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{{org_field_name}}

Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

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Working Safely at Height Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that {{org_field_name}} manages all work at height so far as is reasonably practicable to prevent falls, injuries from falling objects and other foreseeable harm to employees, contractors, people using the service, visitors and any other person who may be affected by the work.

{{org_field_name}} will ensure that work at height is avoided where it is reasonably practicable to carry out the work safely by another means. Where work at height cannot reasonably be avoided, the work will be properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out by competent people using suitable equipment and appropriate control measures.

This policy supports compliance with the Work at Height Regulations 2005, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and other applicable health and safety legislation.

As a registered adult social care provider, {{org_field_name}} will also ensure that work at height and associated maintenance activities do not expose people using the service to avoidable harm and that premises and equipment remain safe, suitable and properly maintained in accordance with Regulations 12, 15 and 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all employees, agency workers, contractors, maintenance personnel and any other persons who undertake, organise, plan, manage or supervise work at height on behalf of, or at premises operated by, {{org_field_name}}.

For the purposes of this policy, “work at height” means work in any place, including a place at or below ground level, where a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury if suitable precautions were not taken. It includes obtaining access to or egress from such a place while at work.

Work at height covered by this policy includes, but is not limited to:

• the use of ladders and stepladders;
• the use of scaffolds, tower scaffolds, mobile access equipment and mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs);
• work on roofs, balconies, platforms or other raised areas;
• work near openings, voids, unprotected edges, fragile surfaces or excavations where a fall could occur;
• access to ceilings, gutters, roofs, exterior walls or high-level fixtures;
• installation, maintenance or replacement of lighting, alarms, decorations, security equipment or other high-level fixtures;
• cleaning, maintenance, repair, inspection or similar activities where a fall could cause personal injury; and
• any work involving access to or use of a place from which a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury.

The policy applies regardless of the duration or frequency of the task.

Where contractors undertake work at height, {{org_field_name}} will take reasonable steps to ensure that they are competent, that relevant risks and site information are shared, and that their arrangements are coordinated with the service’s own health and safety arrangements. Contracting work out does not remove the provider’s responsibilities for risks arising from its premises or regulated activities.

3. Legal and Regulatory Framework

This policy must be read and implemented in accordance with the following legislation and regulatory requirements, where applicable:

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 – requires employers, so far as is reasonably practicable, to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees and to conduct their undertaking so that people who are not employees are not exposed to risks to their health or safety.
• Work at Height Regulations 2005 – require work at height to be properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out safely by competent people. They establish requirements for avoiding work at height where reasonably practicable, preventing falls where work at height cannot be avoided and minimising the distance and consequences of a fall where the risk cannot otherwise be eliminated.
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 – require suitable and sufficient assessment of risks to employees and other people who may be affected by the organisation’s activities and require appropriate preventive and protective measures.
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) – require work equipment to be suitable for its intended use, maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair, and used by people who have received adequate information, instruction and training.
• Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 2022 – apply where personal protective equipment is required to control residual risks and require appropriate PPE to be provided, assessed for suitability, maintained and used correctly, together with appropriate information, instruction and training.
• Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) – apply where lifting equipment within the scope of those Regulations is used, including relevant equipment used for lifting people. Applicable lifting equipment must be properly planned, appropriately supervised, safely carried out and subject to the required thorough examination and inspection arrangements.
• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) – require specified work-related deaths, injuries and dangerous occurrences to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive within the applicable statutory requirements and timescales.
• Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, Regulation 12 – Safe Care and Treatment – requires care and treatment to be provided safely, relevant risks to people using the service to be assessed and mitigated, and premises and equipment used in connection with care and treatment to be safe and used safely.
• Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, Regulation 15 – Premises and Equipment – requires premises and equipment used by the service provider to be clean, secure, suitable for their intended purpose, properly used, properly maintained and appropriately located.
• Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, Regulation 17 – Good Governance – requires effective systems and processes for assessing, monitoring and improving quality and safety and for assessing, monitoring and mitigating risks to the health, safety and welfare of people using the service and others who may be at risk.
• Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009, as amended – require specified incidents affecting people using regulated services to be notified to the Care Quality Commission where the statutory notification criteria are met.

