Risk Assessment for Work at Height

Risk assessment is a central part of work environment management and a fundamental requirement under the Swedish Work Environment Authority's regulations. Where there is a risk of falling from height, a properly conducted risk assessment is essential to prevent serious accidents.

The risk assessment must ensure that risks are identified in advance and that appropriate measures are taken before work begins.

Requirements for Risk Assessment

Under the Swedish Work Environment Authority's regulations on systematic work environment management, the employer must continuously examine and assess risks in the operation.

This means that all work tasks where there is a risk of falling must be:

• Identified.
• Analysed.
• Assessed.
• Addressed.

The risk assessment must be carried out before work begins and updated whenever changes are made to the work.

Requirements for Knowledge and Instructions

For a risk assessment to be carried out correctly, those who plan and perform the work must have sufficient competence.

This means the employer must ensure that:

• Those responsible have the appropriate competence to assess risks.
• Workers understand the risks associated with the work.
• Instructions are clear and appropriately tailored.

What Should a Risk Assessment Cover?

For work involving a risk of falling, the risk assessment must be adapted to the specific work and workplace.

It must cover, among other things:

Work Tasks

• What tasks are to be performed.
• In which situations a risk of falling may arise.

Workplace Layout

• Differences in level.
• Openings and fragile surfaces.
• Ground conditions and stability.

External Factors

• Weather conditions (wind, rain, ice).
• Lighting.
• Access and movement.

Equipment and Methods

• Selection of work equipment.
• Need for fall protection.
• Anchor points.

Rescue Provisions

• How an emergency situation is to be managed.
• How a person can be rescued promptly.

Risks When Working at Height

The risk of falling can arise in many different situations, not only when working at significant heights.

Examples of common risks include:

• Work on roofs.
• Work on scaffolding or work platforms.
• Work on ladders.
• Work near openings or excavations.
• Work on vehicles or loads.

It is important to understand that even work at relatively low heights can involve serious risk, depending on the surface below and the circumstances.

Measures Based on the Risk Assessment

Once risks have been identified, the employer must implement measures to eliminate or minimise them.

Measures must be selected according to a clear order of priority:

1. Eliminate the risk – the working environment or working method must be adapted so that risks are eliminated at source.
2. Collective protection – for example guard rails, mobile elevated work platforms, scaffolding, etc.
3. Personal fall protection equipment – where other solutions are not practicable.

The risk assessment must form the basis for the selection of protective measures.

Documentation and Follow-Up

The risk assessment must be documented where necessary, particularly for:

• Work involving serious risks.
• Changes to the operation.
• Recurring work tasks.

The employer must also follow up to ensure that:

• Agreed measures are implemented.
• Measures have the intended effect.
• No new risks arise.

Sources and References

AFS 2023:1

Section 10 The employer shall ensure that all workers have sufficient knowledge of the work, and of the risks in the work [...].

Section 11 The employer shall regularly examine working environment conditions, in order to assess risks of ill health and accidents at work. [...].

AFS 2023:10

Chapter 4, Section 4 When examining and assessing risks, the employer shall pay particular attention to the risk of injury through falling.

The employer shall pay particular attention to whether there are holes, openings or similar features, and precipices or other significant differences in level, where workers are present or moving during work.

Where necessary, the employer shall ensure that appropriate fall protection devices are in place, including secure anchorages.

Chapter 4, Section 5 The employer shall pay particular attention to the need for protective measures where the surface is sloping.

Chapter 4, Section 6 The employer shall examine the need for lighting to prevent falls. [...].

Chapter 4, Section 7 The employer shall ensure that surfaces intended to be walked on have adequate load-bearing capacity. Surfaces that do not have adequate load-bearing capacity must not be walked on until specific protective measures have been taken.

Chapter 4, Section 8 When providing surfaces intended to be walked on, the employer shall endeavour to ensure that the surface has appropriate slip resistance and is free from obstacles and unevenness that pose a risk of falling.

Chapter 4, Section 9 The employer shall ensure that necessary protective measures are taken and that particular care is exercised when working on or moving across surfaces that are moving or may come into motion.

AFS 2023:11

Chapter 15, Section 4 The employer shall ensure that personal protective equipment is only used where general technical protective measures or organisational measures do not avoid or sufficiently limit a risk. The employer shall prioritise collective protective measures over individual ones.

Directive 89/391/EEC

Article 6(2)(h) give collective protective measures priority over individual protective measures,

Links to Sources

https://www.av.se/arbetsmiljoarbete-och-inspektioner/publikationer/foreskrifter/afs-20231/

https://www.av.se/arbetsmiljoarbete-och-inspektioner/publikationer/foreskrifter/afs-202310/

https://www.av.se/arbetsmiljoarbete-och-inspektioner/publikationer/foreskrifter/afs-202311/

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:31989L0391