Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of fatal workplace accidents in the UK. Despite clear legislation and long-established safety guidance, workers continue to lose their lives every year while carrying out tasks at height. This article explains what legally counts as work at height, who the Work at Height regulations apply to, and the key steps duty holders must take to plan, manage and carry out work safely.
What You Need to Know
Did you know that in 2024/2025, 124 workers lost their lives in the UK while at work, and 35 of those deaths were caused by falls from height?
Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of fatal workplace accidents. In response to these ongoing risks, the UK introduced the Work at Height Regulations 2005, replacing earlier legislation and implementing European Council Directive 2001/45/EC (the Temporary Work at Height Directive). The purpose of the Regulations is clear: to reduce deaths and serious injuries by setting minimum safety standards for all work carried out at height.
What Is “Work at Height”?
Under Regulation 2, a place is considered “at height” if a person could be injured by falling from it if the Regulations were not applied. This definition includes work carried out at or below ground level.
The term “work” also includes moving around within the workplace, except for using permanent staircases. It does not include travel to and from work. For example, an employee working on the bed of a flatbed lorry would be classed as working at height, as a fall could result in injury. However, the authorities would be less likely to apply the Regulations to a mounted police officer working on horseback, as this would not normally be categorised as work at height.
Who Do the Regulations Apply To?
Regulations 3 and 14 place legal duties on anyone responsible for planning, organising, or controlling work at height.
These duties apply to:
- Employers, who must ensure work at height is carefully planned and carried out safely
- Self‑employed persons, who must manage risks to themselves and others
- Anyone who controls the work of others, including facilities managers, building owners, landlords, and property managers
In some cases, householders may also have duties when they arrange work at height on their behalf.
All these individuals are referred to as duty holders and are legally responsible for ensuring work at height is carried out safely.
The Hierarchy of Control
When planning work at height, duty holders are expected to follow a clear safety hierarchy. This approach helps ensure risks are reduced as far as reasonably practicable.
The priority is to avoid working at height wherever possible. In many cases this can now be achieved by using modern alternatives such as drones for roof or chimney inspections, or telescopic tools for tasks like maintenance and window cleaning. These methods allow work to be completed safely from the ground, removing the risk of falling altogether.
Where work at height cannot be avoided, the next step is to prevent falls. This is best achieved using collective protection, which safeguards everyone working in the area. Common measures include:
- Scaffolding or scaffold towers
- Mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs)
Where collective protection is not suitable, individual measures such as fall‑restraint systems may be used to prevent workers from reaching a fall edge.
If a risk of falling remains, the focus must shift to minimising both the distance and the consequences of a fall. This can be done through a combination of measures, including:
- Safety nets or airbags installed beneath the working area
- Individual fall‑arrest systems designed to limit fall distance
Where fall‑arrest equipment is used, it is essential that an effective rescue plan is in place. Anyone left suspended following a fall must be recovered quickly and safely to reduce the risk of suspension trauma.
Planning, Organisation and Supervision
All work at height must be thoughtfully planned, organised and, where necessary, supervised. Duty holders must identify foreseeable hazards and consider who may be harmed and how. This includes not only workers but members of the public, for example those at risk of being struck by falling tools or materials.
Weather Conditions
Weather conditions must be carefully considered at the planning stage, particularly for work carried out in coastal or exposed locations where conditions can be unpredictable. Wind speeds in these environments can change rapidly and with little warning, increasing the risk of loss of balance, falling objects, or instability of equipment. If not accurately assessed and managed, these changing conditions can quickly turn otherwise safe work activities into hazardous ones.
Competence and Training
Having the right equipment is not enough if the people using it are not competent.
Anyone involved in work at height must:
- Have appropriate skills, training, and experience for the task
- Understand how to use the equipment provided
- Be familiar with any emergency or rescue procedures in place
Competence is essential for recognising hazards and responding correctly if something goes wrong.
Safe Places of Work
The location where work at height is carried out must be safe. This means that any platforms, surfaces, or access routes used for the work must be professionally designed and maintained. Schedule 1 of the Regulations explains the minimum safety standards these areas must meet, such as being stable, secure, and suitable for the task being undertaken.
Inspection and Maintenance of Equipment
All equipment used for work at height must be maintained and inspected by competent persons.
- Scaffolding must be erected by competent people and inspected at intervals not exceeding seven days
- MEWPs must be inspected before use and thoroughly examined every six months, as they are classed as lifting people
Regular inspection is essential to ensure equipment remains safe to use throughout its lifespan.
Working Safely on Fragile Surfaces
Fragile surfaces present a significant risk and should be avoided wherever possible. Roof lights and fragile roof sheets are common examples. Where avoidance is not feasible, risks must be properly controlled using crawling boards, suitable working platforms, guard rails or coverings to distribute weight safely.
If a risk of falling remains, duty holders must minimise both the distance and the consequences of a fall. This can be achieved by installing safety nets beneath the work area or by erecting a crash deck using a scaffold system.
Protection Against Falling Objects
Falling objects pose just as much risk as falling people and should never be overlooked. Duty holders must take steps to prevent injury caused by materials or tools dropping from height.
This means:
- Materials should never be thrown or tipped from working platforms
- Waste should only be lowered using suitable chutes or controlled methods
- Tools and materials must be stored securely to prevent accidental movement
Where there is a risk of people being struck from above, additional controls are essential. Clearly marked exclusion zones should be established beneath the work area to protect those at ground level and prevent unauthorised access.
Can Ladders Be Used?
In short, yes, but only where a risk assessment shows that using equipment offering a higher level of protection is not reasonably practicable. Ladders may be suitable for short‑duration, low‑risk tasks such as changing a light bulb. They can also be used for access and egress to other working platforms, provided they are correctly selected, positioned and used.