Working At Height Risk Assessment Template for South Africa

A Working At Height Risk Assessment is your legal roadmap for safely conducting any work where personnel could fall and be injured. Under South African law, this document isn't optional—it's a mandatory requirement that must be completed before any elevated work begins, whether you're working on scaffolding, rooftops, ladders, or elevated platforms.

When do you need this document?

You must complete a Working At Height Risk Assessment whenever work involves potential fall risks exceeding two metres, or any height where injury could occur. This includes construction activities like roofing, painting exterior walls, installing signage, cleaning windows on multi-storey buildings, maintenance on telecommunications towers, and inspection of industrial equipment. The assessment is also required for temporary work platforms, mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs), and any situation where workers use ladders for extended periods. Even seemingly routine tasks like changing light bulbs in high ceilings or accessing storage areas require proper risk assessment if fall potential exists.

Key legal considerations

Your risk assessment must be conducted by a competent person as defined in the OHS Act—someone with appropriate training, qualifications, and experience in height safety. The document must comprehensively identify all hazards including weather conditions, equipment failure, human error, and environmental factors. You're required to evaluate risk levels using established matrices, implement hierarchy of controls (elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE), and specify emergency response procedures. The assessment must detail fall protection systems, rescue plans, and communication protocols. Remember that you have ongoing obligations to monitor conditions, update the assessment when circumstances change, and ensure all personnel understand the identified risks and control measures.

Legal requirements in South Africa

The Occupational Health and Safety Act No. 85 of 1993 establishes your fundamental duty to provide a safe workplace, while the Construction Regulations 2014 provide specific requirements for height work including mandatory fall protection systems for work above two metres. You must comply with SANS 10085:2004 standards for scaffolding design and inspection, and General Safety Regulations covering ladders and working platforms. The Department of Labour can inspect your risk assessments and issue improvement notices or prosecute for non-compliance. Your assessment must demonstrate competent person involvement, comprehensive hazard identification, appropriate control measures aligned with regulatory requirements, emergency response planning, and regular review schedules. Keep detailed records as these serve as evidence of due diligence and regulatory compliance during inspections or incident investigations.