Working at Height Rules for Roofers and Installers

Working at Height: What Roofers and Installers Must Get Right

Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, anyone who controls work at height must plan it, use competent people and pick the safest equipment that is reasonably practicable, and a ladder is only acceptable for low-risk, short-duration work where a safer option is not justified. Falls from height remain one of the biggest causes of serious injury and death in UK workplaces, and roofers, loft installers, gutter fitters, solar and aerial installers and anyone on a scaffold are all in the firing line. This guide explains the rules in plain terms and what the HSE will want to see if an inspector turns up.

Who the regulations cover

The regulations apply to any work where someone could fall a distance and be injured. There is no minimum height. Working on a flat roof, from a stepladder, on a mobile tower or near an open edge all count. They apply to employers, the self-employed and anyone who controls work at height, such as a principal contractor or a site manager.

If you are a sole trader working on a domestic roof, the regulations still apply to you. The duty to protect yourself and anyone your work affects does not depend on having employees.

The hierarchy of control, in plain English

The regulations follow a simple order of thinking. Work through it in sequence for every job.

1. Avoid working at height if you can

Can the job be done from the ground? Examples include using extendable tools, cleaning gutters with a pole-mounted system, or assembling components at ground level before lifting them into place. If the answer is yes, do it that way.

2. Prevent falls where you cannot avoid height

Use a safe place of work with collective protection, such as edge protection, guardrails, scaffolding or a properly designed working platform. These protect everyone on site without relying on each person to behave perfectly.

3. Minimise the distance and consequences of a fall

Where you cannot fully prevent a fall, reduce the harm. Options include safety nets, airbags, or personal fall-arrest and work-restraint systems with proper anchor points. Personal protective equipment is a last resort, because it depends on training, correct fitting and use every time.

The key idea is that collective measures such as guardrails come before personal measures such as harnesses. Do not jump straight to a harness because it is quick.

When is a ladder acceptable?

A ladder is a means of access, and only sometimes a safe place to work. The HSE’s position is that ladders can be used for work at height when a risk assessment shows the risk is low and the task is of short duration, or when existing features on site mean other equipment is not justified.

Think through these points before you climb:

Is the task light work of short duration? Fixing a loose slate or checking a gutter may be. A day of roof repair or heavy fitting from a ladder is not.

Can you keep three points of contact? Carrying tools and materials in both hands is a warning sign.

Is the ladder in good condition and the right type? Check stiles, rungs, feet and locking mechanisms before use. Do not use damaged or home-made ladders.

Is the ladder set up properly? Firm, level ground, secured at the top or footed, and extending far enough above the landing point.

Can you reach the work without overreaching? If you are leaning out to one side, move the ladder.

Stepladders are not for work where you cannot hold on, and the top step is not a platform. If you find yourself standing on the top rungs, you have the wrong equipment.

Towers, scaffolds and platforms

Mobile access towers

Mobile towers are widely used by decorators, installers and roofers on lower-level jobs. They need to be assembled by trained people following the manufacturer’s instructions. Training from PASMA is the usual route in the UK. Key points:

Use on firm, level ground with castors locked and outriggers or stabilisers fitted as required.

Fit guardrails and toe boards before anyone works on the platform.

Never move a tower with people or loose materials on it.

Check it before use and inspect it regularly.

Scaffolding

Scaffolding must be erected, altered and dismantled by competent people. For most trades that means hiring a reputable scaffolding contractor rather than building your own. A scaffold must be inspected before first use, after anything that could affect its stability, such as strong winds or alterations, and at regular intervals, which the regulations set at no more than seven days. The inspection must be recorded.

Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs)

Cherry pickers and scissor lifts are common for gutter and fascia work, high-level fitting and larger installs. Operators should be trained, with IPAF training the usual route, and you need a rescue plan in case the machine fails. Harness rules depend on the type of MEWP and the manufacturer’s instructions, so follow those.

Roofs: the highest-risk area for trades

Roof work brings extra hazards that need specific planning.