Where work constitutes construction work, applicable requirements of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 must also be followed.

4. Related Policies

This policy is linked to other safety and compliance policies within {{org_field_name}}, including:

• CH16 – Health and Safety at Work Policy
• CH18 – Risk Management and Assessment Policy
• CH24 – Management of Accidents, Incidents, and Near Misses Policy
• CH20 – Fire Safety and Evacuation Procedures
• CH30 – Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy

5. Policy Statement

{{org_field_name}} is committed to ensuring the safety of all individuals required to work at height. We aim to eliminate or reduce risks through proper planning, risk assessments, use of safe equipment, and staff training. Where working at height is unavoidable, all activities must be carried out in a safe and controlled manner following best practices and legal requirements.

6. Risk Assessment and Planning

All work at height must be properly planned before it begins. Planning must be proportionate to the nature and level of risk but must be sufficient to ensure that the activity can be completed safely.

A suitable and sufficient risk assessment must be completed before work at height is undertaken. Existing assessments may be used for routine activities only where they remain suitable and sufficient for the actual task, location, equipment, people involved and current conditions.

The person planning or authorising the work must apply the following hierarchy:

1. Avoid work at height wherever it is reasonably practicable to carry out the work safely by another means, for example by using suitable extendable equipment or completing the work from ground level.
2. Prevent falls where work at height cannot reasonably be avoided. Priority must be given to an existing safe place of work or suitable work equipment that provides collective fall protection, such as appropriately designed working platforms, guard rails or other collective protection.
3. Minimise the distance and consequences of a fall where the risk of falling cannot be eliminated. Collective fall-arrest measures must be considered before reliance is placed on personal fall-protection systems.

When selecting control measures, collective protection measures that protect everyone exposed to the risk must be given priority over personal protection measures that protect only the individual user.

Planning and risk assessment must consider, where relevant:

• the height of the work and the potential distance and consequences of a fall;
• the duration and frequency of the task;
• the nature and condition of the working surface;
• access to and egress from the work area;
• the equipment required and its suitability for the task;
• the foreseeable loads on working platforms and equipment;
• the competence of those planning, supervising and undertaking the work;
• the risk from fragile surfaces;
• the risk of falling tools, materials, equipment or other objects;
• the need to prevent people entering areas in which they could be struck by falling objects or exposed to a fall risk;
• the safety of people using the service, visitors, staff and other persons who may be present;
• weather conditions and other environmental conditions;
• lighting and visibility;
• the need for barriers, segregation or temporary closure of affected areas;
• any person’s physical capability where this is relevant to safe completion of the task; and
• emergency and rescue arrangements.

Work at height must not take place where weather conditions jeopardise the health or safety of anyone involved in the work. The assessment must be reviewed if weather or other environmental conditions change sufficiently to affect safety.

Suitable emergency and rescue arrangements must be planned before work begins where the nature of the task creates a foreseeable need for rescue. Reliance solely on the emergency services is not an adequate rescue plan where a specific rescue arrangement is reasonably required for the work being undertaken.

Work must be stopped immediately if conditions change so that the controls specified in the risk assessment can no longer be maintained or if an unforeseen significant risk arises. Work may restart only after the risk has been reassessed and suitable controls have been implemented.

7. Safe Use of Equipment

Work equipment used for work at height must be suitable for the task, the working environment and the foreseeable risks and loads. It must be maintained in a safe condition and used only in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, applicable statutory requirements and the findings of the risk assessment.

When selecting work equipment:

• collective protection must be given priority over personal fall-protection measures;
• equipment must be appropriate to the nature of the work and foreseeable loading;
• the working conditions and risks at the location must be considered;
• the distance to be negotiated for access or egress must be considered;
• the distance and potential consequences of a fall must be considered;
• the duration and frequency of use must be considered;
• emergency evacuation and rescue requirements must be considered; and
• risks created during installation, use, movement or removal of the equipment must be considered.

