Working at Height Risk Assessment

PROMPT SHEET This sheet should only be used for guidance, in order for you to complete your
Own risk assessment on Working at Height.

Hazard
(something with a potential to cause
harm)
If hazard
exists
and who it
could harm
Pupils, staff,
visitors,
caretaker,
site manager,
contractor,
(anyone
else?)
Suggested action/control measure

(prevention measures) This list is not exhaustive.
Below are some control measures which you
may find useful when completing your risk
assessment
01.
Poor maintenance of access

equipment (e.g. ladders, steps,
scaffolds).
- Regular inspections of equipment before every

use and records kept.
- Three-monthly inspections of access equipment
by a competent person and records kept.
- Defective equipment to be reported to manager.
- Immediate removal and disposal of access
equipment found to be defective prior to use.
- Suitable personal protective equipment must be
available.
02.
Inappropriate use of tower scaffolds

causing trips and falls.
- Equipment to be used only where there is a

firm, level surface.
- All equipment to be visually inspected before
- Appropriate footwear to be worn.
- Safe system of work in place for work involving
tower scaffolds.
- Staff who use tower scaffolds to be PASMA
trained.
- Equipment should be suitably stored after use.
-Work at height training to be undertaken.
03.
Inappropriate use of
ladders/stepladders.
- Ladders only to be used for low risk work and a

short duration of time (maximum of 30 minutes).
- All equipment to be visually inspected before
- All ladders to be inspected by a competent
person every three months.
- Ladders to be made secure by tying at the top
and bottom or footed by a person at the base of
the ladder.
- Equipment to be placed on a suitable firm and
level base.
- Safe procedures e.g. three points of contact to
be maintained at all times when working to avoid
overreaching.
- Equipment used to be class 1 Industrial or
EN131 types.
- Appropriate footwear to be worn.
- Equipment should be suitably stored after use.
- Work at height training to be undertaken.
04.
Working on Fragile surfaces;

carrying out roof work.
- Avoid the need to work on/near/pass across a

fragile surface wherever possible e.g. repairing a
skylight from underneath using a tower scaffold.
- No access to fragile surface allowed except by
authorized persons or specialist contractors
using appropriate equipment.
- Use of suitable fixed access e.g. stairs/ladders
rather than temporary equipment where possible.
- Fragile surface identified with suitable and
prominent signage.
- Use of suitable working platforms with guard
rails during work on or near a fragile surface.
- Use of suitable PPE identified from the
Personal Protective Equipment checklist.

05.
Falls from height.
- Specific risk assessment to be undertaken prior

to all work at height activities.
- Use of long handled tools where appropriate.
- Suitable equipment used for specific jobs.
- Staff not to use furniture or other inappropriate
fixed/mobile structures for working at height.
- Consider use of fall arrest systems depending
on nature of task, equipment and duration.
- Adequate and appropriate signs in place to
warn of hazards below work area.
- Work scheduled to take place when
persons/others are not in the immediate area.
- Ensure operatives trained to work at height.
06.
Carrying of materials.
- On a ladder or stepladder do not

overload it - the person and anything they
are taking up should not exceed the
highest load stated on the ladder
- on a ladder where you must carry something
you must have one free hand to grip the ladder
- If a task involves a worker carrying more
than 10 kg (a bucket of something) up the
ladder or steps it will need to be justified
by a detailed manual handling assessment
07.
Poor weather conditions causing

slips.
- No work at height to be done outside in poor

weather.
08.
Risk of electrocution.
- Contact with overhead and hidden cables.

- Use of hand tools or battery operated tools
wherever possible.
- All portable equipment must be PAT tested
every year.
- Regular inspections of equipment before and
after use.
09.
Lack of training.
- All staff who are involved with working at height

need to be trained and be competent. This
includes involvement in organisation, planning,
supervision and the supply and maintenance of
equipment.
10.
Lack of personal protective

equipment (PPE).
- PPE may be required; the Personal Protective

Equipment checklist should be completed.
11.
Being hit by Falling objects.
- Good housekeeping in place to ensure nothing

is stored in such a way that it will fall from height.
- Materials, tools or debris must not be thrown
down from height.
- Areas where there is a risk of a falling object
needs to be clearly indicated and unauthorized
people need to be kept from it.
- Tool belts to be used to prevent fall of
tools/materials from pockets etc.
- PPE may be required; the Personal Protective
Equipment checklist should be completed.
12.
Poor flooring or area where work at

height is to be carried out.
- Each individual area where work at height is to

be carried out needs to be inspected before use
e.g. floors surfaces, guard rails etc. and records
kept.
Kent County Council

Generic Risk Assessment
Topic/Activity/Operation: Working at Height.

