Non-binding guide on Work at a height

Work at height poses serious safety risks. In 2001, Directive 2001/45/EC amended the Work Equipment Directive (Directive 89/655/EEC) and introduced minimum health and safety requirements for the use of work equipment provided for temporary work at a height, in particular scaffolds, ladders and ropes. To support employers in implementing the requirements, the European Commisson published in 2007 the Non-binding guide to good practice for implementing Directive 2001/45/EC (Work at a height).

It should be noted that Directive 2001/45/EC is no longer in force since the Work Equipment Directive from 1989 (89/655/EEC) was repealed. However, the provisions of this Directive, including all amending Directives, were codified in a single act in 2009 (Directive 2009/104/EC). Therefore, the content of the guide remains relevant and provides practical guidance for the Work Equipment Directive, and and more specifically for the requirements of Annex II.4 Provisions concerning the use of work equipment provided for temporary work at a height.

The main purpose of this guide is to help employers, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, choose and use work equipment correctly, on the basis of a risk assessment, and according to the type and duration of work and ergonomic constraints. 

The chapter Key points for prevention provides general information on work at height such as how to carry out a risk assessment and how to apply the hierarchy of prevention. The chapter Equipment for temporary work at heights includes more detailed information and good practices for specific types of equipment:

• scaffolding; 
• ladders;
• Individual mobile platforms and cantilevered platforms;
• rope access techniques;
• other equipment such as mobile elevated work platforms.

Publication details
Published by: Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (European Commission)
Publication date: 2007
Number of pages: 88 pp.