Ladders and stepladders must not automatically be selected merely because a task is brief. They may be used for work at height only where the risk assessment demonstrates that the use of more suitable work equipment is not justified because of the low risk and, where relevant, the short duration of use or existing features of the site that cannot reasonably be altered.

Where ladders or stepladders are used:

• they must be suitable and of sufficient strength for the intended task;
• they must be positioned to ensure stability during use;
• portable ladders must be prevented from slipping by securing the stiles at or near their upper or lower ends, by an effective anti-slip or stability device, or by another arrangement of equivalent effectiveness;
• they must rest on a stable, firm and suitably sized surface so that the rungs or steps remain substantially horizontal;
• access ladders must project sufficiently above the landing place to provide a secure handhold unless another secure handhold is available;
• users must maintain a secure handhold and safe support so far as is reasonably practicable;
• ladders must not be overloaded;
• users must not overreach; and
• damaged or defective ladders must be taken out of use immediately.

Scaffolds, tower scaffolds and other working platforms must be appropriately designed, assembled, altered and dismantled only by competent persons or by persons receiving training under the supervision of a competent person. Required guard rails, toe boards and other collective protection must be provided and maintained.

MEWPs must be suitable for the task and used only by appropriately trained and competent persons. Applicable statutory inspection, examination and maintenance requirements must be met.

Personal fall-protection equipment, including harnesses, lanyards, work-restraint or fall-arrest systems, must only be used where justified by the risk assessment and must be suitable for the user, task, anchor arrangement and environment. The equipment must be correctly fitted, inspected and maintained and users must have received appropriate information, instruction and training. Where a fall-arrest system is used, a suitable rescue plan must be established before work starts.

Where work is undertaken on, from or near a fragile surface, the work must be avoided where reasonably practicable. Where avoidance is not reasonably practicable, suitable and sufficient platforms, coverings, guard rails or equivalent protection must be provided and used. Appropriate warning notices or other effective measures must identify the fragile surface where required.

Suitable and sufficient measures must be taken to prevent objects or materials falling and causing injury. Materials and objects must not be thrown or tipped from height where doing so could cause injury. Where falling objects cannot reasonably be completely prevented, the area below or around the work must be appropriately controlled so that people cannot enter the danger area.

Where a work area creates a risk of a person falling or being struck by a falling object, access must be restricted so far as reasonably practicable to people authorised and required to enter the area. Appropriate barriers, signs or other effective controls must be used.

Any equipment found to be defective, damaged, overdue for a required inspection or examination, or otherwise unsafe must be taken out of use immediately and clearly identified or secured against inadvertent use until it has been made safe.

8. Staff Training and Competency

No person may organise, plan, supervise or carry out work at height, or work involving equipment used for work at height, unless they are competent to perform the relevant activity or are undergoing training under the supervision of a competent person.

Competence must be appropriate to the complexity and risk of the activity. A competent person must have sufficient skills, knowledge, training and experience to undertake their assigned responsibilities safely and to recognise the limits of their competence.

{{org_field_name}} will ensure that employees required to undertake work at height receive information, instruction and training appropriate to the tasks they are authorised to undertake. Training must include, where relevant:

• the hazards associated with work at height;
• the hierarchy of control measures;
• safe use of the equipment they are authorised to use;
• pre-use checks and defect reporting;
• safe ladder and stepladder use;
• prevention of falling objects;
• fragile surfaces;
• use, inspection and fitting of personal fall-protection equipment;
• site-specific risks;
• emergency and rescue procedures; and
• the requirement to stop work where conditions become unsafe.

Persons undertaking specialist activities, including the erection or alteration of scaffolding, operation of MEWPs or use of specialist personal fall-protection systems, must possess competence appropriate to that activity.

