Working at Height Regulations: Ladders, Scaffolding & Edge Protection

Summary

Falls from height kill more construction workers in the UK than any other cause. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 are the primary legal framework for managing this risk, and they apply to every tradesperson who steps onto a ladder, scaffold tower, or roof. The regulations do not create a threshold height — if you can fall and be injured, the regulations apply.

Many tradespeople treat ladders as a default, forgetting that the regulations require proper consideration of whether a safer alternative exists. A ladder is a last resort, not a first choice. For work lasting more than a few minutes, or where both hands are needed, a scaffolding tower, podium steps, or working platform is almost always more appropriate and safer.

The regulations apply to employers, the self-employed, and any person who controls the work of others (including domestic clients in some circumstances). Getting this right is not just about legal compliance — it is about not killing yourself or your employees.

Key Facts

• Legal basis: Work at Height Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/735), made under Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• Who is covered: Employers, self-employed, any person who controls work at height (including clients who control contractors in some cases)
• No minimum height: The regulations apply to any height where a fall could result in personal injury
• Hierarchy of control: 1. Avoid work at height; 2. Prevent falls using collective protection; 3. Mitigate consequences of falls using personal protection
• Ladder use: Justified only where risk assessment shows it is proportionate — short-duration tasks, low risk; not for sustained work or work requiring both hands
• 3-point contact on ladders: Must be maintained at all times — one hand always on the stile
• Ladder angle: 75° from horizontal (1 out for every 4 up — the "1 in 4" rule)
• Ladder foot securing: Footed by a second person OR tied off — never just leaning unsecured
• Scaffold tower (PASMA): Must be erected and used by PASMA-trained operatives; maximum height varies by base width — check manufacturer's instructions
• Scaffold tower SWL: Safe working load typically 200–275 kg per platform depending on type
• Independent scaffold: Designed and erected by a competent scaffold contractor; TG20 compliance guide used for tube-and-fitting scaffold
• Scaffold inspection: Must be inspected by a competent person before use and at least every 7 days, and after any event that may affect stability (storm, vehicle impact)
• Edge protection: Required at all open edges where a fall of 2m or more is possible; minimum 950mm guardrail height; intermediate rail or toeboard required
• Roof work: Fragile roofs (most older flat roofs, fibre cement, corrugated plastic) — appropriate crawling boards, ridgeways, or support netting required; never walk on a fragile roof without specific equipment
• Personal fall arrest equipment: Harness, lanyard, and anchor point — must be worn and used; training required; inspection before each use
• HSE statistics: Falls from height account for approximately 25–30% of fatal injuries to workers in construction each year

Quick Reference Table

Detailed Guidance

The Hierarchy of Controls

The Work at Height Regulations require a specific decision hierarchy — you cannot jump straight to "we'll use a harness":

Step 1 — Avoid work at height altogether Can the work be done from the ground? Can the component be lowered for work, then re-installed? Can a design change eliminate the need for access? For most construction work, avoidance is not possible, but this step should always be considered.

Step 2 — Prevent falls using collective protection Scaffolding, working platforms, guardrails, safety nets — these protect everyone on the site passively, without requiring active intervention from the worker. This is always preferred over personal fall protection.

Step 3 — Mitigate falls using personal fall protection Harnesses, lanyards, inertia reels, fall arrest systems — only used where collective protection is not practicable. Requires training, inspection, and anchor point assessment.

Step 4 — Rescue plan If a worker falls and is arrested by a harness, they cannot self-rescue — suspension trauma (harness-induced pathology) can be fatal within minutes. A rescue plan must be in place before work starts.

Ladders — Safe Use

Ladders are one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment on any construction site because they are used carelessly, incorrectly, and in situations where a safer alternative should have been used.

When a ladder is justified:

• Short duration (under 30 minutes is a useful guide — not a regulation limit)
• Light duty (one hand can remain on the stile; tools not required in both hands)
• Low risk (stable, level surface; no adverse weather; no overhead hazards)

Correct angle: 75° from horizontal. To check: stand with toes touching the foot of the ladder, reach forward — you should be able to grip the stile comfortably with arm outstretched. The practical rule is "1 out for every 4 up."

Securing the base: Foot the ladder with a second person OR use purpose-designed ladder feet or a stake. On soft ground, use a spreader plate. Never rest the foot of a ladder on a box, pallet, or other object.

Securing the top: Tie the ladder at the top to a fixed structure using a purpose-designed strap and lashing point. If no suitable fixing point exists, use a stand-off (ladder stay) fixed to the wall. The ladder top must not rest against plastic guttering or any surface that can give way.

Access on a roof: A ladder to a roof only provides access to the eaves. Work on a pitched roof requires a roof ladder (a hook ladder that hooks over the ridge) or appropriate scaffold. Standing on roof tiles is dangerous — tiles can break, and the roof surface is steep.

Pre-use inspection: Before every use, check: no missing, bent, or broken rungs; stiles not bent; locking mechanism operates correctly; feet in good condition. A damaged ladder must be taken out of service.

