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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


. (Poor maintenance of access Riggers, equipment and records kept. person before every use and records kept
equipment (e.g. ladders, steps, electricians, - Three-monthly inspections Green tagging is best practice
scaffolds) maintenance of access equipment by a - Immediately remove defective access
technicians, competent person and equipment or take out of service by blocking
telecom records kept. access and red tagging it.
technicians, - Defective equipment to be - Suitable personal protective equipment must
telecom engineers, reported to manager. be available and access should only be
or anyone who may - Immediate removal and granted if specified PPE is worn.
have access 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 for
. Inappropriate use of Riggers, where there is a firm, level inspection / maintenance tasks.
access equipment electricians, surface. Access equipment restricted to those
maintenance - All equipment to be visually trained and competent in use.
Overreaching, stretching technicians, inspected before use and
etc. Move tower from base only, all tools and
telecom records kept.
Uneven floor causing technicians, - Appropriate footwear to be persons removed from structure prior to
telecom engineers, worn. moving.
instability
or anyone who may - Safe system of work in No lone working when erecting or using
Falls, falling objects tower.
have access place for work involving tower
scaffolds. Persons using access equipment to wear
- Staff who use tower appropriate footwear ( low heeled, non slip
scaffolds to be trained. soles)
- Equipment should be Securely stored when not in use to avoid
suitably stored after use. unauthorised 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
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. ladders/stepladders. low risk work and a short a short duration of time (maximum of 30
duration of time (maximum of minutes).
30 minutes). - All equipment to be visually inspected before
- All equipment to be visually use and records kept.
inspected before use and - All ladders to be inspected by a competent
records kept. person every three months.
- All ladders to be inspected - Ladders to be made secure by tying at the top
by a competent person every and bottom or footed by a person at the base
three months. of the ladder.
- Ladders to be made secure - Equipment to be placed on a suitable firm and
by tying at the top and level base.
bottom or footed by a person - Safe procedures e.g. three points of contact
at the base of the ladder. to be maintained at all times when working to
- Equipment to be placed on avoid overreaching.
a suitable firm and level - Equipment used to be class 1 Industrial or
base. EN131 types.
- Safe procedures e.g. three - Appropriate footwear to be worn.
points of contact to be - Equipment should be suitably stored after
maintained at all times when use.
working to avoid - Work at height training to be undertaken.
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


. carrying out roof work. No access to fragile across a fragile surface wherever possible
surface allowed except e.g. repairing a skylight from underneath
by authorized persons or using a tower scaffold.
specialist contractors Fragile surface identified with suitable and
using appropriate prominent signage.
equipment. Use of suitable working platforms with
Use of suitable fixed guard rails during work on or near a fragile
access e.g. stairs/ladders surface.
rather than temporary
equipment where
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possible.
Use of suitable PPE
identified from the
Personal Protective
Equipment checklist.

05 Falls from height. - Specific risk assessment Consider alternate arrangements to


. to be undertaken prior to eliminate work at heigt; such as remote
all work at height repairing
activities.
- Use of long handled tools No lone working when erecting or
where appropriate. using tower.
- Suitable equipment used Access equipment restricted to those
for specific jobs. competent in its safe use. Ensure
- Staff not to use furniture access ladder removed / tower
or other inappropriate securely stored when not in use to
fixed/mobile structures prevent unauthorised use.
for working at height.
- 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


. not displayed at access points of each
overload it equipment.
the person and anything
they are taking up should Permit Issuer to issue permit only if load
not exceed the highest load does not exceed allowable limit.

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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 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 - No work at height to be done outside in poor
. slips. done 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
possible. every year.
- All portable equipment must - Regular inspections of equipment before and
be PAT tested every year. after use.
- Regular inspections of
equipment before and after
use.

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

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

11. Being hit by Falling objects. - Good housekeeping in - Good housekeeping in place to ensure
place to ensure nothing is nothing is stored in such a way that it will fall
stored in such a way that it from height.
will fall from height. - Materials, tools or debris must not be thrown
- Materials, tools or debris down from height.
must not be thrown down - Areas where there is a risk of a falling object
from height. needs to be clearly indicated and unauthorized
- Areas where there is a risk people need to be kept from it.
of a falling object needs to be - Tool belts to be used to prevent fall of
clearly indicated and tools/materials from pockets etc.
unauthorized people need to - PPE may be required; the Personal Protective
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 - Each individual area where - Each individual area where work at height is
. work at height is to be carried work at height is to be carried to be carried out needs to be inspected before
out. out needs to be inspected use e.g. floors surfaces, guard rails etc. and
before use e.g. floors records kept.
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:
Caretakers 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 Current Is anything further Date further action(s) New
hazards? harmed and doing already? Risk needed? was/were completed Risk
how? Level Level
By Whom and By When? Date of next Review

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

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

Inappropriate
Date Completed:
03. use 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 Current Is anything further Date further action(s) New
hazards? harmed and doing already? Risk needed? was/were completed Risk
how? Level Level
By Whom and By When? Date of next Review

Falls from
Date Completed:
05. height.

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 Current Is anything further needed? Date further action(s) was/were
hazards? harmed and how? doing 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:

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