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 Who could Suggested action/control Risk Rating Suggested action/control measure
measure
S L R

01. Poor Access and Egress - Routine inspections of - Inspection of equipment by a competent person
(Poor maintenance of access Riggers, electricians, equipment and records kept. before every use and records kept – Green tagging
equipment (e.g. ladders, steps, maintenance - Three-monthly inspections of is best practice
scaffolds) technicians, telecom access equipment by a - Immediately remove defective access equipment
technicians, telecom competent person and records or take out of service by blocking access and red
engineers, or anyone kept. tagging it.
who may have access - Defective equipment to be - Suitable personal protective equipment must be
reported to manager. available and access should only be granted if
- Immediate removal and specified PPE is worn.
disposal of access equipment
found to be defective prior to
use.
- Suitable personal protective
equipment must be available.

02. - Equipment to be used only All users trained in use of mobile towers
Inappropriate use of Riggers, electricians, where there is a firm, level for inspection / maintenance tasks.
access equipment maintenance surface. Access equipment restricted to those
technicians, telecom - All equipment to be visually trained and competent in use.
Overreaching, stretching technicians, telecom inspected before use and records
etc. Move tower from base only, all tools and
engineers, or anyone kept.
Uneven floor causing who may have access - Appropriate footwear to be
persons removed from structure prior to
moving.
instability worn.
- Safe system of work in place No lone working when erecting or using
Falls, falling objects tower.
for work involving tower
scaffolds. Persons using access equipment to wear
- Staff who use tower scaffolds appropriate footwear (low heeled, non-slip
to be trained. soles)
- Equipment should be suitably Securely stored when not in use to avoid
stored after use. unauthorized use.
-Work at height training to be
undertaken.

03. Inappropriate use of - Ladders only to be used for - Ladders only to be used for low risk work and a
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 ladders/stepladders. low risk work and a short short duration of time (maximum of 30 minutes).
duration of time (maximum of - All equipment to be visually inspected before use
30 minutes). and records kept.
- All equipment to be visually - All ladders to be inspected by a competent person
inspected before use and records every three months.
kept. - Ladders to be made secure by tying at the top and
- All ladders to be inspected by bottom or footed by a person at the base of the
a competent person every three ladder.
months. - Equipment to be placed on a suitable firm and
- Ladders to be made secure by level base.
tying at the top and bottom or - Safe procedures e.g. three points of contact to be
footed by a person at the base of maintained at all times when working to avoid
the ladder. overreaching.
- Equipment to be placed on a - Equipment used to be class 1 ‘Industrial’ or
suitable firm and level base. EN131 types.
- Safe procedures e.g. three - Appropriate footwear to be worn.
points of contact to be - Equipment should be suitably stored after use.
maintained at all times when - Work at height training to be undertaken.
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;  Avoid the need to work on/near/pass across a
carrying out roof work.  No access to fragile surface fragile surface wherever possible e.g. repairing
allowed except by a skylight from underneath using a tower
authorized persons or scaffold.
specialist contractors using  Fragile surface identified with suitable and
appropriate equipment. prominent signage.
 Use of suitable fixed access  Use of suitable working platforms with guard
e.g. stairs/ladders rather rails during work on or near a fragile surface.
than temporary equipment
where possible.
 Use of suitable PPE
identified from the Personal
Protective Equipment
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 checklist.

05. Falls from height. - Specific risk assessment to  Consider alternate arrangements to
be undertaken prior to all eliminate work at height; such as
work at height activities. remote repairing
- Use of long handled tools
 No lone working when erecting or
where appropriate.
- Suitable equipment used for using tower.
specific jobs.  Access equipment restricted to those
- Staff not to use furniture or competent in its safe use. Ensure
other inappropriate access ladder removed / tower
fixed/mobile structures for securely stored when not in use to
working at height. prevent unauthorized use.
- 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 Maximum load lifting limit should be displayed at
not access points of each equipment.
overload it –
the person and anything they are Permit Issuer to issue permit only if load load does
taking up should not exceed the not exceed allowable limit.
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

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 ladder or steps it will need to be
justified by a detailed manual
handling assessment

07. Poor weather conditions causing - No work at height to be done - No work at height to be done outside in poor
slips. outside in poor weather. weather.

