistake.
Is a harness enough on its own?
A harness is fall arrest, which is near the bottom of the hierarchy because it accepts that the fall happens. Fall prevention, such as guardrails or travel restraint, is better because the worker never falls. If you are using arrest, you also need certified anchors, calculated fall clearance and a rescue plan.
Do we need a permit as well as this checklist?
Many sites require a permit for roof access or work near an unprotected edge, and some require one for all work above a set height. Check your own procedure. This checklist works as the pre-work assessment behind a permit, or on its own for lower-risk tasks.
Can someone work at height alone?
Only if the risk assessment supports it and rescue does not depend on a second person being present. With fall arrest that is rarely the case, since a suspended worker cannot self-rescue. Where lone work at height is unavoidable, a reliable way to raise the alarm and a rescue arrangement that does not rely on the worker are both essential.
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