Working at Heights Risk Assessment South Africa: 2026 Guide + Free Template

A Working at Heights Risk Assessment in South Africa should answer a much more important question than:

“Is the employee wearing a harness?”

It should determine:

• what work is actually being performed;

• where a person could fall from, off or into;

• who could be exposed;

• what could cause the fall;

• how severe the consequences could be;

• whether the fall risk can be eliminated;

• what prevention or fall-arrest controls are appropriate;

• whether the worker is competent and appropriately supervised;

• whether equipment is suitable;

• and whether rescue can actually be performed if something goes wrong.

For employers, contractors, SHE teams and supervisors, the risk assessment should become the starting point for the entire height-safety system — not paperwork completed after the equipment has already been selected.

Quick Answer: What Is a Working at Heights Risk Assessment?

A working at heights risk assessment is a structured assessment of the hazards, risks and controls associated with work where a person could be injured by a fall.

For construction work in South Africa, Construction Regulation 9 requires risk assessments to be performed by a competent person appointed in writing before construction work begins and during the work. The assessment includes hazard identification, analysis and evaluation, controls and safe-work procedures, monitoring and review. Regulation 10 separately requires a fall-protection plan that includes a risk assessment of work performed from fall-risk positions and the procedures used to address the identified risks. (Government of South Africa)

The Occupational Health and Safety Act also establishes the broader employer duty to provide and maintain, as far as reasonably practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risk. (Government of South Africa)

A risk assessment does not become adequate merely because:

• a generic template was completed;

• employees signed an attendance register;

• workers own harnesses;

• someone has a Working at Heights certificate;

• or the document is stored in the safety file.

The assessment needs to reflect the actual task, workplace, equipment, people and conditions.

There Is No Universal “Two-Metre Rule”

One of the most important corrections employers should understand is that South Africa's Construction Regulations do not define fall risk simply as:

more than two metres above the ground.

The regulations define fall risk as potential exposure to falling from, off or into. (Department of Labour)

That distinction matters.

A dangerous fall can occur from:

• a loading platform;

• a low roof;

• a ladder;

• machinery;

• a mezzanine;

• scaffolding;

• a vehicle;

• an excavation edge;

• an exposed slab;

• a fragile roof;

• a tower;

• an elevated walkway;

• or another position where the consequences of a fall could cause injury.

The correct question is not simply:

“How many metres high is the worker?”

It is:

“What fall exposure exists, what could happen, and how will we prevent or control it?”

Working at Heights Risk Assessment vs Fall Protection Plan

These documents are related, but they should not be treated as interchangeable.

Risk Assessment

The risk assessment identifies:

Hazard → Exposure → Risk → Controls → Residual Risk → Responsibility → Review

Fall Protection Plan

For construction work where Regulation 10 applies, the fall-protection plan goes further.

It incorporates matters including:

• fall-risk assessment by location;

• methods for addressing identified risks;

• medical-fitness processes and records;

• training programmes and records;

• inspection, testing and maintenance of fall-protection equipment;

• and rescue arrangements capable of implementation following a fall incident. (Government of South Africa)

A two-page risk assessment therefore does not automatically equal a complete fall-protection system.

When Should Working at Heights Risk Be Assessed?

Assess the actual exposure before work begins and review it when circumstances materially change.

Typical activities include:

Roof Work

Consider:

• fragile roofing;

• skylights;

• roof openings;

• edge exposure;

• roof pitch;

• access;

• weather;

• wind;

• material handling;

• anchor arrangements;

• and rescue access.

Ladders

Consider:

• whether a ladder is suitable for the task;

• stability;

• footing;

• securing;

• access and egress;

• electrical exposure;

• overreaching;

• duration;

• tools being carried;

• and whether safer access equipment is reasonably practicable.

Scaffolding

Consider:

• access;

• handover status;

• guardrails;

• platform condition;

• modifications;

• competent persons;

• falling-object hazards;

• loading;

• adjacent work;

• and worker access requirements.

