HSA inspectors ask for two pieces of paper: training records and risk assessments. The first you can solve with a 45-minute course. The second you can solve in 20 minutes if you have a good template - and most small Irish businesses have nothing on file at all. Here is the format we recommend, with a worked example.
Why the risk assessment matters
Under Section 19 of the SHWW Act 2005, every Irish employer must carry out a written risk assessment for every hazard in the workplace. For Working at Heights, this is reinforced by Regulation 96 of SI 299/2007 Part 4 Chapter 2 (specific risk assessment for work at height). Without one, you cannot show that the controls you are using are reasonable. With one, you have a complete defence in 90% of HSA cases.
The 6-section template
- Job description. What, where, when, who.
- Hazards identified. Falls from height, falling objects, weather, electrical, manual handling.
- People at risk. Direct workers, sub-contractors, members of the public, building occupants.
- Existing controls. What you already have - scaffold, MEWP, harness, rescue plan, training.
- Residual risk rating. Likelihood x Severity, on a 1-5 scale, before and after controls.
- Action and review. Who does what, by when, and when the assessment is reviewed.
Worked example - changing fluorescent tubes in a warehouse
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Job | Replace failed T5 tube at 4.5m, dispatch warehouse, Dublin 15 |
| Hazards | Fall from MEWP basket, falling tube glass, electrical contact, forklift traffic |
| People | Maintenance technician, warehouse staff in adjacent aisles |
| Controls before | Stepladder used historically. No risk assessment. No barriers. |
| Controls after | Scissor lift hire (IPAF certified operator), exclusion zone with barriers, isolated electrical circuit, harness anchor inside basket, Working at Heights Certificate on file for the technician, rescue plan with named on-site rescuer |
| Risk before / after | Likelihood 4 / Severity 4 = 16. After controls: Likelihood 1 / Severity 3 = 3. |
| Action | Maintenance manager arranges scissor lift hire and barrier issue. Review in 3 months or after any incident. |
20 minutes, one A4 page, signed and dated. The HSA inspector reads it and your visit is over.
The hierarchy you must show
Every Working at Heights risk assessment in Ireland must demonstrate the control hierarchy:
- Avoid the work at height (long-handled tools, ground-level alternative)
- Prevent the fall (scaffold, MEWP, edge protection)
- Minimise consequences if a fall happens (harness, fall arrest, rescue plan)
If the assessment jumps straight to "wear a harness" without explaining why avoid and prevent are not viable, it fails the HSA test.
What "competent person" means
The risk assessment must be carried out by someone competent. Competence in Irish law is the combination of training, knowledge and experience. A Working at Heights Course certificate plus relevant experience is what most main contractors expect. For very high-consequence environments (e.g. fragile roofs, MEWPs over public roads), an external consultant signs off.
Common mistakes
- Generic template not site-specific (the HSA spots this immediately - it has the wrong building name on it)
- No date, no signature, no review cycle
- Risk score has no justification (why 3 not 5)
- "Wear PPE" listed as a control instead of "Use Type C horizontal lifeline in restraint configuration"
- No rescue plan
- Out of date (most should be reviewed annually or whenever the work or location changes)
Getting your template free
Email [email protected] and we will send you the editable Word template, the worked example above as a PDF, and a printable risk register that holds 50 entries. No charge, no email list.
The training piece
The risk assessment proves the control. The Working at Heights Course online proves the competence. Together they cover both Section 19 and Regulation 96. 45 minutes, 35 euro, instant Working at Heights Certificate for every learner.
FAQs
How often do I review the risk assessment?
Annually as a minimum, plus after any incident, near miss, change in personnel, change in location or change in equipment.
Can the same risk assessment cover multiple sites?
Generic core, site-specific supplement. The HSA will ask for the supplement on the day they visit the specific site.
Does Safe Pass cover the risk assessment requirement?
No. Safe Pass is a site-induction card; the written risk assessment is a separate document.
Get the template and certify the team in one afternoon. Email us for the free template and start the Working at Heights Course online in 45 minutes.
