Work at Height Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005
What this means for your business
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 19 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide
What you must do
19 compliance obligations under this legislation — 15 can result in imprisonment.
Equipment and safety 4
Ensure work‑at‑height equipment meets required standards
2 years imprisonmentWhenever you use any equipment for work at height – such as guard‑rails, toe‑boards, platforms, scaffolding, nets, fall‑arrest or restraint systems, ladders, etc. – you must make sure it complies with the specific safety requirements set out in the relevant schedules of the Regulations. In practice this means checking that the equipment you buy, install and use meets the standards and keeping proof of that compliance.
Provide and maintain guard‑rails, toe‑boards and barriers for work at height
2 years imprisonmentWhen you carry out work at height you must install guard‑rails, toe‑boards, barriers or similar collective protection that are strong, rigid and the correct size. They must be positioned and fixed so they can’t be displaced and must stop people or objects falling from the edge.
Provide guardrails for work at height in dock operations
2 years imprisonmentIf your business carries out any work at height on dock premises, you must put secure guardrails in place around every break, dangerous corner, edge and any open side of gangways, footways, caissons or dock gates. The guardrails must be adequate unless it is truly impracticable because the work is in progress.
Select suitable work equipment for work at height
2 years imprisonmentWhen you need people to work at height, you must choose the equipment that gives the best collective safety (e.g., guardrails, platforms) before resorting to personal protection like harnesses. You need to consider the working conditions, fall distance, load, how long and often the equipment will be used, and how easy it will be to rescue someone if needed, and pick equipment whose size and strength suit the job.
Inspections 2
Inspect fall protection measures before each use
2 years imprisonmentYou must make sure that any area where work is carried out at height is inspected for a safe working surface and for fall‑protection measures (parapets, permanent rails, etc.) each time before it is used. The inspection should be done as far as is reasonably practicable, meaning you need a practical process to check before work starts. This helps prevent falls and keeps your business compliant with the Work at Height Regulations.
Inspect work equipment and keep inspection records
2 years imprisonmentYou must make sure that any plant or equipment used at height is inspected before it is put into use, inspected regularly and after any incident that could affect its safety. The results of each inspection must be recorded, a report sent to the responsible person within 24 hours and the records kept on‑site and then in your office for the periods set out in the Regulations.
Management duties 12
Avoid work at height where possible and prevent falls
When you need to do any work at height, you must first check whether the job can be done safely from the ground. If it can’t, you must use existing safe access points or provide appropriate fall‑prevention equipment, and give any remaining workers extra training and instruction to stop falls. In short, you must plan, equip and train to keep people from falling.
Control access and clearly mark danger zones at height work
2 years imprisonmentIf any part of your workplace poses a risk of a person falling or being hit by a falling object, you must put in place barriers, fencing or other devices to stop people who shouldn’t be there from entering, and you must make the area clearly visible with signs or markings. This keeps unauthorised staff, visitors and contractors safe from serious injury.
Ensure compliance with Schedule 10 for dock‑operation work at height
If your business has employees who work at height on dock operations, you must make sure that the requirements set out in Schedule 10 of the Work at Height Regulations (NI) are fully met. This means checking that any equipment, procedures and protective measures required by that schedule are in place and maintained.
Ensure existing work‑at‑height places are safe and stable
If you have any existing platform, ladder, scaffold or access route that is used at height, you must make sure it is stable, strong enough and firmly seated on a solid surface. It also has to be big enough for safe movement, provide fall protection, have no gaps or slip‑trip hazards, and any moving parts must be secured.
Ensure only competent persons work at height
As an employer you must make sure anyone involved in work at height – whether they are planning, organising, supervising or actually carrying out the work – is competent to do it. If a worker is still being trained, they must be supervised at all times by a competent person.
Ensure safe, suitable collective fall‑arrest safeguards and training
2 years imprisonmentWhen you use a collective device to stop a fall (for example a safety net, anchored line or airbag), you must first confirm by risk assessment that it can be used safely and that no safer equipment is practicable. You also need to make sure the equipment is strong enough, securely attached and won’t cause injury, and that enough staff have received specific training – including rescue – to use it correctly.
Ensure safe use of ladders for work at height
2 years imprisonmentYou must only use a ladder if a risk assessment shows no safer equipment is needed, and then make sure the ladder is on a stable surface, correctly positioned and securely fixed so it can’t slip or swing. For tall ladders you must provide rest platforms where practical, and always give users a secure handhold and support, especially when carrying a load.