Maintenance and Industrial Work

Consider:

• machinery below the worker;

• limited clearance;

• steelwork;

• pipework;

• platforms;

• restricted rescue access;

• nearby electrical hazards;

• and interaction with operating plant.

Solar and Rooftop Installation

Consider:

• roof condition;

• edge exposure;

• panel movement;

• weather;

• cable hazards;

• fragile areas;

• anchor location;

• access route;

• dropped objects;

• and rescue.

Step-by-Step Working at Heights Risk Assessment South Africa

Step 1 — Define the Exact Task and Location

Avoid vague descriptions such as:

“Working at heights.”

Write the actual activity.

For example:

Install solar panels on north-facing warehouse roof, approximately 8 m above ground, using fixed roof access and temporary fall-protection system.

The more specific the task description, the more useful the assessment becomes.

Record:

• site;

• work area;

• task;

• work sequence;

• people exposed;

• contractors involved;

• equipment;

• planned duration;

• and environmental conditions.

Step 2 — Identify Every Fall Hazard

Look beyond the obvious edge.

Possible hazards include:

• unprotected edges;

• openings;

• fragile roof sheets;

• skylights;

• unstable access;

• unsuitable ladders;

• incomplete scaffolding;

• slippery surfaces;

• wind;

• rain;

• poor visibility;

• incorrect anchor points;

• excessive fall distance;

• swing-fall exposure;

• falling tools;

• incompatible equipment;

• nearby electrical conductors;

• vehicle movement below;

• and rescue limitations.

The purpose is not to create the longest possible list.

It is to identify the hazards that actually exist at that location.

Step 3 — Identify Who Could Be Harmed

Do not assess only the person wearing the harness.

Potentially exposed people may include:

• employees;

• contractors;

• supervisors;

• scaffold teams;

• people working below;

• visitors;

• members of the public;

• maintenance personnel;

• rescue personnel;

• and other trades.

A dropped tool can create a different risk from the worker's own fall.

Both belong in the assessment.

Step 4 — Assess the Initial Risk

Use your organisation's documented risk-rating methodology.

Consider factors such as:

Likelihood

How realistically could the event occur?

Severity

What could happen if it does?

Exposure

How often and for how long will people be exposed?

A numerical score can be useful, but the number is not the objective.

The objective is to make a defensible control decision.

Step 5 — Eliminate the Fall Risk Where Reasonably Practicable

Do not begin automatically with a harness.

Ask first:

Can the work be performed without exposing a person to the fall risk?

Examples may include:

• assembling equipment at ground level;

• using remote equipment;

• relocating the work;

• changing the design;

• using a safer access method;

• or sequencing the job differently.

Where elimination is not reasonably practicable, assess prevention measures before relying solely on fall arrest.

Construction Regulation 10 specifically distinguishes fall prevention from fall arrest and provides that fall-arrest equipment is used where fall-prevention equipment is not reasonably practicable. (Government of South Africa)

Step 6 — Select the Right Fall-Protection Controls

Depending on the task, controls may include:

• guardrails;

• barriers;

• covers;

• scaffolding;

• work platforms;

• restraint systems;

• lifelines;

• suitable anchor arrangements;

• full-body harnesses;

• energy-absorbing lanyards;

• self-retracting devices;

• or other engineered systems.

The equipment must work as a system.

A premium harness connected to an unsuitable anchor is not a safe system.

Neither is a long lanyard where insufficient fall clearance exists.

Step 7 — Check the Worker, Competence and Supervision

The assessment should consider whether the person performing the work has the competence needed for the actual task and equipment.

Consider:

• training;

• practical ability;

• task-specific instruction;

• equipment familiarity;

• supervision;

• authorisation;

• site induction;

• and medical fitness where applicable.

A certificate can be important evidence.

It does not replace site-specific controls.

Important SAQA 229998 note

SAQA Unit Standard 229998 — Explain and perform fall arrest techniques when working at height — has passed its registration end date. SAQA records the last enrolment date as 30 June 2024 and the last achievement date as 30 June 2027. Employers arranging training in 2026 should therefore ask the provider to confirm the current programme, assessment and certification route in writing. (regqs.saqa.org.za)

Step 8 — Plan for Rescue Before the Worker Climbs

A fall-arrest system answers:

How will the fall be arrested?

