Working at Height Workflow

Educational guides on how workplace documents fit together — which document is typically completed before another, what is used alongside it and what follows. Connected to workplace forms, checklists and registers. Informational only — not legal advice; employers remain responsible for required documents and compliance.

What a working at height workflow is

Working at height covers any work where a person could fall a distance liable to cause injury. The workflow is the chain of documents around that work — the assessment that decides whether the height work is necessary, the equipment inspections that confirm access is safe, the fall-protection plan, and the rescue arrangement for someone left suspended or stranded.

This page is an educational overview of how those documents connect. It is not an official permit, is not jurisdiction-specific, and using it does not authorise any work or guarantee compliance — the employer decides what their height-work system must contain.

Why these documents connect

• The risk assessment first asks whether the work at height can be avoided.
• Equipment inspections confirm scaffolds, ladders, platforms and anchors are fit to use.
• The fall-protection plan sets out collective and personal measures in the right order.
• The rescue arrangement covers recovery of anyone who falls or is left suspended.
• Where a permit is used, it ties these together for the area, people and time.

The typical sequence

In a typical example, a risk assessment and a working at height risk assessment are completed first and are normally required before work begins; access equipment is selected and inspected, and a rescue plan is prepared. Any permit is then issued and used with the inspection records and the fall-protection plan.

The work is carried out with the chosen access and fall protection in place and the rescue arrangement ready; if equipment or conditions change, work stops and is reassessed. On completion, equipment is checked back in and a record is completed afterwards.

Who owns each step

• The employer owns the system and decides who may plan and authorise height work.
• A competent person inspects and records the condition of access equipment.
• A planner or supervisor prepares the fall-protection and rescue arrangements.
• The work party follows the plan and uses the equipment as specified.
• A nominated person manages any rescue and closes out the work.

Common mistakes

• Working at height when the task could be done safely from the ground.
• Using ladders or platforms that have not been inspected or are unsuitable.
• Relying on personal fall arrest when collective protection would be better.
• No suspension-rescue plan, leaving a fallen worker hanging in a harness.
• Not securing tools and materials, creating a falling-object hazard below.

Records and retention (high level)

Completed authorisations are generally kept with the risk assessment, equipment inspection records and rescue plan, so the work can be traced. How long they are retained depends on the employer, the work and the applicable rules.

This page does not state a required period — confirm retention with the applicable law and the official authority.

Completing and sharing as a PDF

Height-work documents are commonly compiled, signed and stored as PDFs so the plan and inspection records can be shared with the work party and kept as a record. Exporting to PDF supports the record; it does not make any document official or guarantee compliance.

Employer notes

• Plan to avoid or minimise work at height and to prevent falls before arrest.
• Ensure access equipment is suitable, inspected and recorded.
• Require a rescue plan for anyone who could be left suspended.
• Keep the assessment, inspections and plan together as one record.

Worker notes

• Use only access equipment that is suitable and has been inspected.
• Follow the fall-protection plan and clip on where it requires.
• Secure tools and materials so nothing can fall onto people below.
• Know the rescue arrangement before you go up.

Country considerations

Rules for work at height, access equipment and rescue vary by country, and the official authority differs. This page is general and high-level — not a statement of any country’s law and not a guarantee of validity.

Confirm current requirements with the official authority for your country and a qualified professional.

Who is responsible

The employer is responsible for planning and controlling work at height, for ensuring access and rescue arrangements are real, and for compliance. This page is an educational overview with a template example; it does not authorise any work and does not transfer responsibility.