Working at Height

Work in any place - including at ground level - where a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. Regulated by the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

Quick Reference

Regulation

Work at Height Regulations 2005

Scaffolding inspection

Every 7 days and after adverse weather (by competent person)

MEWP (cherry picker)

LOLER inspection every 6 months (used to lift people)

Harness inspection

Pre-use check + periodic formal inspection (as per manufacturer guidelines)

Training

Workers must be trained and competent for the equipment they use

Fall distance

There is no minimum fall height - any risk of injurious fall counts

What are Working at Height?

Working at height is defined broadly under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 as any work where there is a risk of a fall likely to cause personal injury. Crucially, this includes ground-level work near openings such as manholes, excavations, and loading bays - not only work elevated above ground.

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require employers to: prevent working at height wherever possible, use the most appropriate equipment when working at height is unavoidable, and plan and supervise work at height properly. Equipment used for working at height - from scaffolding and mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs) to ladders and harnesses - must be inspected and maintained.

Scaffolding specifically must be inspected by a competent person every 7 days and after adverse weather. MEWPs require regular LOLER examinations. Personal fall protection equipment (harnesses, lanyards, anchor points) must be inspected before each use and formally inspected regularly.

What Happens If It's Missed?

Falls from height are the most common cause of workplace fatalities in the UK construction sector, accounting for approximately 40% of construction deaths each year. The HSE treats working at height violations extremely seriously. Employers without valid inspection records for scaffolding, MEWPs, or fall protection equipment face prohibition notices (work stops immediately), improvement notices, and prosecution. Post-incident, the absence of inspection records is treated as evidence of systemic failure.

How Construction Teams Track This

Working-at-height compliance involves multiple overlapping certificate types with different renewal cycles: weekly scaffolding handover certificates, 6-monthly MEWP LOLER examinations, annual harness inspections, and worker training records. On active construction sites with multiple contractors, ensuring every relevant certificate is current requires a systematic tracking approach rather than relying on individuals to self-report.

Stop tracking working at height certificates manually

ExpiryEdge tracks every construction certificate, LOLER inspection, and worker competency card - and alerts you before each one expires. No spreadsheets, no surprises.

Start tracking free Track site safety certificates →

Frequently Asked Questions

Do ladders need to be inspected under working at height regulations?

Yes. Ladders used at work must be visually inspected before use, and formal inspection records should be maintained. The frequency of formal inspection depends on conditions of use. Ladders should be inspected for defects (bent stiles, missing rungs, damaged feet) and removed from service if defective.

How often must scaffolding be inspected?

Scaffolding must be inspected by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 7 days, and after any event likely to have affected its stability (e.g., high winds, impact damage). The competent person completes a written Scaffolding Inspection Record (often called a "scafftag" or equivalent). The record must be kept for 3 months.