---
title: What is the main legislation that covers work at height?
description: Navigating the Work at Height Regulations (2005) can be tricky. Read on to discover what legislation covers work at height and how you can stay compliant.
image: https://www.lloydsbritish.com/hubfs/RescuePlan.png
---

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# What is the main legislation that covers work at height?

###### [Bob McFarlane](https://www.lloydsbritish.com/blog/author/bob-mcfarlane) 07 Apr 2022

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In 2005, the [Work at Height Regulations (2005)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/735/contents) were introduced to ensure the safety of those who work at potentially dangerous heights and they are still in place today. What does all this legal jargon actually mean for duty holders and employers in industry sectors that work at height?

It can be hard to decipher from the government legislation what is *actually* required of you in order to comply with these regulations - we’re here to break things down for you in an accessible and informative way below.

## What does working at height mean?

[The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)](https://www.hse.gov.uk/work-at-height/index.htm) defines working at height as “work in any place where, if precautions were not taken, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury”. This includes work undertaken above ground or floor level, or work where falling from an edge or from ground level into an opening in a floor, a fragile surface, or hole in the ground is possible. If you’d like to hone in on more detail as to how working at height is defined by the HSE, take a look at our blog on this subject.

**Download your free copy of our ‘No-Nonsense Guide to the Working at Height Regulations (2005)’ to discover what this legislation means for you and what your next steps should be.**

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## What is the law?

Under the [Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (1974](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/37/contents)), it is legally an employer’s duty to ensure a safe working environment for their staff so far as is “reasonably practicable” - the Working at Height Regulations (2005) are included under this legislation. However, this also applies to those who are self-employed or those who manage the work of others, such as building contractors or facility managers.

The core responsibilities of the duty holder outlined in the regulations can be broken down into the following practices:

- All work at height must be properly planned, supervised, and carried out in a way that is “reasonably practicable”
- Risks relating to work at height must be assessed and managed
- Equipment used for work at height must be inspected and maintained
- All individuals involved in work at height are competent to do so - unless supervised or
  
  [undertaking training](https://www.lloydsbritish.com/blog/working-at-height-training-how-should-you-train-your-team).

Work at height should be planned, supervised, and carried out by competent people. But what exactly does competent mean? The term is definitely subjective, but in the case of the law and the Work at Height Regulations, competency is defined as being based on the individual having the necessary “skills, knowledge, and experience” to undertake the work.

## Why does this matter?

In the year 2020/21, the HSE reported that there were [35 fatal injuries](https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/pdf/fatalinjuries.pdf) in the UK that were a result of falls from a height - which accounts for 25% of all annual worker deaths. It’s important to take this legislation seriously as not only does this protect your employees’ wellbeing and safety, but it’s also in your best interests as an employer to comply. You (the dutyholder) **will** be held liable if an accident was to occur and you were complacent in following the legislation.

Such repercussions can be prevented by following the HSE’s advice and guidance for working at height - **avoid, prevent, **and** minimise**.

![man working at height](https://www.lloydsbritish.com/hs-fs/hubfs/man%20working%20at%20height.webp?width=512&name=man%20working%20at%20height.webp)

## What do I need to do as an employer?

Risks related to working at height must be considered and managed so far as is reasonably practicable in order to keep your employees safe when working at height.

- **Avoid** falls by doing as much work as possible from the ground. For those who cannot avoid working at height, this does not apply. This can be achieved by using extendable tools, cables, or masts from ground level for example.
- **Prevent **falls via collective and personal protection if working at height cannot be avoided. Collective protection includes equipment such as a [guard rail, edge protection, or mobile elevating work platforms](https://www.lloydsbritish.com/blog/what-are-the-3-types-of-fall-protection-systems) (MEWPs). An example of personal protection equipment is using a work restraint system or [harness](https://www.lloydsbritish.com/blog/how-to-maintain-your-safety-harness). 
- **Minimise **the consequences of falls via collective and personal protective equipment such as safety nets, soft landing systems, fall arrest systems, and implementing a [rescue plan](https://www.lloydsbritish.com/blog/how-to-develop-your-working-at-height-rescue-plan).

The Work at Height Regulations (2005) can be easy to navigate if you are properly educated on how to stay compliant - allowing you to make informed judgements on how to control the risks of working at height.

![No-Nonsense-Guide-Working-At-Height-Regulations-Front-Cover-Image](https://www.lloydsbritish.com/hs-fs/hubfs/No-Nonsense-Guide-Working-At-Height-Regulations-Front-Cover-Image.png?width=286&name=No-Nonsense-Guide-Working-At-Height-Regulations-Front-Cover-Image.png)

 

#### Want to know more?

We’ve made our ‘No-Nonsense Guide to the Working at Height Regulations (2005)’ available as a free download. For a one-stop, essential manual for protecting your employees, click here.

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## From the blog

### What is the true definition of ‘working at height’?

###### Apr 7, 2022 1:43:33 PM

Falls from a height continue to be the most common kind of fatal injury in the workplace for the 4th year running - with 171 fatal injuries from 2016-2021 being due to falls from a height. You may be ...

[**Read blog post >**](https://www.lloydsbritish.com/blog/what-is-the-definition-of-working-at-height)

### What is the main legislation that covers work at height?

###### Apr 7, 2022 1:42:26 PM

In 2005, the Work at Height Regulations (2005) were introduced to ensure the safety of those who work at potentially dangerous heights and they are still in place today. What does all this legal jargo...

[**Read blog post >**](https://www.lloydsbritish.com/blog/what-is-the-main-legislation-that-covers-work-at-height)

### Working at height training: How should you train your team?

###### Aug 10, 2021 8:56:58 AM

According to HSE, you should be taking vital steps to protect your team when working at height. One way to minimise the likelihood of an accident is through the use of a Fall Arrest System.

[**Read blog post >**](https://www.lloydsbritish.com/blog/working-at-height-training-how-should-you-train-your-team)

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