RAMS and method statement for working at height

Falls from height are still the biggest single cause of death in UK construction, which is why a risk assessment and method statement for working at height gets read closely. Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 the job has to be planned, supervised and carried out by competent people, using the right equipment. This guide covers what a working at height RAMS should contain, whether the task is a few hours on a tower or a full day on a scaffold or a mobile platform.

What a RAMS for working at height needs to cover

Describe the actual task: how high the work is, how long it takes, the surface being worked on, the access equipment chosen and why, who is doing it and what training they hold, and what is below that could be struck. Working from a scaffold to fix cladding is a different risk from a two-hour ladder task changing a light. The document should show the access method was chosen by working down the hierarchy of control, not by picking whatever was on the van.

The main hazards of working at height

• Falls of people from an edge, through a gap, off a ladder or platform, or through a fragile surface such as a rooflight or old roof sheet.
• Falling objects, tools and materials striking people below.
• Collapse or overturning of the access equipment, for example a tower on soft ground or a MEWP over a drain cover.
• Fragile surfaces giving way under a person's weight.
• Weather: wind affecting towers, platforms and sheet materials, plus wet or icy surfaces.
• Overhead services and contact with power lines when using a MEWP or long tools.
• Suspension trauma after a fall where a harness is used without a rescue plan.

The control measures a reviewer expects

Work down the hierarchy and tie each control to a hazard above.

• Avoid the work at height where reasonable, for example by assembling at ground level and lifting into place.
• Prevent the fall with a safe existing place of work or collective protection: a scaffold, tower or MEWP with guard rails and toe boards, inspected and tagged.
• Mitigate the fall with collective measures such as safety nets or soft landing systems before relying on personal fall arrest.
• Personal fall arrest only where higher measures are not reasonable, with a suitable anchor, trained users and a written, practised rescue plan.
• Protect people below with exclusion zones, brick guards, toe boards and tool tethers so nothing can fall on them.
• Manage fragile surfaces with proprietary covers, stagings and clear marking, never trusting a roof sheet to bear weight.
• Stop work in high wind or ice, and use competent, trained operators for towers and MEWPs.
• Inspect access equipment before use and at the intervals required, and keep the records.

The method statement sequence for working at height

1. Confirm the access equipment, check it is the right choice for the task, and inspect and tag it before use.
2. Set up exclusion zones below, establish safe access to the work position, and brief the team with a toolbox talk covering the rescue plan if a harness is used.
3. Check ground conditions, wind and the surface, including any fragile areas, before anyone goes up.
4. Carry out the work from the guarded platform, keeping materials and tools secured against falling.
5. Keep the platform loaded within its safe working load and never climb or reach beyond the guard rails.
6. Monitor weather and stop if wind or ice makes the work unsafe.
7. Lower tools and materials in a controlled way, and clear the exclusion zone only when work is finished.
8. Inspect, sign off and record the access equipment on handback, and complete the records.

Where working at height RAMS usually get rejected

• Straight to a harness with no attempt to prevent the fall with collective protection first.
• Fall arrest specified with no anchor point identified and no rescue plan.
• Ladders used for long or heavy tasks that need a tower or platform.
• Fragile surfaces not identified or not controlled.
• No exclusion zone or protection for people below.
• No inspection regime for the scaffold, tower or MEWP, and no competence detail for operators.

Frequently asked questions

What is the hierarchy for working at height?

Avoid work at height where you can, for example by assembling at ground level. Where you cannot avoid it, prevent falls using an existing safe place of work or collective protection such as a scaffold, tower or MEWP with guard rails. Where a residual risk remains, use collective mitigation such as a net or soft landing system before relying on personal fall arrest. Ladders are for short-duration, low-risk tasks.

When can I use a ladder for work at height?

A ladder can be a sensible choice for a short-duration, low-risk task where a risk assessment shows other equipment is not justified. It should be the right ladder for the job, in good condition, secured or footed, on firm level ground, and used so the worker keeps three points of contact. Long or heavy tasks need a tower, MEWP or scaffold instead.

Do I need a rescue plan for fall arrest?

Yes. If anyone uses a harness and fall arrest, the RAMS must include how a suspended person will be rescued quickly, because suspension in a harness can be life threatening within minutes. A harness is not a control on its own without a workable, practised rescue plan and the equipment to carry it out.

Is this legal advice?

No. This is a plain-English working summary to support site teams. For the detail see the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and HSE guidance such as INDG401.

Related guides: RAMS for roofing, RAMS for scaffolding, and the CDM 2015 regulations explained pillar.