Working at Height Permit

An educational library of workplace documents — purpose, who completes them, when they are used, typical fields, common mistakes and how they connect. Linked to workplace safety, workplace training, occupations, industries and employment documents. Informational only — template examples, not legal advice or official documents; employers remain responsible and using a document does not guarantee compliance.

What a working at height permit is

A working at height permit is a controlled authorisation for tasks where a person, or an object, could fall and cause harm. It confirms the access method, fall-protection measures, weather limits and rescue arrangements before work begins above or near an edge, opening or fragile surface.

This page is an educational overview with a simplified example. It is not an official template, not jurisdiction-specific and not legal advice — the employer decides which height work needs a permit and what it must record.

Purpose

• Authorise height work only after access and fall protection are confirmed.
• Set out collective and personal fall-protection measures used.
• Define rescue arrangements and weather or load limits.
• Record that the fall risk was assessed and controlled for the task.

Who completes it

• An authorised issuer competent in work-at-height risk.
• The person leading the work, who accepts the conditions.
• A rescue arrangement is named by the employer where harnesses are used.
• The employer decides who is competent to issue, accept and supervise.

When it is used

• Before height work where a fall could cause injury.
• When access is by scaffold, MEWP, ladder, rope access or a fragile surface.
• For a stated period, with weather and condition checks kept up.
• Whenever the employer’s system designates the task as permit-controlled.

Typical fields

• Permit number, task, exact location and validity period.
• Access method and the fall-protection measures in place.
• Edge protection, exclusion zones and dropped-object controls.
• Rescue plan, weather limits and equipment inspection status.
• Issuer and acceptor signatures, and a completion sign-off.
• Example fields only — adapt to the access method and the applicable law.

Common mistakes

• Relying on personal fall arrest where collective protection was practicable.
• No rescue plan for a worker suspended in a harness.
• Ignoring fragile surfaces, openings or dropped-object risk below.
• Working on past safe weather or light conditions.

Document workflow

A working at height permit is typically raised under the permit to work system after a risk assessment, and may sit alongside a roof access permit or a crane lift permit where those activities overlap. Equipment inspection records support it.

See the related documents below for what is commonly required before, used with and completed after a working at height permit.

Retention (high level)

Completed height-work permits are usually kept for a period afterwards as a record of how the fall risk was controlled, in line with the employer’s obligations and data-protection duties. This page does not state a period — confirm with the applicable law and the official authority.

Completing and sharing as a PDF

Height-work permits are commonly completed, signed and stored as PDFs and displayed at the work area. Exporting to PDF supports the record; it does not make the permit official or guarantee compliance.

Employer checklist

• Define which height work needs a permit and the access methods allowed.
• Favour collective protection over personal fall arrest where practicable.
• Ensure a rescue plan exists wherever harnesses are used.
• Keep completed permits and equipment inspection records together.

Worker notes

• Do not start height work without a valid permit and inspected equipment.
• Use the access method and fall protection the permit specifies.
• Stop if weather, conditions or equipment fall outside the permit limits.

Country considerations

Rules on working at height, 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 assessing and controlling work-at-height risk, for competent access and rescue arrangements, and for compliance. This page is an educational overview with a template example; it does not authorise any work and does not transfer responsibility.