Maintain equivalent safety when leading caving or climbing activities
2 years imprisonmentIf your business provides instruction or leadership for caving or climbing (sport, recreation, team‑building etc.), you must ensure the same level of safety as the specific work‑at‑height rules require. You can meet this by using other safety measures, as long as they give an equivalent level of protection.
Plan, supervise and ensure safe work at height (including weather checks)
2 years imprisonmentIf you employ people to work at height, you must make sure every job is carefully planned, properly supervised and uses the right equipment. You also have to include emergency and rescue plans and stop the work if the weather could put anyone’s health or safety at risk. Keep records to prove you have done all of this.
Prevent falling objects and protect people from them
2 years imprisonmentWhenever work at height could cause tools, materials or other objects to fall, you must put in place practical measures to stop them from falling or, if that isn’t possible, to stop anyone being hit. You also need to make sure nothing is thrown or tipped from height and that everything is stored safely so it won’t collapse or move unexpectedly.
Protect workers from risks on fragile surfaces
2 years imprisonmentIf any of your staff have to walk across, near or work on a fragile surface, you must first see if the job can be done safely without that exposure. If it can’t, you must provide suitable platforms, coverings or guard‑rails, take steps to reduce any fall distance, and make sure the area is clearly warned or that workers are otherwise made aware of the hazard.
Provide and manage safe personal fall protection systems
2 years imprisonmentWhenever you have workers doing work at height, you must first carry out a risk assessment to confirm that a personal fall protection system is needed and that safer equipment isn’t reasonably practicable. You then have to supply suitable, correctly fitted and securely anchored equipment, train workers (including rescue procedures), and put measures in place to stop anyone slipping or falling from the system.
Other requirements 1
Report hazards and use safety equipment correctly when working at height
2 years imprisonmentWhen your staff are working at height under someone’s control, they must tell their supervisor about any defect or activity that could endanger safety. They also must only use the safety equipment or devices provided, and do so exactly as they have been trained and instructed to.
Penalties for non-compliance
15 penalties under this legislation. 15 can result in imprisonment. 15 carry an unlimited fine.
Ensure work‑at‑height equipment meets required standards
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Provide and maintain guard‑rails, toe‑boards and barriers for work at height
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Provide guardrails for work at height in dock operations
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Select suitable work equipment for work at height
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Inspect fall protection measures before each use
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Inspect work equipment and keep inspection records
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Control access and clearly mark danger zones at height work
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Ensure safe, suitable collective fall‑arrest safeguards and training
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Ensure safe use of ladders for work at height
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Maintain equivalent safety when leading caving or climbing activities
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Plan, supervise and ensure safe work at height (including weather checks)
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Prevent falling objects and protect people from them
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Protect workers from risks on fragile surfaces
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Provide and manage safe personal fall protection systems
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Report hazards and use safety equipment correctly when working at height
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Sections and provisions
31 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 19
- Schedule 2 REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING PLACES OF WORK AND MEANS OF ACCESS OR EGRESS AT HEIGHT
- s.4 Organisation and planning employer
- Schedule 5 REQUIREMENTS FOR COLLECTIVE SAFEGUARDS FOR ARRESTING FALLS reference in this Schedule
- s.5 Competence employer
- s.6 Avoidance of risks from work at height employer
- Schedule 7 REQUIREMENTS FOR LADDERS employer
- s.7 Selection of work equipment for work at height
- s.8 Requirements for particular work equipment employer
- s.9 Fragile surfaces employer
- Schedule 10 REQUIREMENTS FOR WORK IN DOCKS
- s.10 Falling objects employer
- s.11 Danger areas employer
- s.12 Inspection of work equipment employer
- s.13 Inspection of places of work at height employer
- s.14 Duties of persons at work activity or defect relating
- Dock Operations Dock Operations employer
- Schedule 3 REQUIREMENTS FOR GUARD-RAILS, TOE-BOARDS, BARRIERS AND SIMILAR COLLECTIVE MEANS OF PROTECTION reference in this Schedule
- Schedule 6 REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONAL FALL PROTECTION SYSTEMS A fall arrest system
- Special provision in relation to caving and climbi Special provision in relation to caving and climbing