Employers have overall responsibility for ensuring that risk assessments are undertaken, either by themselves or by another competent person, i.e. someone identified as having sufficient training, knowledge, skills and experience in the types of work at height which may be undertaken.

A risk assessment involves thinking about what in the workplace might cause harm to people and deciding whether enough is being done to prevent it.

Once the hazards and risks have been identified, the person carrying out the risk assessment decides on appropriate control measures and ensures that they are enforced. They then record their findings as a written risk assessment.

Risk assessments should be reviewed regularly and whenever there is a change of circumstances. This includes new work equipment, a change in the work activities carried out and significant staffing changes. The new information should be recorded and made known to those carrying out the work.