4.4 It is the responsibility of the Duty holder (the person responsible for organising or planning the work) to carry out an assessment of the risks to those working at height and identify alternative methods of controlling the actual need to work at height. 4.5 It is ultimately the responsibility of the Director responsible for a particular area to ensure that Duty holders are not only carrying out their responsibilities but are also competent to do this. 4.6 Regulation 14 states that employees or those working under someone else’s control must: Report any safety hazard to the person responsible for organising or planning the work. Use any equipment supplied (including safety devices) properly, following any training and instructions (unless the employee thinks that they would be unsafe, in which case further instruction should be sought before continuing). 5. THE REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKING AT HEIGHT 5.1 When considering work at height the following steps should be undertaken: Conduct a risk assessment. Avoid, prevent or minimise the need to work at height (hierarchy of control). Produce safe procedure of working as appropriate. Ensure that staff are competent to do the work and are properly supervised. 6. WORKING AT HEIGHT - RISK ASSESSMENT 6.1 A risk assessment is a requirement of health and safety legislation. It is a careful examination of what could cause harm to people as a result of work activity. It will allow the necessary precautions to be taken to prevent harm occurring. The person conducting the risk assessment will need to: Look for the hazards. Decide who might be harmed and how. Evaluate the risks and decide whether the existing precautions are adequate or more should be done. Record findings. Review assessments. 6.2 In addition any risk assessment for working at height should consider the following: Working conditions. Access and egress. Distance and consequences of a fall. Duration and frequency of use/task. Ease of rescue and evacuation. Risk of use, installation and removal or equipment. 6.3 The Risk Assessment Form within the WATMOS’ Safety Risk Assessment Policy should be used to assess the risks of working at height. 6.4 Once a risk assessment has been conducted the working at height ‘hierarchy of control’ should always be implemented.