08. Risk of electrocution. - Contact with overhead and - Contact with overhead and hidden cables.
hidden cables. - Use of hand tools or battery operated tools
- Use of hand tools or battery wherever possible.
operated tools wherever - All portable equipment must be PAT tested every
possible. year.
- All portable equipment must - Regular inspections of equipment before and after
be PAT tested every year. use.
- Regular inspections of
equipment before and after use.

09. Lack of training. - All staff who are involved with - All staff who are involved with working at height
working at height need to be need to be trained and be competent. This includes
trained and be competent. This involvement in organisation, planning, supervision
includes involvement in and the supply and maintenance of equipment.
organisation, planning,
supervision and the supply and
maintenance of equipment.

10. Lack of personal protective - PPE may be required; the - PPE may be required; the Personal Protective
equipment (PPE). Personal Protective Equipment Equipment checklist should be completed.
checklist should be completed.

11. Being hit by Falling objects. - Good housekeeping in place to - Good housekeeping in place to ensure nothing is
ensure nothing is stored in such stored in such a way that it will fall from height.
a way that it will fall from - Materials, tools or debris must not be thrown
height. down from height.
- Materials, tools or debris must - Areas where there is a risk of a falling object
not be thrown down from needs to be clearly indicated and unauthorized
height. people need to be kept from it.

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 - Areas where there is a risk of a - Tool belts to be used to prevent fall of
falling object needs to be clearly tools/materials from pockets etc.
indicated and unauthorized - PPE may be required; the Personal Protective
people need to be kept from it. Equipment checklist should be completed.
- 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 - Each individual area where - Each individual area where work at height is to be
height is to be carried out. work at height is to be carried carried out needs to be inspected before use e.g.
out needs to be inspected before floors surfaces, guard rails etc. and records kept.
use e.g. floors surfaces, guard
rails etc. and records kept.

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 Kent County Council
Generic Risk Assessment

Topic/Activity/Operation: Working at Height.

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

Risk Rating: (LIKELIHOOD) OUTCOME:

Insignificant Injury Significant Injury Major Injury
Unlikely Trival Risk Low Risk Medium Risk
Possible Low Risk Medium Risk High Risk
Probable Medium Risk High Risk STOP

Risk Level: Action and Timescales:

Trivial 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.

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 Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5
What are the Who might be What are you doing Current Is anything further needed? Date further action(s) was/were New
hazards? harmed and how? already? Risk Level completed Risk
Level
By Whom and By When? Date of next Review

Poor maintenance
Date Completed:
01. of access
equipment (e.g.
ladders, steps,
scaffolds).
Name:
Review Date:
Date:

Inappropriate use
Date Completed:
02. of tower scaffolds
causing trips and
falls.
Name:
Date Completed:
Date:

Inappropriate use
Date Completed:
03. of ladders/
stepladders.
Name:
Review Date:
Date:

Working on
Date Completed:
04. Fragile surfaces;
carrying out roof
work.
Name:
Review Date:
Date:

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 Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5
What are the Who might be What are you doing Current Is anything further needed? Date further action(s) was/were New
hazards? harmed and how? already? Risk Level completed Risk
Level
By Whom and By When? Date of next Review

Falls from height.

Date Completed:
05.

Name:
Review Date:
Date:

Carrying of
06. materials. Date Completed:

Name:
Review Date:
Date:

Poor weather
Date Completed:
07. conditions.

Name:
Review Date:
Date:

Risk of
Date Completed:
08. electrocution.

Name:
Review Date:
Date:

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 Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5
What are the Who might be What are you doing Current Is anything further needed? Date further action(s) was/were
hazards? harmed and how? already? Risk Level completed

By Whom and By When? Date of next Review

Lack of training.
Date Completed:
09.

Name:
Review Date:
Date:

Lack of personal
10. protective Date Completed:
equipment (PPE).

Name:
Review Date:
Date:

Being hit by
Date Completed:
11. Falling objects.

Name:
Review Date:
Date:

Poor flooring or
Date Completed:
12. area where work at
height is to be
carried out.
Name:
Review Date:
Date: