Plan work above ground level: the task, the hazards, the controls and who is responsible.
Falls from height are among the most serious workplace accidents. A short written assessment makes the team think through the job before anyone climbs.
Rules on fall protection differ by country, state and industry. Use competent people and follow the regulations that apply.
16 items. Use it on screen, or print it and fill it in by hand.
A facilities team must replace lights in a warehouse at 20 feet. The assessment chooses a mobile elevating platform operated by trained staff instead of ladders, sets an exclusion zone below, and schedules the work before the morning shift.
OSHA requires employers to provide fall protection at set heights, and in construction its rule at 29 CFR 1926.502 requires prompt rescue after a fall or a plan for workers to rescue themselves. Writing the assessment forces the choice of the safest method before the lift arrives.
| Task | Remove and install fascia sign, 16 ft, about 3 hours |
|---|---|
| Workers | Dustin and Kai, aerial lift trained |
| Hazards | Sidewalk below, parapet edge, power line 25 ft away |
| Done from ground? | No; new sign assembled on ground to cut time aloft |
| Controls | Boom lift, harness tied to basket anchor |
| Exclusion zone | Sidewalk coned 10 ft each side, spotter |
| Rescue plan | Spotter uses lower controls; call 911 if injured |
Prairie Sign Co. in Wichita could not avoid the height, but answered the ground question by moving assembly down to the sidewalk. The rescue plan uses the lift’s lower controls, which the spotter has practiced.
Often yes. Check your rules.
A competent person with the workers.
How you would reach and help someone who has fallen and is suspended.
When the task or conditions change.
OSHA sets 4 feet in general industry, 6 feet in construction, 10 feet on scaffolds and 5 feet in shipyards. Any height over dangerous equipment or machinery needs protection regardless. State plans can be stricter, so check if your state runs its own program.
First avoid the height by working from the ground or assembling parts below. Next use collective protection such as guardrails or a platform, then restraint that keeps a person from reaching the edge. Personal fall arrest comes last because it only works after someone falls.
More for the same job
Use the working at height risk assessment template for the record you need today. To see who clocked in, and when, book a demo of EZTime.