A rescue plan answers:

What happens next?

Consider:

• who initiates rescue;

• who performs it;

• rescue equipment;

• access;

• communications;

• emergency escalation;

• suspended-worker recovery;

• site limitations;

• and whether the rescue method can actually be implemented.

For construction work, rescue planning is expressly part of the Regulation 10 fall-protection framework. (Government of South Africa)

Step 9 — Record Controls, Responsibilities and Residual Risk

The completed assessment should make it easy to determine:

Field	Example
Hazard	Unprotected roof edge
Initial Risk	High
Control	Edge protection + controlled access
Additional Control	Fall restraint where required
Responsible Person	Site Supervisor
Residual Risk	Low / Acceptable under company methodology
Evidence	Inspection record / briefing
Review Trigger	Change in roof-work method

Do not allow the document to become a collection of vague statements such as:

“Wear PPE.”

Identify who must do what.

Step 10 — Review When the Risk Changes

A risk assessment is not a permanent certificate.

Review may be necessary when:

• the task changes;

• work moves to another location;

• the design changes;

• different equipment is introduced;

• new hazards appear;

• weather materially changes the work;

• an incident or near miss occurs;

• controls prove ineffective;

• or the monitoring/review plan requires reassessment.

For construction work, Regulation 9 expressly provides for monitoring and review and requires review where design or construction changes alter the risk profile or when an incident occurs. (etenders.gov.za)

Working at Heights Risk Assessment Template — Free Download

Example: Roof Work Risk Assessment

Consider a maintenance team accessing a warehouse roof.

The obvious hazard is:

fall from roof edge.

But a useful assessment may reveal:

Hazard	Possible Issue	Control Question
Roof edge	Fall to ground	Can edge protection or restraint prevent exposure?
Fragile sheet	Fall through roof	Have fragile areas been identified and controlled?
Access ladder	Slip / instability	Is the ladder suitable, secured and inspected?
Wind	Loss of balance	What conditions stop the work?
Anchor system	Unsuitable connection	Has the system been verified for the intended use?
Fall distance	Ground impact	Is adequate clearance available?
Tools	Falling objects	How will tools/materials be controlled?
Worker competence	Incorrect equipment use	Is the employee competent for the system?
Medical fitness	Worker unable to safely perform task	Is required fitness evidence current?
Rescue	Suspended worker	Can rescue begin using available people and equipment?

That is why copying a five-line generic risk assessment from another site creates false confidence.

Working at Heights Hazards Employers Commonly Miss

Fall Clearance

A worker can be wearing a harness and still strike the ground or structure before the arrest system becomes effective.

Swing Fall

An anchor positioned too far horizontally from the worker can introduce pendulum movement during a fall.

Fragile Surfaces

A roof can appear solid while containing skylights, brittle sheeting or unsupported areas.

Rescue Delay

A system that arrests a fall but leaves the suspended worker without a viable rescue method is incomplete.

Equipment Compatibility

Harness, connector, lanyard, energy absorber, lifeline and anchor arrangements need to work together.

Falling Objects

The people below may face significant risk even where the person at height is adequately protected.

Simultaneous Contractors

Different trades may introduce changing hazards that were not present when the original assessment was completed.

Common Working at Heights Risk Assessment Mistakes

1. Copying Another Site's Assessment

The hazards may look similar while:

• roof construction;

• edge conditions;

• access;

• anchor arrangements;

• weather exposure;

• rescue options;

• or work sequence

are completely different.

2. Treating “Wear Harness” as the Control

PPE is not a substitute for considering elimination and prevention.

3. Assuming Training = Compliance

Training is one part of the system.

It does not automatically establish:

• medical fitness;

• equipment suitability;

• appropriate anchors;

• supervision;

• rescue preparedness;

• site authorisation;

• or a valid fall-protection plan.

4. Ignoring Rescue

The assessment should consider what happens after a fall, not merely how the fall will be arrested.

