Working at Height

Ladders may be used when it is determined by a risk assessment that no other safer and lower risk equipment can be used and that there is a low risk because of the short duration of use. You should only use ladders when they can be used safely and where it is practicable to do so.

A working platform is now classed as:

• roof
• a floor
• mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs)
• treads of a stepladder
• a platform on a scaffold.

Collective protection refers to equipment that doesn’t require an individual to be effective. An example of this would be a guardrail. Personal protection equipment requires an individual to do something for it to be effective. For example, this could mean putting on a safety harness correctly.

There is no direct answer for this question as every ‘fall’ situation is unique. If you fall, the depth and severity of your injuries can depend on a varying amount of factors like your age, the angle in which you land, your weight and lots of other things. This is why there is no specified limit to what constitutes ‘working at height’.