Training and competency must be reviewed where:

• work equipment or working methods change;
• an incident, near miss or audit identifies a competency concern;
• the person’s skills have not been used for a period that may affect competence;
• legislation, guidance or manufacturer requirements change; or
• there is another reason to believe that refresher or additional training is required.

Records of relevant training, instruction and competency assessment must be maintained.

9. Supervision, Inspection and Monitoring

Work at height must be appropriately supervised. The level of supervision must reflect the nature of the activity, the risks involved and the competence and experience of the people undertaking the work.

Work equipment and places of work at height must be inspected by a competent person at the intervals and in the circumstances required by applicable legislation.

Where safety depends on how work equipment has been installed or assembled, it must be inspected after installation or assembly and before first use in that position where required by law.

Work equipment exposed to conditions causing deterioration liable to result in dangerous situations must be inspected:

• at suitable intervals; and
• after exceptional circumstances that are liable to jeopardise its safety.

Equipment must also be subject to appropriate pre-use checks in accordance with applicable legislation, recognised guidance and manufacturer instructions.

Where construction work is undertaken and a working platform from which a person could fall more than two metres is used, the statutory inspection requirements applicable to that working platform must be followed, including inspection after assembly or installation and at intervals not exceeding seven days where required.

No work equipment requiring a statutory inspection or thorough examination may be used where the required inspection or examination is overdue or where there is reason to believe that the equipment is unsafe.

Where legislation requires an inspection report, the report must contain the required particulars and must be retained for the legally required period.

{{org_field_name}} will operate proportionate monitoring and audit arrangements to ensure that:

• work-at-height risk assessments are completed and remain suitable and sufficient;
• required inspections and examinations are completed;
• defective equipment is removed from use;
• staff and contractors remain competent for the work undertaken;
• identified corrective actions are completed promptly; and
• risks to people using the service, staff, visitors and others continue to be effectively controlled.

Any significant deficiency identified during inspection, supervision or audit must be acted upon without delay. Work must be stopped where continuation would expose any person to an unacceptable risk.

10. Incident Reporting and Investigation

All accidents, injuries, falls, falling-object incidents, equipment failures, dangerous occurrences and near misses associated with work at height must be reported promptly in accordance with CH24 – Management of Accidents, Incidents, and Near Misses Policy.

Any person involved in or witnessing an incident must, where safe to do so:

• obtain or summon appropriate assistance;
• prevent further access to any unsafe area;
• preserve relevant evidence where this does not create an additional risk; and
• report the matter promptly to the person responsible for managing the service.

The Registered Manager or other authorised competent person must ensure that incidents are reviewed and investigated to a level proportionate to their actual and potential consequences.

The investigation must consider, where relevant:

• whether the risk assessment was suitable and sufficient;
• whether planned control measures were implemented;
• whether suitable work equipment was selected and used;
• the condition and inspection status of equipment;
• the competence, training and supervision of those involved;
• environmental and weather conditions;
• contractor arrangements;
• whether residents, visitors or other persons were exposed to risk; and
• what corrective and preventive action is required.

Where an accident, injury or dangerous occurrence meets the statutory reporting criteria under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, the responsible person must ensure that the required report is made to the Health and Safety Executive within the applicable statutory timescale.

Where an incident affects a person using the service, the Registered Manager must also consider without delay whether it meets the criteria for notification to the Care Quality Commission under the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009, as amended, and must make any required notification within the applicable statutory requirements.

Where an incident affecting a person using the service constitutes a notifiable safety incident for the purposes of the statutory duty of candour, {{org_field_name}} must comply with the requirements of Regulation 20 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

Corrective actions arising from an incident or near miss must be recorded, allocated to an appropriate person and monitored to completion. Relevant learning must be communicated to staff and, where appropriate, contractors in order to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

11. Responsibilities

Registered Manager

The Registered Manager is responsible for ensuring that:

• suitable systems are in place to manage work-at-height risks within the service;
• the requirements of this policy are implemented;
• work at height is undertaken only where necessary and is appropriately planned;
• suitable and sufficient risk assessments are completed;
• competent persons are used to plan, supervise and undertake work at height;
• required training, instruction and competency arrangements are in place;
• statutory inspections, examinations and maintenance are completed;
• contractor competence and relevant health and safety arrangements are appropriately checked before work begins;
• work undertaken by contractors is coordinated with the activities and risks of the care home;
• risks to people using the service are identified and controlled;
• unsafe work or equipment is stopped or taken out of use;
• incidents are appropriately investigated; and
• statutory reports and notifications to the HSE, CQC or other relevant authorities are made where the applicable legal criteria are met.

