Working at Height Regulations 2005: What Contractors Must Do

Pro Site Docs · Guide

Falls from height remain the biggest single cause of death on UK construction sites. That is why the Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply to any work where a person could fall a distance liable to cause injury — there is no "2-metre rule"; even low-level falls count if injury is likely.

The hierarchy: avoid, prevent, minimise

The regulations set a strict order of thinking that your RAMS must reflect:

• Avoid working at height where you can — assemble at ground level, use extendable tools
• Prevent falls — use scaffolds, MEWPs, edge protection, guardrails
• Minimise the consequences — nets, soft-landing systems, harnesses as a last resort

If your method statement jumps straight to harnesses without explaining why a scaffold or MEWP was not practicable, expect it to be rejected.

Ladders are not banned — but they are limited

Ladders and stepladders are legal for short-duration, low-risk work where a risk assessment justifies them. Three points of contact, secured or footed, on firm level ground, and inspected before use. If the task means both hands working for long periods, a ladder is the wrong kit.

Inspections and records

Equipment for work at height must be inspected: scaffolds every 7 days and after alterations or bad weather, MEWPs and harnesses under LOLER/PUWER schedules, and ladders before each use with a recorded periodic check. Keep the reports — inspection records are exactly what gets requested after an incident.

The paperwork that proves compliance

A compliant working-at-height operation runs on documents: a task RAMS built around the hierarchy, harness and lanyard inspection records, scaffold handover and inspection forms, a rescue plan, and toolbox talks for the crew. Our Working at Height Pack bundles all of them as editable Word files, or browse single documents if you only need one form.