What this is
What is a working at height permit?
What is a working at height permit?
Authorisation to perform work at height, recording that the work cannot reasonably be avoided, that fall prevention or arrest is in place and adequate, that the area and conditions permit it, and that a rescue arrangement exists and can be executed.
Why is rescue a separate gate?
Because arresting a fall is not the end of the event. A person suspended in a harness needs recovery within minutes, and an arrangement relying on emergency services arriving, assessing and rigging is not a plan. Rescue is the gate most often left blank on otherwise complete permits.
Scope
When is a working at height permit required?
The permit authorises a specific job at height. Standing arrangements and equipment records sit separately.
Use this template when
- Work at height where a fall could cause injury and the work is not covered by permanent protection
- Roof work, including access for inspection, maintenance and cleaning
- Work from mobile elevating platforms, scaffolds, ladders and stepladders beyond routine low-level use
- Work near unprotected edges, openings, skylights and fragile surfaces
- Contractor work at height on your premises
Do not use it for
- Fall protection equipment inspection records, which cover harnesses, lanyards and anchors
- The rescue plan itself, which is developed for the location and referenced by the permit
- Fall protection training records, which evidence competence and are separately cited by OSHA
- Scaffold inspection and handover, which has its own competent person requirements
- Roof access authorisation, where a standing arrangement covers routine access
Compliance mapping
Which OSHA 1910 Subpart D requirements does this satisfy?
Fall protection is the most heavily cited area in OSHA enforcement, with parallel duties elsewhere.
| Clause | Requirement | Where it lands |
|---|---|---|
| 29 CFR 1926.501 | Fall protection required at six feet in construction, by guardrail, net or personal fall arrest system | Gate 2 Fall protection |
| 29 CFR 1926.502 | Criteria for fall protection systems, including anchorage capacity and system performance | Gate 2 Fall protection |
| 29 CFR 1926.503 | Fall protection training by a competent person, with written certification | Authorisation |
| 29 CFR 1910.28 | General industry duty to provide fall protection at four feet | Gate 2 Fall protection |
| 29 CFR 1910.30 | Training requirements for general industry walking-working surfaces | Authorisation |
| Work at Height Regs 2005 | Avoid, prevent, mitigate hierarchy with planning, organisation and competence duties (GB) | Gate 1 Avoid the fall |
| WorkSafeBC Part 11 | Fall protection requirements including written procedures and rescue planning | Gate 4 Rescue |
| ANSI/ASSP Z359 | Fall protection code covering system design, anchorage and rescue planning | Gate 4 Rescue |
What it does not cover
- Equipment inspection records for harnesses, lanyards, anchors and connectors.
- The rescue plan, developed for the location and referenced by the permit.
- Fall protection training certification, required by a competent person and separately cited.
- Scaffold inspection and handover, with its own competent person requirements.
- Anchor point certification, establishing capacity and suitability for the system used.
How to complete it
How to complete a working at height permit, step by step
Four gates in order, and the order is the point.
Record what was considered: performing the work from ground level, using extending tools, inspecting by camera or drone, lowering the equipment, or redesigning so the task does not recur at height. Where nothing was considered, the permit has skipped the tier that removes the risk rather than managing it.
Guardrails, working platforms, scaffold and mobile elevating platforms prevent the fall. Harness and lanyard arrest it after it has happened, and depend on anchor, fit, free-fall distance, clearance below and a rescue capability. Where arrest is chosen, record why prevention was not practicable.
Anchor capacity, suitability for the system, and whether it was designed as an anchor at all. Makeshift tie-offs to pipework, ductwork, handrails and roof plant are a recurring feature of citations and incidents, and an anchor of unknown capacity is an assumption carrying a person's weight.
Who performs it, with what equipment, how long it takes, and whether they are on site for the duration of the work. Suspension after an arrest requires prompt recovery. A plan naming emergency services has recorded an intention, not established that anyone can reach a suspended worker in time.
