{"id":5783,"date":"2026-04-13T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T08:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/?p=5783"},"modified":"2026-04-13T17:02:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T16:02:49","slug":"hierarchy-of-control-measures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/hierarchy-of-control-measures\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hierarchy of Control for Working at Height"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Falls from height are one of the largest causes of workplace fatalities and major injuries. The Health and Safety Executive<\/a> (HSE) notes that roof work alone accounts for a quarter of all deaths in the construction industry. From falling through fragile materials to falling on hard surfaces, working at height poses several notable safety risks. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 aims to prevent death and injury caused by a fall from height by establishing safety measures to manage the associated risks. These measures include the hierarchy of control. In this article we will explain what the hierarchy of control for working at height is and how to follow the different levels of control.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is the Hierarchy of Control for Working at Height?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The hierarchy of control for working at height is a series of steps that ensure that work at height is properly planned, supervised and carried out in a safe manner. It can be helpful to think of the hierarchy as a checklist of steps to remove or reduce the risks associated with working at height. The levels of the hierarchy must be followed systematically and implemented before <\/strong>any work at height is conducted. When working through the steps the next level of the hierarchy should only be considered if it is not reasonably practicable to achieve the previous level. \u2018Reasonably practicable\u2019 means that control measures should be implemented to reduce or eliminate hazards except where it would be \u2018grossly disproportionate\u2019 to take them. <\/p>\n\n\n

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The Work at Height Regulations 2005<\/a> were introduced to prevent death and injury caused by a fall from height. The regulations mandate that an employer or anyone who is in control of work at height, must make sure that work is properly planned, supervised and carried out by a competent person. Regulation 6<\/a> sets out a hierarchy of control measures to ensure that any work at height is conducted in this manner.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to note that whilst the regulations place certain legal obligations on employers and those in control of work at height, it\u2019s vital that employees also understand the risk and how their actions can impact safety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Looking for More?<\/h3><\/div><\/div>

Our Working at Height Course<\/a> will teach you everything you need to know to confidently and safely work at height.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Levels of Control for Working at Height<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The levels of control for working at height as set out by the Working at Height Regulations 2005 are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Where it is reasonably practicable to do so, employers must find a way to <\/span>avoid the need to work at height <\/b>altogether <\/span>before <\/span><\/i>implementing any other controls.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When deciding what is \u2018reasonably practicable\u2019 the financial, time or trouble costs of prevention or control must be measured against the risk itself. Employers must implement the highest level of control measures in the hierarchy unless they can prove that the risks are insignificant compared to the overall cost (financial, time or trouble) needed to implement them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Examples of control measures that would <\/span>avoid <\/b>the need to work at height include:<\/span><\/p>\n