Work at Heights Risk Assessment

Date:

Description of work:
Location:
Timing: / Day time / Night time / Weekends / Bank holidays / Specify:
Approximate duration: / Hours: Days: Weeks:
Lone working: / Yes / No
Persons Involved:
Height of work:

Risk Factors

Task:Will the worker be required: / Yes / No / Remarks
  • To use both hands for the task?

  • To reach above his / her head?

  • To reach over or to the side?

  • To lift, handle or support loads?

  • To use hand tools?

  • To use power tools?

  • To wear specialist clothing?

  • To work to a deadline?

  • Work near live electrical items?

  • Other (please specify)

Individual: Will the worker’s: / Yes / No / Remarks
  • Current training & skills be sufficient?

  • Health cause risks e.g. vertigo / giddiness?

  • Normal clothing hamper movement or stability?

  • Specialist clothing hamper movement or stability?

  • Other (please specify)

Equipment: / Yes / No / Remarks
  • Is there a lot of equipment?

  • Is the equipment heavy or awkward?

  • Is equipment potentially unstable?

  • Is the equipment powered?

  • Has the equipment been inspected by a competent person before use?

  • Have intervals of inspection been decided? If so what are they?

  • Other (please specify)

Environment: / Yes / No / Remarks
  • Is the ground slippery / sloping / uneven?

  • Are snow and ice procedures in place?

  • Are there moving vehicles nearby?

  • Are there people moving underneath?

  • Are there strong winds or air currents?

  • Is lighting poor?

  • Is there extreme heat or cold?

  • Are nearby fixtures & fittings fragile?

  • Are surfaces weak or fragile?

  • Is access to fragile materials prohibited?

  • Are fragile roofs / materials well signed?

  • Is the work area easily accessible?

  • Are access/egress routes clear of obstructions?

  • Other (please specify)

Co-ordination / Yes / No / Remarks
  • Are contractors working nearby?

  • If yes, is the work between the two planned and co-ordinated?

  • If yes, have risk assessments been received from contractors?

  • Other (please specify)

Risk Rating

Discuss with the worker any reported and unreported previous near misses or accidents he / she may have had. Taking into account the above risk factors, and the accident information, using the Council’s risk rating system estimate the risk from the work:

Likelihood of a Fall / Severity of Injury from a Fall / Risk Estimation

Control Measures

Control Measures Chosen / Tick / Remarks
  • Reorganise the task so that it can be done from the ground

  • Strengthen roofs & surfaces to take loads

  • Secure or remove nearby fragile fixtures / fittings

  • Provide fixed edge protection / handrails

  • Time the work for better weather conditions

  • Provide a full scaffold

  • Provide a Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP) or Tower Scaffold

  • Provide a “cherry picker”

  • Provide a harness with secure anchorage points and rescue arrangements with a trained second worker

  • Provide a ladder with attachments or step ladder

  • Cordon off area underneath

  • Place out warning signs below the work

  • Reroute pedestrian or vehicle movements

  • Reroute fire escape routes

  • Safety netting/Rescue plan

  • Tidy work area afterwards to ensure hand-tools etc not left at height which could subsequently fall or blow away

  • Other (Please specify):

Notes:

Ladders must only be used as a last resort and for short duration work (usually inspection - type work) where the risks of a fall are tolerable or trivial. In addition, good practice requires that:

  • ladders can be put up at the correct angle (for every 4 metres in height, the ladder base should be 1 metre out from the wall or structure)
  • the worker should have three points of contact with the ladder at all times (two feet and one hand)
  • workers should not need to over-reach to access the work area
  • workers must be instructed in the safe use of stepladders and ladders
  • precautions are in place to stop a ladder from slipping or falling, for example, someone “footing” the ladder at the bottom
  • ladders are well maintained and inspected regularly

If the work situation does not allow these safe practices, then a ladder should not be used.

Signed Print Name:

Job Title:

Dated: Review Date: