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

Falls from height remain the single biggest killer on UK construction sites. A working at height permit template won't eliminate that risk on its own, but it forces a structured check before anyone leaves ground level — and that check is where most accidents are preventable.

This guide walks through every section a working at height permit should include, explains what the law requires, and covers common mistakes that turn permits into wasted paper.

What the Law Requires

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury. The regulations set out a clear hierarchy: avoid work at height where reasonably practicable, prevent falls using the right equipment, and minimise the distance and consequences of a fall if one cannot be prevented.

A permit-to-work doesn't replace the risk assessment — it proves the controls from that assessment are actually in place before work starts. HSE guidance on work at height reinforces that planning and organisation are the foundation.

If you're new to permit-to-work systems generally, our plain-English guide to PTW systems covers the basics. The general permit to work template shows the standard structure every permit shares — this guide focuses on the height-specific additions.

When You Need a Working at Height Permit

Not every task at height needs a permit. But a permit should be used when:

Work involves scaffolding, mobile towers, or temporary platforms
Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) are in use — cherry pickers, scissor lifts, boom lifts
There is a risk of falling through fragile surfaces (roof lights, fibre cement sheets, liner panels)
Work takes place over open edges without permanent guardrails
Multiple trades are working at different levels in the same area
Roof work of any kind, particularly on pitched or fragile roofs

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 also require principal contractors to manage overlapping activities. If two subcontractors are working at height in the same zone, a permit system keeps that coordinated.

What Goes on a Working at Height Permit (Section by Section)

Permit Header

Permit number (sequential, for audit trail)
Date and time of issue
Valid from / valid until (single shift or single day — never open-ended)
Site name and specific location ("Block C roof, east elevation", not just "roof")
Description of work being carried out
Name of permit holder and their employer

Risk Assessment Reference

The permit must reference the task-specific risk assessment. If the assessment says edge protection is needed on the south parapet, the permit confirms edge protection is installed on the south parapet. The permit is the proof the assessment has been actioned, not a summary of it.

Access Equipment Details

Record the specific equipment being used:

Scaffolding: Tag number, date of last inspection, name of the competent inspector. Under the Work at Height Regulations, scaffolds must be inspected before first use, after any event likely to have affected stability, and at intervals not exceeding 7 days. Inspection reports must be kept on site.
Mobile towers: Confirmation the tower is assembled to the manufacturer's instructions, outriggers deployed (if required), and the platform height does not exceed the safe working height for the configuration.
MEWPs: Machine ID, date of last thorough examination (LOLER requires this every 6 months for MEWPs), operator name, and confirmation the operator holds a valid IPAF card or equivalent.
Ladders: Only where justified by the risk assessment as a short-duration task. Record ladder type, condition check, and securing method (tied, footed, or stabiliser).

Fall Protection Checklist

This is the core of the height permit. Every item should be individually confirmed:

Edge protection installed and inspected (guardrails, toe boards, brick guards)
Fragile surface warnings in place and barriers installed around roof lights or fragile panels
Safety netting installed below work area (if specified in the risk assessment)
Personal fall protection available and inspected — harnesses within date for thorough examination, lanyards undamaged, anchor points rated and identified
Exclusion zone established below the work area to protect ground-level workers and the public
Falling materials controls in place (debris netting, tool tethers, enclosed waste chutes)
Weather conditions checked and acceptable (wind speed limits for MEWPs are typically 28 mph / 12.5 m/s, but check the manufacturer's guidance for the specific machine)

Emergency and Rescue Arrangements

The permit should record the rescue plan for a worker suspended in a harness (suspension trauma can be fatal within 20 minutes), first aid provision, and communication method between workers at height and ground level.

Authorisation and Close-Out

Two signatures minimum: the permit holder confirms precautions are in place and the team is briefed, and the permit authoriser confirms they have inspected the area. This dual-signature requirement forces an independent check before work begins.

When the work is complete: all personnel descended and accounted for, tools removed from height, access equipment safe or dismantled, and the permit signed off by both parties. Keep completed permits in your safety file.

Common Mistakes on Height Permits

Relying on harnesses as the primary control. Harnesses are last-resort fall arrest, not first-choice prevention. The hierarchy in the regulations is clear: collective protection (guardrails, netting) comes before personal protection (harnesses). If your permit lists a harness but no edge protection, the question is why not.

No MEWP pre-use check. Operators should complete a daily pre-use inspection covering controls, tyres, hydraulics, safety devices, and guardrails. The permit should confirm this has been done, not assume it.

Scaffold inspection out of date. A scaffold inspected eight days ago is non-compliant. The 7-day inspection cycle under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 is absolute. If the inspection has lapsed, work stops until it is done.

Weather not checked. Wind at ground level and wind at 20 metres are different things. MEWP manufacturers specify maximum wind speeds, and scaffold loading changes in high wind. The permit should record the weather check, not leave it to assumption.

No rescue plan for harness users. A worker hanging in a harness after a fall needs to be rescued quickly. HSE guidance INDG401 covers the basics of planning rescue. If your permit doesn't address rescue, the system has a gap that could be fatal.

Paper vs Digital Height Permits

Paper permits work if your team completes them properly. The persistent problem is that height permits often get completed at ground level after the work is already underway — defeating the purpose of a pre-work check.

PermitPad is building a digital working at height permit with guided checklists, scaffold inspection tracking, and mandatory fields that enforce the correct sequence. Join the waitlist to try it when we launch.

Digital or paper, the principle is the same: nobody goes up until the permit is signed. The format matters less than the discipline behind it.

Key References

Work at Height Regulations 2005 — the primary regulations for all work at height
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 — CDM duties for planning and managing high-risk work
LOLER 1998 — Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations, covering MEWP thorough examinations
HSG250 — HSE guidance on permit-to-work systems

What to Do Now

If you run work at height and don't currently use a permit system, start with the template structure above. If you want to check how your current setup measures up, try the free PTW readiness checker — it scores your system against HSG250 in a few minutes.

The regulations don't ask for perfection. They ask for a safe system of work that is planned, organised, and documented. A properly completed height permit is that documentation.