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Falls from height remain the most common cause of workplace fatalities in the UK construction and maintenance sectors. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 established the main legislation governing this area, placing clear legal duty on employers to protect workers. For site managers and health and safety officers in 2025, understanding these safety regulations and implementing correct safety procedures is not just about compliance but preventing serious injuries and even death.
The height regulations 2005 apply to all work where a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. This covers work at any elevation above ground level, including work on ladders, scaffolding working platforms, roofs, and even low risk activities involving fragile surfaces. The regulations require that work at height must be properly planned, appropriately supervised, and carried out using suitable work equipment.
Your legal requirements as an employer extend beyond simply providing safety equipment. You must conduct thorough risk assessments, ensure competent person oversight, provide appropriate training, and implement measures that follow the hierarchy of control measures. Failure to comply can result in substantial fines and even imprisonment for serious breaches of health and safety law.
Kee Step step overs create safe access over pipework and rooftop obstructions, helping site teams maintain compliance.
The working at height regulations establish a clear hierarchy that site managers must follow:
1. Avoid Working at Height Where Possible
Your first consideration should always be whether the work can be completed from ground level. A comprehensive height risk assessment should explore alternatives that eliminate the need for elevated access entirely. This might involve using extendable tools, reorganising workflows, or conducting tasks before materials are raised to height.
2. Prevent Falls Using Collective Protection
When you cannot avoid working at height, collective protection systems must be your priority. These safety measures protect everyone in the work area without relying on individual action. Kee Safety's roof railing systems provide permanent edge protection using tubular fittings in galvanised steel or aluminium, creating reliable barriers at roof edges and platform perimeters.
For access points and openings, safety gates offer critical protection. Our range includes self-closing mezzanine gates and pallet safety gates that prevent falls while allowing controlled access. These systems feature automatic closing mechanisms that ensure protection remains in place even when workers are moving materials or equipment through access points.
3. Mitigate Risks Where Prevention Isn't Fully Possible
In areas where guard rails cannot be installed, you must implement measures to reduce fall distances and consequences. Kee Safety's roof walkways and access platforms create designated safe routes across hazardous areas, separating workers from potential height hazards while providing secure footing.
Fragile surfaces present particular dangers, especially on older industrial buildings. Our skylight fall protection systemsinclude fragile rooflight covers specifically designed for metal profile roofs, while free-standing modular railing systems protect workers around dome lights and other opening or fragile surface areas without penetrating the roof structure.
4. Personal Protection as a Last Resort
Only when collective protection cannot reasonably be installed should you consider personal fall protection equipment. Kee Safety's horizontal lifeline systems and safety anchors provide both fall arrest and fall restraint configurations. These systems use portable weighted anchors and eyebolts that can be adapted to various site conditions, but remember that they require comprehensive training and rescue procedures to ensure workplace health and safety.
A detailed working at height survey helps identify hazards and ensure every control measure meets current safety legislation.
Site managers must ensure the following safety precautions are in place:
Pre-Work Planning
Complete risk assessment identifying all height hazards
Apply the hierarchy of control measures systematically
Select collective protection solutions first
Verify weather conditions won't create additional risks
Document your decision-making process to demonstrate reasonable care
Equipment Standards
Inspect all edge protection and guard rails before use
Check toe boards are secure and properly positioned
Verify safety gates close automatically and latch correctly
Examine roof walkways for damage or deterioration
Test horizontal lifeline systems meet current standards
Ensure mobile elevated work platforms and scissor lifts have current inspection certificates
Personnel Requirements
Confirm workers have received appropriate training for their specific tasks
Designate a competent person to supervise height work
Brief employees on site-specific hazards and control work procedures
Address requirements for lone workers who may need additional safety measures
Document competency records for all personnel
Ongoing Safety Management
Conduct regular workplace inspections to identify hazards
Review and update risk assessments when conditions change
Maintain equipment inspection logs
Investigate incidents to prevent falls in future
Monitor that employees co operate with safety procedures
Edge protection is essential under UK height regulations. Kee Guard eliminates exposed fall risks on flat and low pitch roofs.
Many compliance failures stem from inadequate risk assessments that fail to properly assess risks or consider site-specific conditions. Generic assessments copied from templates rarely address the actual hazards present on your site. Each location requires thorough evaluation, particularly regarding fragile surfaces, changing weather conditions, and work of short duration that teams might consider too brief for full safety measures.
Another frequent error involves misapplying the hierarchy. Some sites default to harnesses and safety nets when collective protection like guard rails or safety gates would be more appropriate. This often happens because personal protective equipment seems simpler or cheaper initially, but it places greater responsibility on individual workers and requires more extensive training and supervision to keep employees safe.
Equipment maintenance gaps also create serious compliance issues. Safety regulations require regular inspection, and deteriorated or damaged systems provide false security. Kee Safety products are tested to the highest standards in our world-class test center, but even the best equipment requires proper maintenance to continue protecting your workforce.
Kee Line offers reliable fall arrest and restraint for tasks where collective protection is not possible.
Since 1934, Kee Safety has led the industry in fall protection solutions. Our specialists design bespoke safety systems that meet and exceed working at height regulations while addressing your site's unique challenges. We understand that effective safety equipment must balance protection with practical access needs.
Our comprehensive range covers every level of the control measures hierarchy. From permanent roof railing systems for edge protection to specialized fragile rooflight covers, we provide solutions that help employers meet their employer responsibilities while creating a genuinely workplace safe environment. Products are available through our established UK distributor network, many with relationships spanning over 60 years.
As world leaders in fall protection legislation and standards, we stay current with evolving health and safety regulations. Our technical level expertise helps you navigate complex requirements and implement safety precautions that protect workers while maintaining operational efficiency.
Working at height regulations exist to prevent the serious injuries and fatalities that continue to affect UK workplaces. By following the hierarchy of control, conducting thorough risk assessments, and selecting appropriate collective protection systems, you fulfil your legal duty while protecting your most valuable asset—your people.
The costs of non-compliance extend beyond financial penalties. They include work related illnesses, lost productivity, and the devastating impact of even a single injury caused by inadequate safety measures. Excluding work related illnesses, falls remain the leading cause of workplace fatalities in our sector.
Kee Cover prevents falls through fragile skylights by providing a tested, non-penetrative mesh solution that meets UK roof safety standards.