Free Working at Height Permit Template (UK, HSE-Compliant)

Falls from height remain the single biggest cause of workplace deaths in the UK construction sector. Every year, dozens of workers die and thousands more are seriously injured doing work that could've been made safer with proper planning and controls.

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 don't require a permit for every job above ground level. But when you're dealing with higher-risk scenarios—scaffolding work, fragile roofs, tower cranes, or anywhere a fall could cause serious injury—a permit-to-work system becomes your main defence against something going wrong.

When You Actually Need a Working at Height Permit

Not every ladder job needs a permit. The regulations are clear: you need to avoid work at height where possible, and where it can't be avoided, you prevent falls using the hierarchy of controls.

A permit makes sense when:

• Work involves fragile surfaces (roof lights, asbestos cement roofing, glass)
• Scaffolding or mobile access equipment is being erected, altered, or dismantled
• Work is near unprotected edges or openings
• Multiple contractors are working at height in the same area
• Conditions make standard controls less effective (night work, adverse weather)
• Rescue from height might be needed if something goes wrong

The HSE's HSG250 guidance on permit-to-work systems suggests permits for "non-routine work" or where "significant risks" remain even after control measures. If your site manager would want to personally check the setup before work starts, that's usually a good indicator you need a permit.

What Goes on a Working at Height Permit Template

A working at height permit isn't just a form to tick boxes. It's a structured conversation between the person authorising the work and the person doing it. Here's what needs to be on there:

Job Details and Location

Start with the basics: what's being done, where, and who's doing it. Include the specific location (not just "the roof" but "north-facing pitched roof above unit 3"). Note the start time, expected duration, and who's authorising the permit.

This section should also identify the person in charge on site—the one who'll stop work if conditions change or controls fail.

Height and Access Details

Record the working height and how workers will get there. Is it mobile tower scaffolding, a cherry picker, fixed scaffold with ladder access? The access route matters as much as the working position itself.

If you're using MEWPs (mobile elevated work platforms), note the machine type and operator's IPAF card number. For scaffolding, confirm it's been inspected and tagged—more on that below.

Hazard Identification

List the specific hazards for this job. Yes, "falling" is obvious, but be more specific: unguarded edges, fragile roof sections, overhead power lines, materials being lifted through the work area, poor lighting, wind speed affecting stability.

This isn't a generic risk assessment. It's about what's happening on this site, today, for this particular task.

Control Measures in Place

Document exactly what's stopping someone from falling. Edge protection? Guardrails? Personal fall arrest system with anchor points? Collective protection (like netting or airbags) is always better than personal protection, and your permit should reflect that hierarchy.

If workers are using harnesses and lanyards, note the anchor point locations and confirm they've been load-tested. Include the rescue plan—if someone's left suspended after a fall, who's getting them down and how?

Many templates include a checkbox for "rescue equipment available and tested". That's not enough. You need names, equipment locations, and confirmation that the rescue team has actually practised the procedure.

Equipment and Inspection Records

This is where most permits fall down. You can't just write "scaffold inspected". You need:

• Scaffold inspection tag number and date (must be within last 7 days, or after significant weather)
• MEWP pre-use check completed by operator
• Harness and lanyard inspection dates (should be every 6 months minimum, plus pre-use check)
• Ladder condition check if ladders are being used for access
• Any temporary edge protection fitted specifically for this job

Reference the scaffold register or inspection logbook. If the scaffold wasn't there last week, someone's erected it—has it been inspected by a competent person?

Atmospheric and Environmental Conditions

Weather matters more at height than ground level. Wind speed is the obvious one—most MEWPs have maximum operating wind speeds, and scaffold users should stop work when wind makes it unsafe to maintain three points of contact.

But also consider: rain making surfaces slippery, ice formation overnight, reduced visibility, temperature (cold affects dexterity, heat causes fatigue). For roofing work, has recent rain made felt or metal slippery?

Permit Validity and Sign-Off

Working at height permits are typically single-shift or even shorter. If you're knocking off at 4pm, the permit expires then. When work resumes tomorrow, you issue a new permit after checking conditions haven't changed overnight.

Three signatures matter: the person requesting the permit (usually the supervisor or charge hand), the authorising person (site manager or someone competent to assess the controls), and the person in charge of the work accepting the conditions.

When work's finished, someone needs to sign it off as complete and confirm the area's been made safe.

Common Mistakes We See on Site

Permits issued before scaffold inspections are complete. The scaffold might be up, but if it hasn't been tagged as inspected, work can't start. Don't sign the permit until you've seen the green tag.

Generic risk assessments copied into permits. "Working at height risks include falling" tells you nothing. Which edge? Which fragile section? Where's the nearest safe access if weather turns?

No rescue plan beyond "call 999". Fire service rescue from height can take 30+ minutes. If someone's suspended in a harness, they've got maybe 10-15 minutes before suspension trauma becomes life-threatening. You need on-site rescue capability.

Permits lasting multiple days. Conditions change. Scaffolding gets modified. Weather shifts. One permit, one shift, maximum.

Supervisors signing their own permits. The whole point is independent checking. If you're in charge of the job, someone else should be authorising your permit.

Paper vs Digital Permits: What Actually Works

Most sites still run paper permits, usually printed templates in weather-proof holders. They work—until they don't. Paper permits get lost, become illegible in rain, or sit in site offices while work's already started.

Digital systems like PermitPad change the dynamic. Instead of a blank form, you get guided checklists that walk through each section. Equipment inspection dates pull from your asset register. Weather conditions get logged automatically. And critically, permits can't be closed out until photos of the completed area are uploaded.

The real advantage isn't just "digital". It's that you can't skip sections or sign off work without completing mandatory fields. Paper permits rely on people following the system perfectly. Digital systems enforce it.

That said, paper works fine if you've got good site discipline. The template matters more than the format. Whether you're using paper or an app, make sure your template covers the sections above and that competent people are doing the authorisation. If you would prefer to go digital, PermitPad offers a working at height permit with guided checklists on the free plan.

How This Fits Your Wider Permit System

Working at height permits often overlap with other permit types. Scaffolding work near live electrical panels? You'll need isolation permits too. Working at height while welding? You'll want a hot work permit template running alongside.

That's why HSG250 talks about permit-to-work as a system, not just individual forms. Your site should have a permit register showing what's live, where, and which controls are active. When permits interact, someone needs to coordinate them—usually the site manager or appointed duty holder.

If you're setting up permits for the first time, start with our permit-to-work system guide. It covers the foundations: who can authorise permits, how to train your team, and how to review the system when something goes wrong.

Practical Summary

A working at height permit template should cover:

• Job details: what, where, who, when
• Height and access method: how workers reach the work area
• Specific hazards: not generic risks, but what's dangerous about this job
• Control measures: collective protection first, PPE as backup
• Equipment inspections: scaffold tags, MEWP checks, harness dates
• Rescue plan: who, what equipment, how long to respond
• Weather limits: when work stops due to conditions
• Sign-off process: request, authorise, accept, complete

Start each shift with a fresh permit. Check equipment before work begins, not when the permit's being issued. Make sure your rescue plan involves people who are actually on site and trained.

Falls from height are preventable. The permit's there to make sure someone's thought through the controls before boots hit the ladder.