Health and Safety Lead or Other Designated Competent Person

The Health and Safety Lead or other designated competent person is responsible, within the limits of their competence and delegated authority, for:

• supporting suitable and sufficient work-at-height risk assessments;
• advising on appropriate control measures and equipment;
• maintaining appropriate arrangements for inspection and monitoring;
• monitoring compliance with this policy;
• escalating significant health and safety concerns;
• supporting incident investigation and corrective action; and
• providing or arranging competent health and safety advice where specialist advice is required.

Facilities and Maintenance Staff

Facilities and maintenance staff must:

• undertake only work for which they are competent and authorised;
• comply with relevant risk assessments and safe working procedures;
• use work equipment in accordance with their training and manufacturer instructions;
• carry out required pre-use checks;
• use required protective equipment correctly;
• report defective equipment, unsafe conditions, incidents and near misses immediately;
• stop work where conditions become unsafe or where the planned precautions cannot be maintained; and
• not alter, bypass or remove safety equipment or protective measures unless authorised as part of a safe system of work.

Contractors

Contractors undertaking work at height must:

• be competent for the work they are engaged to undertake;
• provide relevant risk assessments and method statements where required;
• comply with applicable health and safety legislation;
• use suitable, inspected and properly maintained equipment;
• provide evidence of competence, inspection or examination when reasonably requested;
• comply with the care home’s site safety arrangements;
• coordinate their work with the Registered Manager or designated responsible person;
• maintain appropriate controls to protect people using the service, employees, visitors and other persons; and
• report accidents, near misses, defects and changes affecting the safety of the work immediately.

All Staff

All staff must:

• comply with this policy and any relevant risk assessment or safe system of work;
• not undertake work at height unless authorised and competent to do so;
• use work equipment and protective equipment only in accordance with training and instructions;
• report hazards, defects, unsafe practices, accidents and near misses immediately;
• not interfere with or misuse equipment or safety measures provided for health and safety;
• cooperate with {{org_field_name}} in meeting its statutory health and safety duties; and
• stop and seek advice if they believe that work cannot be carried out safely.

12. Compliance and Enforcement

Compliance with this policy and the applicable legal requirements is mandatory.

Where unsafe work at height is identified, the work must be stopped immediately where necessary to protect the health and safety of any person. Work must not resume until the risk has been reassessed and adequate control measures have been implemented.

Equipment that is unsafe, defective or does not have a required current inspection or examination must be removed from use until it has been made safe and any applicable statutory requirements have been satisfied.

Employees who deliberately or negligently fail to follow reasonable health and safety instructions, training, risk assessments or safe systems of work may be subject to the organisation’s disciplinary procedures, subject to appropriate investigation and employment procedures.

Contractors who fail to comply with required health and safety standards may have work suspended or terminated and may be required to leave the premises.

Failure by {{org_field_name}} to comply with applicable occupational health and safety legislation may result in investigation or enforcement action by the Health and Safety Executive or other relevant enforcing authority.

Where failings affect the safety of people using the regulated service or the safety, suitability or maintenance of premises and equipment, the Care Quality Commission may take regulatory or enforcement action under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations.

The Registered Manager must ensure that identified non-compliance is recorded, corrective action is allocated and completion is monitored through the service’s governance and quality assurance arrangements.

13. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if legislative changes or service improvements require amendments.

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Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}
Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}
Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}
Copyright © {{current_year}} – {{org_field_name}}. All rights reserved.