Working at Height
Accessing the Risk

Working at Height

Accessing the Risk

Requirements

Access Equipment

Mobile Access Towers

Scaffolding

Scaffolding - Vetting Criteria

Ladders and step ladders

Hydraulic Hoists

Vetting Hoists or Hydraulic Platform Contractors

Rostra

Abseiling

Grids in Studios or Theatres

Flying Ballet

Vetting Criteria - Flying Ballet Contractors

Common Questions

Key Points

In all cases when working at a height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause injury, those in control of the work activity must ensure that a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for all work at height activities is carried out and provide all those involved with the significant findings.

A suitable and sufficient risk assessment will ensure the following:

all work at height must be planned
avoid work at height wherever possible
only those suitably accustomed and physically able do so should work at a height
no-one may be required to do so against their will
precautions must be taken wherever there is a risk of a person or object falling from height
where edge protection is used, it must be suitable and be at least 1.1m high, with suitable toe board and intermediate rail (or equivalent protection), no gap between guardrail or midrail and toe board must exceed 470mm
access to areas with unprotected drops of any distance must be restricted to all but authorised and competent persons
a suitable notice must be used to warn of any fragile surface where access to that area may occur
consideration to emergency and abnormal situations.

Where any residual risks remain these must be recorded and the appropriate control measures instigated with a process for monitoring and review of their effectiveness.