Edges: use edge protection or other suitable collective measures for roof edges where people could fall.

Fragile surfaces: roof lights, old cement sheets and weathered panels can break under a person’s weight. Mark them clearly, cover or guard them, and use crawling boards or staging where necessary.

Weather: wind, rain, ice and poor light all increase the risk. Be willing to stop or delay work.

Access and storage: plan how people, tools and materials will get on and off the roof, and keep loose items secured so they do not fall on anyone below.

People below: use exclusion zones, barriers or covered walkways so passers-by and other trades are protected.

Roofers, loft installers and anyone fitting solar panels or aerials should assess each roof individually. Two similar houses on the same street can have very different risks.

Planning, competence and equipment checks

The regulations expect three basic things.

Planning: work at height must be properly planned, including emergency and rescue procedures, and take account of the weather.

Competence: people doing the work, or supervising it, must be competent. Sole traders must be competent themselves.

Equipment: equipment must be suitable, stable and strong enough, and maintained and inspected as needed.

For a small firm, this does not mean a huge file for every job. It means a proportionate risk assessment and a clear method for the work.

The paperwork an HSE inspector will ask for

If the HSE or a local authority inspector visits, expect to be asked for:

A risk assessment for the work, and a method statement where the risk is higher.

Evidence that people are competent, such as training certificates for towers, MEWPs, harnesses or ladders.

Inspection records for scaffolds, towers and other equipment.

Equipment checks and maintenance records, including harnesses and lanyards.

Details of rescue arrangements.

Records of any accident or near miss and what you changed afterwards.

Keep paperwork short, specific and up to date. A one-page risk assessment that matches what is actually happening on the roof is better than a thick generic folder nobody has read.

Common mistakes to avoid

Treating a ladder as a work platform for jobs that take hours.

Skipping edge protection because the job is “only quick”.

Using damaged or borrowed equipment without checking it.

Letting untrained people assemble towers.

Working in poor weather to avoid losing a day.

Having no rescue plan. If someone is hanging in a harness, you cannot wait for an ambulance to work out what to do.

The cost of getting it wrong is not just a fine. It can mean a serious injury, a prosecution, higher insurance and a lost reputation.

Where to find the official guidance

The HSE publishes free guidance on work at height, ladders, towers and roof work at hse.gov.uk, and the Work at Height Regulations 2005 are published on legislation.gov.uk. Your insurer and trade body may also offer practical checklists. The regulations have been amended over the years, so always check the current version.

FAQs

Do the Work at Height Regulations apply to sole traders?

Yes. The regulations apply to employers and the self-employed, and to anyone who controls work at height. As a sole trader you must plan and carry out work at height safely, including protecting anyone your work could affect.

Is it legal to work from a ladder?

Yes, but only where a risk assessment shows the task is low risk and short duration, or where site features make other equipment not justified. Ladders are not suitable for long or heavy tasks where a safer platform is practical.

Do I need training to use a mobile tower?

You must be competent to assemble and use one. In practice, training such as PASMA is the usual way to show it, and many main contractors and insurers expect it.

How often must a scaffold be inspected?

A scaffold must be inspected before first use, after anything that could affect its stability, and at intervals of no more than seven days. The inspection must be recorded.

What is the difference between collective and personal fall protection?

Collective protection, such as guardrails or edge protection, protects everyone without any action by the individual. Personal protection, such as a harness and lanyard, depends on each person using it correctly. The regulations favour collective measures first.

Do I need a written risk assessment for every roof job?

You need to assess the risk for every job. Written records are expected for employers with five or more employees, and are good practice for everyone. Many clients, principal contractors and insurers will ask to see one regardless of your size.

Get the work, then do it safely

Plan the work, protect the people and keep the paperwork tidy, and you protect your business as well as your neck. If you are a roofer or builder looking for steady local jobs, join Trade Pilot free. It only charges when a real local job lands in your inbox, and each lead goes to no more than three trades

Related reading: roofer day rates · roof repair costs · the Building Safety Act for tradespeople · which CSCS card you need