Scaffold Towers (PASMA)

Aluminium modular tower scaffold (e.g. Instant UpRight, Boss Towers) is the most commonly used temporary access equipment on UK construction sites. Key requirements:

• PASMA training: The operative erecting, dismantling, and using the tower should hold a PASMA card (or equivalent — other training schemes are available)
• Erection: Follow the manufacturer's instructions exactly — every tower type is different
• Outriggers: Required in most situations when height exceeds certain limits — check manufacturer's instructions; never exceed 3.5:1 height to base ratio without stabilisers
• Castors locked: Wheels must be locked before any person stands on the tower; never move a tower with anyone on it
• Load rating: Do not exceed the safe working load (SWL) — typically 200–275 kg on the platform
• Working height: The maximum working height is the platform height + 2m (standing working reach)
• Toe boards: Required at platform edges to prevent tools falling off
• Trap door: Close the trap door in the platform when working — prevents tools falling through and prevents falls when moving between levels

Outdoor use: Tower scaffold in outdoors locations must be checked against wind speed — most manufacturers specify maximum wind conditions for outdoor use. Never work on a tower in high winds.

Independent Scaffold

For work on multi-storey properties or where the work area is extensive (full fascia replacement, external render, multi-storey extension), an independent scaffold should be erected by a scaffold contractor. Key points:

• Competence: Scaffold must be erected by a CISRS (Construction Industry Scaffolding Record Scheme) qualified operative or under the supervision of one
• Design: Standard tube-and-fitting scaffold follows the TG20 guide (available from NASC); complex or heavier scaffolds may require an engineer's scaffold design
• Inspection records: The scaffold must be inspected by a competent person before first use, every 7 days, and after any event that may affect integrity. Written inspection records must be kept
• Loading bays: If materials are to be loaded onto the scaffold from the ground (tiles, bags of mortar), a dedicated loading bay or material hoist must be used
• Ties to building: Scaffold must be tied to the building at the correct centres — typically 4m vertical, 6m horizontal for standard scaffold

Edge Protection

Any working platform or roof where a person could fall 2m or more must have edge protection:

• Guardrail: Minimum 950mm above the working level; positioned at the edge
• Intermediate rail: At mid-height (approximately 470mm) — prevents someone crawling under the guardrail
• Toeboards: 150mm high at the edge — prevents tools rolling off
• Gap between guardrail and toeboards: Maximum 470mm (to prevent a person falling through the gap)

Exception: Edge protection may be omitted if the work cannot be done with it in place and alternative measures (safety netting below, full fall arrest harness) are used instead.

Fragile Roofs

Any roof not specifically designed to carry foot traffic should be treated as fragile:

• Fibre cement (Eternit-type) sheeting
• Corrugated plastic (polycarbonate, GRP)
• Glass roof lights
• Older flat roofs with degraded surfaces
• Large roof lights set in flat roof decks

For fragile roofs:

• Crawling boards distribute load across multiple rafters/purlins — use one per person, advance carefully
• Roof ladders provide a stable path on sloping roofs
• Safety nets below fragile roofs catch falls and prevent people falling through to the floor below
• Never trust the surface to carry weight until you have confirmed it is structural

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need PASMA training to use a scaffold tower on my own site?

PASMA training is not a statutory legal requirement, but it is the industry standard for demonstrating competence to erect and use aluminium towers. Under the Work at Height Regulations, you must be competent — PASMA training is the recognised way to demonstrate that competence. In practice, hiring from a reputable hire company requires you to have appropriate training or supervision.

My customer is asking me to work on a fragile asbestos cement roof without scaffold — can I?

No. Asbestos cement roof sheets are fragile and may also contain chrysotile asbestos fibres released if the sheets are broken (see asbestos). Work on a fragile roof requires appropriate precautions — minimum crawling boards, ideally a safety net below, and scaffold alongside for access. If the customer is not prepared to fund the appropriate access equipment, do not take the job. The duty to prevent falls from height overrides the customer's cost preference.

What height do I need to be at before I need scaffold instead of a ladder?

There is no specific height trigger for scaffold versus ladder in the regulations — the test is whether the risk assessment shows a ladder is appropriate. As a practical guide: above 4–5 metres, ladder work becomes increasingly difficult to secure safely; most work above single-storey height benefits from a tower or independent scaffold. For any work on a two-storey or higher external wall, scaffold is almost always the appropriate choice.

Do I need to provide scaffolding for a customer who wants to DIY after I've finished?

No — your duty of care is for your own workers and those affected by your work. You are not responsible for what the customer chooses to do after you have left. However, if you leave unsecured equipment or an open scaffold that a member of the public or the customer could access unsafely, you may have a duty to make it safe before leaving.

Is a cherry picker (MEWP) ever better than scaffold?

Yes — for isolated tasks or one-off access requirements on a large site, a MEWP can be faster and cheaper than erecting full scaffold. MEWPs require IPAF training for the specific category of machine. Scissor lifts (Category 3a) require a different licence from boom lifts (Category 3b). MEWPs are not suitable where the working platform needs to be occupied for extended periods or where the terrain is uneven.

Regulations & Standards

• Work at Height Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/735) — primary legislation; applies to all work at height

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 — underlying duty of care

• BS EN 131 (Ladders — requirements, testing, marking) — ladder standards

• TG20:21 (Guide to good practice for scaffolding with tubes and fittings) — NASC industry standard for tube-and-fitting scaffold

• PASMA Operators' Code of Practice — industry standard for mobile tower scaffold

• HSE — Working at Height — Official guidance, statistics, and enforcement information

• PASMA — Tower Scaffold Training — Training and competence standards for towers

• NASC — National Access & Scaffolding Confederation — TG20 guide and scaffold standards

• IPAF — Powered Access Training — MEWP operator training and certification

• asbestos — Fragile asbestos cement roofs — double hazard

• fascia soffit — Access equipment for roofline work

• chimney repairs — Scaffold access for chimney work

• cdm regulations — CDM risk assessment and planning for height work