Working At Height Risk Assessment Template for the United Arab Emirates

A Working At Height Risk Assessment is a critical safety document that systematically evaluates the risks associated with any work performed at elevated positions in the United Arab Emirates. Under UAE Federal Law No. 8 of 1980 and OSHAD-SF regulations, you are legally required to conduct thorough risk assessments before employees perform any tasks at height, ensuring their safety and your compliance with local health and safety standards.

When do you need this document?

You need this assessment whenever your operations involve work above ground level, including construction activities, building maintenance, equipment installation, or facility inspections. The document is mandatory before workers access rooftops, use ladders or scaffolding, operate mobile elevated work platforms, or perform any task where fall risks exist. You must also update the assessment when work conditions change, new hazards emerge, or following any height-related incidents. Regular reviews ensure ongoing compliance with UAE safety regulations and protect your organization from legal liability.

Key legal considerations

Your Working At Height Risk Assessment must identify all potential fall hazards, evaluate existing control measures, and implement additional safety precautions where necessary. Critical elements include proper fall protection systems, emergency rescue procedures, worker competency requirements, and equipment inspection protocols. You must ensure all identified risks are adequately controlled through hierarchy of controls principles, prioritizing elimination and engineering controls over personal protective equipment. The assessment must be signed by a competent person and made available to all affected workers, safety representatives, and regulatory authorities during inspections.

Legal requirements in United Arab Emirates

Under UAE Federal Law No. 8 of 1980 and OSHAD-SF Code of Practice 6.0, you must conduct comprehensive risk assessments for all working at height activities. The assessment must comply with OSHAD-SF Code of Practice 37.0 for ladder work and Dubai Municipality Technical Guidelines 2017 where applicable. You are required to maintain detailed records of all assessments, ensure competent person certification for assessors, and implement specific fall protection measures as outlined in UAE Ministerial Order No. 32 of 1982. Regular safety training, equipment inspections, and emergency response planning are mandatory components that must be documented within your risk assessment framework.