Working At Height Risk Assessment Template for New Zealand

A Working At Height Risk Assessment is your legal safeguard when conducting any work where falls could cause injury. Under New Zealand's Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, you must systematically identify hazards, assess risks, and implement control measures before beginning height-related activities. This document protects both your workers and your business from potential accidents and legal liability.

When do you need this document?

You need this assessment whenever your work involves potential falls from height, regardless of the actual height involved. This includes roof work, window cleaning above ground level, scaffolding operations, tree work, telecommunications installations, and maintenance on elevated equipment. The assessment is also required for work near unprotected edges, excavations with depth, or any situation where a fall could result in injury. You must complete this before work begins and update it when conditions change or after any incidents occur.

Key legal considerations

Your assessment must demonstrate compliance with the hierarchy of controls, prioritising elimination of height work where possible, then engineering controls like guardrails, before relying on personal protective equipment. You must identify all parties involved, from PCBUs to workers and emergency response teams, clearly defining their responsibilities. The document requires specific details about working surfaces, access methods, weather conditions, and emergency procedures. You must also consider the competency of workers, ensuring they have appropriate training and certification for height work. Regular review is mandatory, particularly after incidents or changes to work processes.

Legal requirements in New Zealand

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, PCBUs have primary duty of care to ensure worker safety, including comprehensive risk assessment for height work. The Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016 specify that you must identify hazards, assess risks, and implement control measures using a systematic approach. You must follow the Working at Height and Fall Protection Guidelines 2012, which outline best practices for fall protection systems and safe work procedures. Certain high-risk activities may require notification to WorkSafe New Zealand, and you must maintain detailed records of assessments, training, and equipment inspections. The assessment must be conducted by competent persons, with input from worker representatives where applicable, and reviewed whenever work conditions change significantly.