Name of Establishment/School:
Risk assessment completed by: (name)
Sign here only after giving consideration to additional
control measures.
Name of Caretaker:
Signed:
Head of establishment: (name)
Date:
Signed:
Sign here only after agreeing control measures and action

points.
Date:
Caretakers Signature:
Date Signed: ___________________
Review Date:
Risk Rating: (LIKELIHOOD)
OUTCOME:
Unlikely
Possible
Probable
Insignificant Injury
Trival Risk
Low Risk
Medium Risk
Significant Injury
Low Risk
Medium Risk
High Risk
Major Injury
Medium Risk
High Risk
STOP
Risk Level:
Trivial
Action and Timescales:

No action required and no documentary records are required
Low
Consider if the risk can be reduced further. Monitoring is required to ensure that the controls are maintained.
Medium
Risk reduction measures should be implemented within a defined period.
High
Give priority to removing or reducing the risk urgent action should be taken.
STOP
Work activity should NOT be started or continued until the risk has been removed or at least reduced.
Step 1
What are the
hazards?
01.
Poor
maintenance of
access
equipment (e.g.
ladders, steps,
scaffolds).
Step 2
Who might be
harmed and
how?
Step 3
What are you
doing already?
Step 4
Is anything further
needed?
Step 5
Date further action(s)
was/were completed
By Whom and By When?
Date of next Review
Current
Risk
Level
New
Risk
Level
Date Completed:
Name:
Review Date:
Date:
02.
Inappropriate
use of tower
scaffolds
causing trips
and falls.
Date Completed:
Name:
Date Completed:
Date:
03.
Inappropriate
use of ladders/
stepladders.
Date Completed:
Name:
Review Date:
Date:
04.
Working on
Fragile surfaces;
carrying out roof
work.
Date Completed:
Name:
Review Date:
Date:
Step 1
What are the
hazards?
05.
Step 2
Who might be
harmed and
how?
Step 3
What are you
doing already?
Step 4
Is anything further
needed?
Step 5
Date further action(s)
was/were completed
Date of next Review
Current
Risk
Level
Falls from
height.
New
Risk
Level
Date Completed:
Name:
Review Date:
Date:
06.
Carrying of
materials.
Date Completed:
Name:
Review Date:
Date:
07.
Poor weather
conditions.
Date Completed:
Name:
Review Date:
Date:
08.
Risk of
electrocution.
Date Completed:
Name:
Review Date:
Date:
Step 1
What are the
hazards?
Step 2
Who might be
harmed and how?
Step 3
What are you
doing already?
Current
Risk Level
Step 4
Is anything further needed?
Lack of training.
Step 5
Date further action(s) was/were
completed
Date of next Review
Date Completed:
09.
Name:
Review Date:
Date:
10.
Lack of personal
protective
equipment (PPE).
Date Completed:
Name:
Review Date:
Date:
11.
Being hit by
Falling objects.
Date Completed:
Name:
Review Date:
Date:
12.
Poor flooring or
area where work
at height is to be
carried out.
Date Completed:
Name:
Review Date:
Date:

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What are some of the major hazards of working at height mentioned in the document?

What are some of the major hazards of working at height mentioned in the document?

What control measures are suggested to deal with inappropriate use of ladders/stepladders?

What control measures are suggested to deal with inappropriate use of ladders/stepladders?

PROMPT SHEET This sheet should only be used for guidance, in order for you to complete your

Own risk assessment on Working at Height.

Suggested action/control measure

Poor maintenance of access

- Regular inspections of equipment before every

Inappropriate use of tower scaffolds

- Equipment to be used only where there is a

- Ladders only to be used for low risk work and a

Working on Fragile surfaces;

- Avoid the need to work on/near/pass across a

Personal Protective Equipment checklist.

Falls from height.

- Specific risk assessment to be undertaken prior

- On a ladder or stepladder do not

Poor weather conditions causing

- No work at height to be done outside in poor

- Contact with overhead and hidden cables.

- All staff who are involved with working at height

Lack of personal protective

- PPE may be required; the Personal Protective

Being hit by Falling objects.

- Good housekeeping in place to ensure nothing

Poor flooring or area where work at

- Each individual area where work at height is to

Kent County Council

Topic/Activity/Operation: Working at Height.

Head of establishment: (name)

Sign here only after agreeing control measures and action

Date Signed: ___________________

Action and Timescales:

Risk reduction measures should be implemented within a defined period.

By Whom and By When?

Date of next Review

By Whom and By When?

Date of next Review

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