Working at Height Procedure Template
Working at Height Procedure Template (UK)
Approx. 6 pages · 14 sectionsBranded PDF + editable WordLast reviewed:
What is a working at height procedure and who needs one?
A working at height procedure explains how you plan and control work where a person could fall and be injured, following the Work at Height Regulations 2005: avoid it where possible, prevent falls, minimise consequences, select and inspect equipment, and plan rescue. Maintenance, installation and construction buyers routinely ask for it.
Covers avoiding work at height, the hierarchy of control, access equipment, inspection, competence, rescue planning and supervision.
Why buyers ask for this
Falls from height are one of the biggest causes of fatal workplace injuries in the UK, and the Work at Height Regulations 2005 require such work to be properly planned and supervised. Buyers commonly ask for this procedure on maintenance, installation and construction work.
Who needs it
Any business whose staff use ladders, towers, MEWPs or work on roofs or raised areas.
Where it comes up in a PQQ, SQ or PSQ
Under the Procurement Act 2023, supplier selection uses the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) plus each buyer's own conditions of participation and quality questions. Typical questions this policy supports:
- "Describe your arrangements for safe working at height"
- Questions on ladder, tower and MEWP training and equipment inspection
- Construction questionnaires on falls from height controls
- – Commonly requested for maintenance, installation and construction work
What's inside
The full working at height procedure runs to about 6 pages (including the branded cover and document control page) across 14 sections:
- Purpose
- Scope
- Legal and Guidance Framework
- Work at Height Control Hierarchy
- Planning and RAMS Requirements
- Equipment Selection and Use
- Ladder and Step Ladder Controls
- Fragile Surfaces, Openings and Edges
- Falling Objects, Exclusion Zones and Occupied Premises
- Training, Competence and Supervision
- Inspection, Maintenance and Defect Control
- Subcontractor and Supplier Controls
- Monitoring, Records and Continuous Improvement
- Pre-start checklist
Key points covered
- Avoid, prevent, mitigate hierarchy
- Planning and risk assessment
- Access equipment selection and inspection
- Competence and supervision
- Rescue planning
- Monitoring
Every document carries your logo, company name, version number, approval signatory and next review date, in branded PDF plus editable Word.
UK legislation, standards and guidance it references
Excerpt preview
The purpose of this procedure is to set out how [Your Company Ltd] plans, controls, supervises and reviews work at height so that employees, subcontractors, clients, service users, visitors and members of the public are protected from falls, falling objects and related hazards. This procedure applies to all Company personnel and subcontractors undertaking or controlling work at height, including activities carried…
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How to adapt it
- Read every section and remove anything that doesn’t reflect how your organisation actually works.
- Complete the bracketed [ADAPT] prompts with your own arrangements, people and data.
- Have the policy approved and signed by a director or equivalent, and communicate it to staff.
- Keep evidence that you follow it, and review it by the date shown.
Working at Height Procedure FAQs
Are ladders banned?
No. Ladders can be used for low-risk, short-duration work where a risk assessment shows more suitable equipment is not justified. The procedure explains how to make that decision.
What does rescue planning mean?
Before work starts, you must plan how someone would be rescued after a fall or if they become stranded, especially when using harnesses or MEWPs.
Who can inspect access equipment?
A competent person. Towers and MEWPs need inspection after assembly or in a new location and at suitable intervals, and ladders need pre-use checks and periodic detailed inspections.
How much does the Working at Height Procedure template cost?
£19.99 per policy, or £199 for all 39 policies. It is a one-off payment with no subscription, and you download branded PDF and editable Word files straight away.
Free guides
General information, not legal advice. Requirements differ between buyers and change over time; always check the tender documents.