Work at Height RAMS Guide for Contractors

Start with access and edge risk

Work at height RAMS should clearly explain how people will access the work area, how falls will be prevented and what controls are needed if conditions change. A generic template is rarely enough on its own.

Controls to review

• Access equipment, inspection status and suitability.
• Edge protection, barriers and exclusion zones.
• Weather, lighting and surface conditions.
• Tool tethering, dropped object risk and public interface.
• Rescue arrangements and emergency communication.
• Competence, supervision and briefing records.

Keep inspections connected

Access equipment checks, scaffold handover notes, photos and supervisor comments should be linked to the job. If the RAMS references an inspection, the evidence should be easy to find.

Review before the shift starts

Conditions around height work can change quickly. Teams should check whether the planned method still matches the area, equipment and weather before work starts.

Record the planning decision, not just the equipment name

HSE's work at height planning guide starts with avoiding work at height where possible, then preventing falls, then reducing their consequences where necessary. The RAMS should explain the chosen approach for the actual task; selecting equipment from a template does not establish that it is suitable.

Build a reviewable document pack

Keep the task description, work location, access plan, relevant equipment records and briefing acknowledgement under the same job reference. Record the RAMS revision being reviewed and identify who is responsible for checking the arrangements before the work proceeds.

For example, if access moves from one elevation to another, record the proposed change and refer it back to the responsible reviewer. An old signature should not be treated as acknowledgement of a revised method. Keep the earlier version in the history while making the current version clear to the team.

A useful close-out record identifies unresolved actions, the person responsible and the evidence used to close each action. Use the site induction setup guide for site information and the job readiness checklist for document availability. These records support competent planning and review; they do not replace a task-specific assessment or authorise work by themselves.

How Zektrx helps

Zektrx helps contractors connect work at height RAMS with inspections, photos, actions, signatures and job records so evidence stays with the workflow.