If you work at height, you'll know that safety is a top priority. Working at height is the leading cause of injuries and fatalities in the construction industry, and this is no surprise with workers commonly working on rooftops, ladders, and fragile surfaces.

The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) have working at height regulations that must be adhered to for safety when working at height. These regulations are not only to help individuals understand what they can do to help protect themselves, but also to alert employers to the responsibilities they have for their employees.

This working at height guide should help explain the official UK working at height regulations and responsibilities, whether you're an employer looking to take the necessary steps or an employee who wants to know their rights are being followed. 

How to comply with working at height regulations

There are a number of regulations that apply to working at height, many of which concern how an employer is responsible (to a reasonable extent) for their employee's safety when working at height.

  Employers who are planning the work must be sure to:

• Avoid setting jobs that involve working at a dangerous height when possible

• Ensure that employees are instructed and trained to work at height

• Ensure the work is planned, organised and supervised at all times

• Control and assess the risk of injury

• Take weather conditions into account each time working at height needs to be done

• Check that all equipment for working at height is checked and inspected

• Take precautions that minimise the risk of falling objects

What must employees do to appropriately follow working at height regulations?

Of course, employers can't control everything - there is a level of responsibility the employee has to ensure their own safety. For that reason, employees must ensure that:

• They comply with the Working at Height Regulations

• They are not under the influence of any intoxicant which could lead them to become a danger to themselves or others at work

• They use the appropriate PPE and tools

• They report any known dangers in the workplace such as defective equipment that may become a health and safety risk

• They behave in a responsible manner to protect the health and safety of themselves and others

• They utilise the working at height safety training provided by the employer

How to carry out a working at height risk assessment

Regulations state that a risk assessment must be carried out before any working at height takes place. This a full examination of the factors that could cause harm in the workplace so that the correct precautions can be carried out.

A competent working at height risk assessment will involve:

• Identifying the potential hazards

• Identifying who may be harmed and how

• Evaluate all known potential risks

• A detailed record of all the potential hazards

It is illegal to work at height until a risk assessment has been carried out. It is only following this assessment that an employer can review and update how they have taken steps to minimise or reduce these risks.

How do you plan a working at height rescue plan?

Even if you have taken all the necessary precautions that are legally required and have adhered to all working at height regulations, it's impossible to account for every possibility. This is why it is so important that a working at height rescue plan is in place in case of an accident or injury.

If you are creating a working at height rescue plan you must consider:

• What is the anchor point for all safety equipment?

• Will the rescuers be putting themselves in danger when carrying out the plan?

• How will the rescuers move those in need once they are reached?

• Is the safety equipment the individual was using still intact/safe?

• How will the individual be attached to the rescue kit?

What equipment should be provided to employees working at height?

There is a wide range of equipment that can help prevent an individual from getting injured whilst working at height. We make it our business to supply the equipment that is needed in this working condition. Take a look at our full range of working at height safety equipment, or see our list below of vital equipment we recommend you think about when preparing your team to work at height:

Harnesses                       Height Safety Kits              Fall Protection Equipment

If you would like any advice on what equipment best suits your working at height plan, feel free to get in touch.

Read More: What Does 'What Does ‘Working at Height’ Mean?

Working in a confined space can put you at a high-risk of workplace accidents. As confined spaces are fully enclosed or partially enclosed, they provide a high-risk of fire, explosions, drowning, asphyxiation, and loss of consciousness. 

This is why you need a confined space risk assessment when working in this type of working environment. A confined space risk assessment will ensure your safety in these small and restricted areas. 

Here's a look at the types of scenarios you should be prepared for when creating a confined space risk assessment for your workplace. 

What to Consider in a Confined Space Risk Assesment

• Will the confined space contain dangerous fumes? 
• How will you remove or ventilate the area in the event of dangerous fumes? 
• Can liquid flood the confined space? 
• If so, how can you stop the liquid flooding in? Can valves be shut? 
• Will there be enough oxygen in the confined space? 
• Can you take breathing apparatus in the confined space? 
• If someone is working alone in the confined space, how will you know if something goes wrong?
• How can you get someone out of the confined space if they pass out? 

What Equipment Do You Need in a Confined Space?

After completing your confined space risk assessment, it is important to acquire the necessary equipment for the job. A confined space rescue kit is a good place to start with these types of operations.