5. Ignoring People Below

Dropped tools and materials can create serious secondary hazards.

6. Failing to Review the Assessment

A risk assessment written for one stage of the project may become unsuitable when access, structures, contractors or working methods change.

7. Treating Every Fall Hazard as a Two-Metre Problem

The legal definition of fall risk is broader than a simple height threshold.

Should Working at Heights Training Be Identified in the Risk Assessment?

Where the assessment shows that employees require specific knowledge or practical competence to perform the task safely, training should be treated as a control requirement rather than an administrative afterthought.

The question should be:

What must this person be able to do safely for this particular task and system?

That may include competence relating to:

• fall-protection principles;

• equipment inspection;

• harness fitting;

• limitations of equipment;

• connecting systems;

• lifelines;

• anchor awareness;

• safe movement;

• work procedures;

• and emergency arrangements.

The assessment should then connect the requirement to evidence.

For example:

Hazard: Employee incorrectly connects fall-arrest equipment

Control: Practical training + task-specific instruction + supervision

Evidence: Training record / assessment / site briefing

Owner: Supervisor / SHE Manager

Now the risk assessment becomes operational.

Risk Assessment, Training and the Safety File

A strong safety file should not contain isolated documents that never speak to one another.

The chain should make sense:

Task

↓

Hazard

↓

Risk Assessment

↓

Control

↓

Required Competence

↓

Training / Instruction

↓

Equipment

↓

Inspection Evidence

↓

Authorisation

↓

Rescue

↓

Monitoring & Review

If the risk assessment identifies a hazard requiring a control, there should be a reasonable way to prove that the control was actually implemented.

2026 Legal Update: Construction Regulations

The Department of Employment and Labour published Draft Construction Regulations 2025 for public comment, stating that they were intended to replace the 2014 regulations. The official government material described them as draft regulations. I found no later official publication in the current government sources establishing that the 2025 draft has replaced the 2014 Construction Regulations, and the government's current Construction Regulations materials continue to surface the 2014 framework. Employers should always verify whether a later final regulation has been formally promulgated before relying on an older guide.

That is why this article should refer to the current applicable law rather than treating draft proposals as enacted requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Working at Heights risk assessment legally required in South Africa?

For construction work, Construction Regulation 9 expressly requires risk assessments before and during construction work, while Regulation 10 requires the fall-protection plan to include an assessment of work carried out from fall-risk positions. The broader OHS Act also imposes employer duties to manage workplace health and safety risks.

Does working at heights only start above two metres?

No. The Construction Regulations define fall risk as potential exposure to falling from, off or into. Do not use a universal two-metre threshold as a substitute for assessing the actual risk.

Is a risk assessment the same as a fall protection plan?

No. The risk assessment identifies and evaluates hazards and controls. Where Construction Regulation 10 applies, the fall-protection plan covers a broader system including fall-risk assessment, medical-fitness processes, training, equipment inspection and rescue arrangements.

Can I use the free template without changing it?

Use it as a starting framework. Adapt it to the actual workplace, task, people, equipment and conditions. A generic template cannot determine the real risks on a site it has never assessed.

Is a Working at Heights certificate enough?

No. Training evidence may form an important part of the control system, but it does not replace the site-specific risk assessment, equipment controls, supervision, medical-fitness requirements where applicable, fall-protection planning or rescue arrangements.

Is SAQA 229998 still current for new enrolments?

The SAQA record shows the unit standard has passed its registration end date and lists 30 June 2024 as the last enrolment date and 30 June 2027 as the last achievement date. Ask any provider offering height-safety training in 2026 to explain the current programme and certification route in writing.

Final Employer Action

Your risk assessment should leave management able to answer:

Who is exposed?

To what hazard?

What controls are required?

Who owns those controls?

What competence is required?

Can we produce the evidence?

Is the equipment appropriate?

Can we rescue the person?

What would stop the work?

When must the assessment be reviewed?

If those questions cannot be answered, the assessment is not finished simply because somebody signed the last page.

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