CalmComplianceRisk Assessment template
School Work-at-Height Management Risk Assessment
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 1 October 2026
- Audience
- Maintained and academy primary and secondary schools in England, excluding independent schools; leaders, managers and employees involved in planning, authorising, supervising or undertaking work at height.
- Jurisdiction
- england
Activity assessed
Work at height undertaken by employees at or for the school, where, without precautions, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. Applicability is conditional and should be confirmed for each activity, location and work arrangement.
Assess each hazard and its controls against your site before use. Template ratings require local review.
Hazards and controls
Work-at-height activities are not identified, defined or included in the school's arrangements, resulting in uncontrolled exposure to fall hazards.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls have been provided. Confirm which employees, contractors or other persons undertake work at height at or for the school, and record the relevant activities, locations, equipment and work arrangements.
- Proposed controls
- Maintain an activity-based register covering routine, non-routine, planned and emergency work at height. For each activity, describe the task, location, access method, work position, duration, persons exposed, foreseeable changes and whether the activity is undertaken by school employees or others. Confirm whether work meets the applicable definition of work at height before deciding whether this assessment applies. Avoid work at height where reasonably practicable; where it cannot be avoided, plan suitable precautions before work starts. Review the register when activities, locations, equipment, people or conditions change.
Local assessment and additional controls
A person falls from an elevated position, edge, opening, platform, scaffold, access route or other place where a fall could cause personal injury.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls have been provided. Verify the condition and suitability of work areas, access routes, platforms, edges, openings and any existing physical safeguards for each activity.
- Proposed controls
- Plan the task before work begins and select precautions proportionate to the activity and conditions. Prefer arrangements that prevent a fall over those that only reduce the consequences of a fall. Use suitable access equipment and physical safeguards where required; keep people away from unprotected edges and openings; control the work area and prevent unauthorised access. Consider weather, lighting, surface condition, congestion, falling objects, manual handling, duration, emergency arrangements and the presence of pupils or other persons. Stop and reassess if conditions change or the planned controls are not available.
Local assessment and additional controls
Ladders or stepladders are used in unsuitable conditions, are unstable or defective, or are used for work that requires a different access or work-positioning arrangement.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls have been provided. Confirm what ladders and stepladders are available, their condition, storage, inspection arrangements, intended uses and the competence of people who may use them.
- Proposed controls
- First consider whether the task can be completed without a ladder or stepladder. Where ladder equipment is proposed, select equipment suitable for the task, height, duration, load, surface and environment; check it before use; position and secure it to prevent slipping or movement; maintain safe access and a stable working position; keep the area below controlled; and do not use damaged or unsuitable equipment. Define when ladder use is not acceptable and when another method, additional protection or specialist provision is required. Provide task-specific instruction, supervision proportionate to risk and a route for reporting defects or unsafe conditions.
Local assessment and additional controls
A person falls through a fragile roof, rooflight, ceiling or other surface that cannot safely support the person or equipment.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls have been provided. Confirm whether fragile surfaces, rooflights, hidden openings or uncertain load-bearing conditions are present or could be present at each relevant location.
- Proposed controls
- Do not access a roof or other surface unless its condition and load-bearing capability have been established by a competent person and the work has been planned. Treat uncertain, fragile or concealed surfaces as unsafe until verified. Avoid access where reasonably practicable; otherwise use arrangements that prevent people reaching fragile areas, with suitable access equipment, barriers, designated routes, platforms or other protective measures as appropriate. Control access, protect roof openings and rooflights, display warnings where relevant, and establish a rescue and emergency plan before work starts. Use specialist contractors or advice where the school cannot safely plan or supervise the work.
Local assessment and additional controls
Tools, materials or equipment fall from height and injure people below or create additional instability for the person working at height.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls have been provided. Identify materials, tools and equipment that may be taken to height or stored above people, and confirm any existing exclusion, storage or securing arrangements.
- Proposed controls
- Plan how tools and materials will be transported, positioned, secured and removed. Keep the work area orderly and prevent items being placed where they could fall. Establish an exclusion zone or other controls below and around the work area where people could be exposed, including pupils, staff, visitors and contractors. Coordinate work with school activities and restrict access until the area is safe. Reassess controls for wind, vibration, movement, weather and changes in the work area.
Local assessment and additional controls
Work at height is undertaken by a person without sufficient knowledge, practical ability, information, instruction or supervision for the task and equipment.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls have been provided. Confirm the competence, experience, physical capability where relevant, training records and supervision arrangements for each person expected to plan or undertake the work.
- Proposed controls
- Define the competence required for each activity and equipment type before authorisation. Use people with suitable knowledge and practical ability, provide task-specific information and instruction, and arrange supervision proportionate to the hazards and the person's experience. Identify when specialist competence or a competent contractor is required. Ensure employees can stop work and report defects, changed conditions or concerns without penalty. Review competence and supervision when the task, equipment, location, personnel or conditions change.
Local assessment and additional controls
An incident occurs during work at height and there is no suitable arrangement to raise the alarm, provide assistance or recover an injured or suspended person.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls have been provided. Confirm current emergency contacts, communication methods, access arrangements for emergency services and any rescue equipment or arrangements relevant to each activity.
- Proposed controls
- Plan emergency and rescue arrangements before work starts, taking account of the location, access, height, equipment, likely injuries, isolation requirements and the presence of other people. Make communication methods and responsibilities clear. Do not rely solely on emergency services where delay could increase harm; determine whether additional rescue capability, equipment or specialist support is needed. Brief everyone involved, keep access routes available and review the arrangements after drills, incidents, near misses or changes to the work.
Local assessment and additional controls
Work at height is affected by unsuitable weather, lighting, surfaces, visibility, nearby activities or other changing conditions, increasing the chance of a fall.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls have been provided. Record the environmental and operational conditions that apply to each activity and verify any existing arrangements for postponing, stopping or isolating work.
- Proposed controls
- Check conditions before and during work, including weather, wind, rain, ice, lighting, visibility, surface contamination, traffic, school occupancy and nearby activities. Postpone, stop or change the work where conditions make the planned controls ineffective. Schedule work to minimise exposure to pupils, staff, visitors and other workers. Maintain suitable housekeeping and access routes, and communicate changes to all people affected.
Local assessment and additional controls
The condition, suitability or positioning of work-at-height equipment is not checked, allowing defective, incompatible or inappropriate equipment to be used.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls have been provided. Identify equipment used for each activity and confirm current arrangements for selection, pre-use checks, maintenance, defect reporting, storage and withdrawal from service.
- Proposed controls
- Select equipment that is suitable for the task, location, load, users and foreseeable conditions. Establish documented checks appropriate to the equipment and use, including checks before use and after events that could affect integrity. Remove defective or unsuitable equipment from service, label or segregate it to prevent use, and arrange repair, replacement or disposal. Store equipment so that it is protected from damage and cannot create a further hazard. Keep records where they support effective management and traceability.
Local assessment and additional controls
School activities, contractors or multiple work groups are not coordinated, exposing pupils, staff, visitors or workers to work-at-height hazards.
- Existing controls
- No existing controls have been provided. Confirm how work at height is authorised, communicated and coordinated with school operations, contractors and other work groups.
- Proposed controls
- Assign responsibility for planning and authorising work at height. Coordinate school employees, contractors and other duty holders before work starts, including the work area, timing, access, exclusion zones, emergency arrangements and handover. Provide clear information to people who may be affected and prevent access to hazardous areas. Include work-at-height requirements in contractor selection, briefing and monitoring arrangements where relevant. Review the assessment after changes, incidents, near misses or feedback from people undertaking the work.
Local assessment and additional controls