Here at SafetyLiftinGear, we provide a full confined space rescue kit which contains:

• 1 Lightweight Aluminium Rescue Trioid with a built-in Pulley
• 1 20mtr Man Riding Rescue Winch
• Automatic brake
• 1 Tripod Storage Bag
• 1 Rescue Full Safety Harness Size M-XL
• 1 4-Gas Detector
• 1 10-minute Escape Kit
• 12-month warranty

You can check out the specifications of this confined space rescue kit here. To stay safe in confined spaces make sure to check out our full range of confined space safety equipment here and be sure to complete your confined space risk assessment thoroughly.

It’s important to stay vigilant when working in hazardous environments, and this is particularly important when working in confined spaces. Confined space safety is vital as a confined environment is usually associated with dangerous chemicals and gases, as well as other hazards.

That’s why it’s important to not only have the right equipment but to make sure that equipment is completely reliable. Here at SafetyLiftinGear, we sell high-quality, reliable confined space safety gear that you can rely on time after time. To see our full collection of confined space safety gear, click here.

Here’s a closer look at some of the products we supply:

Confined Space Kits

Whether you need to retrieve something using a tripod/winch combination, or a full-scale rescue kit with an included safety harness, we have something for you. Have a browse through our selection of confined space kits and find the one that is right for your project.

Multi-Gas Detectors

Within a confined space, you’ll want to be aware of any potentially dangerous gases in that area. Our multi-gas detector can detect any H2S, CO, 02, LEL in the atmosphere so that you can evacuate to space if a harmful gas is present.

Safety Barriers

When working in a confined space the last thing you want to worry about is someone accidentally joining you! This not only risks pedestrian's safety but your own so it’s important you have something that lets people know where you are. Our high-visibility safety barriers are perfect to make people aware of the hazard. 

If you need any advice on what confined space safety equipment best suits your project then feel free to get in touch. For that, or any query about our products give us a call on 0808 123 69 69.

Safety barriers can be used for a wide variety of jobs, from traffic control to keep people away from potentially dangerous areas. If you're wondering where and why you should use a safety barrier, here are some examples of situations where a barrier can be useful:

• Diverting Traffic - If you need to control the flow of traffic, safety barriers can be a clear way to warn drivers not to go the wrong way or enter a space that is no longer safe. Barriers can communicate how you would like drivers to navigate through space, ensuring everyone’s safety and hopefully reducing congestion.
  
  
• Directing Crowd Flow - Barriers are also ideal for directing crowds of people. Using a barrier to cordon off a hazardous area can keep pedestrians far away from danger, but even if there are no hazards, barriers can reduce confusion and keep crowds moving smoothly and quickly in a desired direction.
  
  
• Cordoning Off Spill Hazards - If water or another liquid has been spilt on the floor, you need to minimise the risk of slips and falls. Erecting a barrier around the spill hazard will enable you and your staff to clean it up quickly without worry.
  
  
• Working at Height / Underground - Working at height or underground jobs can be hazardous for both the worker(s) and the general public. If you are working in a high-up location, you do not want to be distracted by anyone on the ground, and you don’t want anyone to be in the drop zone if something falls! If you are working underground, there is a chance someone could fall in or drop something down on top of you. Either way, it's a good idea to cordon off the area below/above you to help ensure everyone's safety.

Safety Barrier Products from SafetyLiftinGear

Our 4-panel safety barrier (pictured above) is the perfect solution for most barrier requirements. This high-visibility folding barrier is both lightweight and easy to store. The warning DANGER – NO ENTRY is printed on each panel of the barrier to deter both pedestrians and vehicles from passing it.

We also stock the Armorgard BAR1 expandable safety barrier, pictured above. The concertina design makes it easy to mark out a work area, and when you're finished, the sturdy barrier can be folded away for storage (and secured with the safety catch provided).

The perfect accessory for our 4-panel safety barriers, these connecting clips will hold your safety barriers together securely. No matter how large the space you need to cordon off is, these connectors will allow you to create a safety barrier of any length!  

View All Safety Barriers >

If you have any questions about our barrier products, feel free to get in touch with the SafetyLiftinGear team - we're always happy to help!

