Work at Height

ISO 45001:2018 Clause 8.1.2 · Work at Height Regulations 2005 · HSE INDG401 — Hierarchy of control: avoid, prevent, mitigate

Procedure overview

A M Water Services applies the Work at Height Regulations 2005 hierarchy — avoid, prevent, mitigate. Work at height is first eliminated wherever possible (work from ground level, mechanise the operation, alter the design). Where elimination is not reasonably practicable, collective fall-prevention measures (edge protection, scaffolds, MEWPs, podium steps) are preferred over personal fall-arrest. The HSQE Consultant produces a site-specific Risk Assessment and safe system of work; the Site Supervisor briefs the team and obtains acknowledgement; on first arrival at site, the team performs a Point of Work Risk Assessment (PoWRA) to confirm conditions match the plan. Climbing and fall-arrest equipment is inspected by a competent person at least every six months and pre-use by the operative. All operatives doing work at height are trained and competent. Records are retained per SOP 4.7.

Work at Height — Process Flow

HSQE Consultant & Site Supervisor

Sean Ashton
Jason May

Avoid & Plan

Does the task require working at height?

End process — ground-level work

Yes

Eliminate the need for working at height where reasonably practicable

Undertake risk assessment to determine appropriate safe system of work (collective measures preferred over personal fall-arrest)

Document safe system of work: hazards, risks, access & egress, PPE, equipment, emergency arrangements

RAMS & Emergency arrangements

Ensure all staff working at height are trained and competent (per SOP 4.2)

Ensure climbing / fall-arrest equipment inspected by competent person at least every 6 months (LOLER per SOP 8.6); records retained

Site Supervisor

Jason May

Brief & PoWRA

Brief staff on safe system of work and emergency arrangements; record acknowledgement

Ensure all PPE and emergency equipment is on site per the safe system of work

On site, undertake Point of Work Risk Assessment (PoWRA) to confirm conditions match plan

PoWRA

Safe to work at height?

Do not undertake work at height; call Site Supervisor for revised controls

Yes

Proceed with work

Operatives & Site Supervisor

Team Leaders · Operatives
Jason May (monitoring)

Inspect, Work & Close

Operative undertakes pre-use inspection of all climbing / fall-arrest equipment

Undertake work at height per the planned safe system of work

Site Supervisor undertakes regular monitoring during the work

Inform staff immediately of any change in working methods or conditions not covered by the plan

Complete works, make work area safe, return paperwork to head office for filing

SOP 4.7 Control of Records

Process / Activity

Decision Point

Document / Cross-reference

Continue / Approve

Stop / Escalate

Hierarchy of control for work at height (WAHR 2005)

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 mandate the order of control measures — AMWS does not skip levels.

Level	Control type	Effectiveness	Description	AMWS examples
1	Elimination	Most effective	Physically remove the hazard	Design out work at height; specify ground-level commissioning of valves where possible; use telescopic poles for inspection
2	Substitution	Very effective	Replace with a less hazardous alternative	Use MEWP instead of ladder for prolonged tasks; use podium steps instead of stepladders for repeat tasks
3	Engineering / Collective	Moderately effective	Isolate people from the hazard through physical changes	Edge protection (guardrail, midrail, toeboard); scaffold; tower scaffold; MEWP basket; safety nets
4	Administrative	Less effective	Change the way people work via procedures and training	Permit-to-work for roof access; trained climbers only; weather check; banks-person; exclusion zone below
5	PPE	Least effective	Protect the worker with personal equipment	Full body harness (EN 361) + lanyard with shock absorber (EN 354/EN 355); helmet with chinstrap (EN 12492); rescue plan in place before any work

Operational rules: work at height above 2 m is treated as not lone-workable per SOP 8.8 — rescue plan and second person required. Personal fall-arrest is the last resort: never used without a documented rescue plan that brings a fallen worker to a safe place within 15 minutes (suspension trauma risk). Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs / cherry pickers) require IPAF certification and a separate ground-banks-person.

Work at Height

Work at Height — Process Flow

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