RAMS for Working at Height in Public Access Areas — UK

UK construction-safety guidance by the Riskora Editorial Team

Working at height above public areas adds a critical layer of complexity. Dropped tools, falling materials, and scaffold components can injure or kill passers-by. If your height work overlooks a pavement, car park, public building entrance, or any area where members of the public are present, your RAMS must address public protection as aggressively as it addresses worker safety.

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Example RAMS

RAMS for Working at Height in Public Access Areas — UK

  • Description of height work and its proximity to public access areas
  • Public protection measures: fans, netting, brick guards, toe boards, covered walkways
  • Exclusion zones and barrier arrangements at ground level
  • Scaffold netting and sheeting to prevent material falling to public areas
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When This Document Is Required

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 and CDM 2015 require that risks to both workers and the public are assessed and controlled. When working at height above or adjacent to public access areas, additional measures are required under the Highways Act 1980 (if adjacent to a public road) and through local authority licensing requirements for scaffolding, hoarding, and temporary works affecting public routes. The principal contractor and local authority will both require RAMS before permitting work to proceed.

What Must Be Included

  • Description of height work and its proximity to public access areas
  • Public protection measures: fans, netting, brick guards, toe boards, covered walkways
  • Exclusion zones and barrier arrangements at ground level
  • Scaffold netting and sheeting to prevent material falling to public areas
  • Pedestrian management plan and diversion routes
  • Lighting requirements for public safety (especially for night works)
  • Material storage and securing arrangements at height
  • Communication with local authority and highways department
  • Insurance and public liability arrangements
  • Emergency procedures for falling object incidents

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Not installing scaffold fans or netting above public footpaths
  • Relying solely on barriers without covered walkways in high-footfall areas
  • Failing to obtain a hoarding/scaffold licence from the local authority
  • Storing loose materials at height without securing them against wind displacement
  • Not providing adequate lighting for pedestrian diversions
  • Assuming 'keep out' signs are sufficient public protection

Example Scenario

A building maintenance company in London is carrying out stone repairs and repointing on a Grade II listed building overlooking a busy high street. Scaffolding is required on all four elevations, with pedestrian access directly below. The local authority requires a RAMS covering public protection before granting a scaffold licence. Using Riskora, the project manager generates a RAMS with scaffold fans, netting, covered walkways, and a pedestrian management plan — ready for submission within minutes.

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Final RAMS must be reviewed and approved by a competent person before use.

Riskora is an assistive document preparation tool. All documents generated must be reviewed, verified, and approved by a competent person before use on site. Riskora does not replace professional safety judgment, and no output should be treated as a legal compliance guarantee.