A safety harness is a system of restraints that prevent the wearer from falling from a height. By wearing the belt or harness the risk of injury from a fall is greatly reduced.
The harness allows the user to attach themselves to a stationary object, therefore ensuring they will not hit the ground in the event of a fall. Falling from a height is one of the most common causes of personal injury in the workplace, so it is very important to make sure you are properly equipped when working up high.

Working at height is one of the main causes of major injuries and fatalities in the construction industry; and common cases include falls from ladders, rooftops and fragile surfaces. HSE defines work at height as "work in any place where, if there were no precautions in place, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury".

To prevent any major or fatal injuries from happening when working at height, it's important that a risk assessment is put in place. A risk assessment is an examination of what in your workplace could cause harm, so you're able to put the right precautions in place to make sure that any work at height is properly planned, supervised and carried out in a safe manner. By law you're required to assess the risks in the workplace so that you can put a plan in place to control the risks. 

With that in mind. If you're starting to create a risk assessment, here are some steps you should follow in order to ensure your assessment is accurate and as thorough as possible:

Step 1: Identifying the Potential Hazards

This is arguably one of the most important steps for creating your your risk assessment. When identifying the hazards in your workplace, it's important to think about the activities, processes and/or substances that are used in your workplace that could injure or harm your employees' health. Here are some tips to help you identify potential hazards:

• Observe the workplace.
• Check manufacturers' instructions.
• Look through your accident book.
• Think about long-term hazards to health - for example: exposure to a high level of noise or harmful substances.
• Gather feedback from employees.

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 state that the following need to be considered in your risk assessment: 

• The distance and effects of any potential falls.
• The duration and frequency of use of work equipment, and whether the work equipment is appropriate for the work that is about to be performed.
• Does the work equipment allow passage without risks.
• The need for easy and safe evacuation in case of an emergency .
• The working condition and the risks to people where work equipment is to be used.

Step 2:  Deciding who may be harmed and how

It's important when conducting a risk assessment that you think about which people are at risk, and how they might be harmed. For each hazard you need make sure it is clear which group of people might be harmed, as this will help you identify the best way of controlling the risks. It's important to make sure you consider every person in the work area:

• Employees.
• Visitors.
• Contractors.
• Maintenance workers.
• Members of the public.
• If you share a workplace with another business, consider how each of your work affects yours, and their workers.

Step 3: Evaluate the Risks

Having identified the potential hazards, you now have to identify the level of the risk and what precautions you need to put in place. You are not expected to eliminate all risks; but you need to make sure you're aware of them, and the things you must do to manage and prevent them. Your risk assessment should only include what you're expected to know - you are not responsible for anticipating unforeseeable risks. 

Look at what you're already doing, and what control measures you have in place - and evaluate if it's possible to get rid of the hazard? And if not; how can you control the risks to reduce the chances of it doing any harm.

Some practical steps you should consider when preventing the risks of hazards:

• Issue the correct personal protective equipment.
• Preventing access to the hazards.
• Ensuring that all workers are trained to ensure that they understand the hazards and the precautions to be taken.
• Trying a less risky option.
• Organising work to reduce any exposure to the hazard.
• Providing welfare facilities such as first aid and washing facilities.

Step 4: Record Your Findings 

When you're recording your findings it's important that you keep it simple and that it's easy to read. An accurate risk assessment should show the following:

• A proper check has been made.
• You have shown who might be affected.
• You have dealt with the hazards and have taken in account who might of been affected.
• The precautions are sensible and that the remaining risk is low.
• You have involved all your employees during this process. 

To prevent any confusion, it's important that you use a new risk assessment sheet for each work place and assessment you complete. You must ensure that you have dated the risk assessment; that you have recorded details of the person who took the assessment, and that you have recorded any action due-dates and completion dates.

Step 5: Review & Update Your Assessment

Workplaces are always changing and bringing in new equipment, substances and procedures that could possibly lead to new hazards. So, it's important that you review what your risk assessments every 6-12 months.  It's important to check the following:

• Any significant changes at your workplace?
• Are there any improvements you need to make?
• Have your workers noticed a problem?
• Have you learnt anything from recent accidents?

When working with height it's always important that the correct safety measures are put in place. That's why we supply a comprehensive range of Height Safety Equipment that are designed to ensure the maximum level of protection, while also providing an assuring level of comfort too. To view our range of height safety equipment, please click here.

Why risk breaching safety regulations?