What auditors find
Most common working at height permit findings
Fall protection findings are the most common in OSHA enforcement and cluster tightly.
| Finding | Clause | What fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Avoidance not considered before authorising work at height. | Work at Height Regs reg.6 | Record what was considered; the first tier removes the exposure entirely. |
| Arrest system used where a guardrail or platform was practicable. | 1926.501 | Prevention outranks arrest; record why it was not used. |
| Anchor point of unknown or unverified capacity. | 1926.502(d)(15) | Verify capacity and suitability; makeshift tie-offs recur in incidents and citations. |
| No rescue arrangement, or one relying on emergency services. | WorkSafeBC Part 11 | Establish who recovers a suspended worker, with what, and how quickly. |
| Fall protection training not certified in writing by a competent person. | 1926.503 | Separately cited from equipment provision; 1,907 citations in FY2025. |
| Free-fall distance and clearance below not calculated. | 1926.502(d) | An arrest system with insufficient clearance stops the fall after impact. |
| Fragile surfaces and skylights not identified before roof access. | 1926.501(b)(4) | Cover, guard or mark them; skylight falls recur and are usually fatal. |
| Ladder used where the task duration or force made it unsuitable. | 1926.1053 | Ladders were third in the FY2025 top ten; assess suitability rather than availability. |
| Weather and conditions not assessed at the time of the work. | Work at Height Regs reg.4 | Wind, ice and visibility change suitability and belong in the conditions gate. |
| Contractor work at height authorised without verifying their arrangements. | 1926.503 | Verify competence, equipment and rescue arrangements before issuing the permit. |
Case in point
Case in point: the standard that has led for over a decade
In fiscal year 2025 OSHA issued 5,914 citations under 29 CFR 1926.501, general fall protection requirements. That is more than double the second-ranked standard, hazard communication, at 2,546, and it continued a run at the top of the list stretching well beyond a decade. Fall protection training at 1926.503 was separately cited 1,907 times.
Four of the ten most cited standards that year related to falls: general requirements, ladders, scaffolding and fall protection training. The count under 1926.501 fell by several hundred from the previous year, which is movement rather than change in position.
The subsections cited most often describe the same small set of situations: unprotected sides and edges, roofing work, floor holes and skylights, and residential construction.
The template
The template, field by field
The form exactly as it installs. Every field, option, score and conditional rule is editable, and the links to other templates come with it.
9 sections
- Reference
- SAF-051
- Archetype
- Permit
- Record ID
- PTW-2026-000
- Scoring
- Go or no go
- Direction
- n/a
- Singleton
- No
- Basis
- OSHA 1910 Subpart D, WorkSafeBC 11
- Links
- Links Anchor register, Rescue Plan
- Tags
- Permit, Height
- Sections
- 9
- Fields
- 72
- Follow up fields
- 17
- Repeating sections
- 0
- Links out
- 10
Permit
9 fieldsPermit ID*
Auto sequence. Format PTW-2026-00000.
The record's own ID. Other templates point at this value.
Status*
Drives who this goes to next.
- Planned2 pts
- In progress2 pts
- Complete3 pts
- Deferred0 pts
- Open0 pts
- Closed3 pts
- Overdue0 pts
Valid From*
Valid To*
One shift maximum. A new permit is raised for the next shift.
Before You Start
A worker suspended in a harness has minutes, not hours. Calling the fire service is not a rescue plan.
Site*
Site ID*
Format SITE-000.
Links to FDN-001 Site ID
Area*
The area within the site.
Exact Location
Drop a pin for anything hard to find.
The work
12 fieldsWork Description*
Work Order ID
Links to MNT-002 Work Order ID
Number Of Workers*
Asset
Asset ID
Format AST-0000.
Links to FDN-002 Asset ID
Risk Assessment
Risk ID
Format RSK-2026-00000.
Links to FDN-012 Risk ID
Contractor Involved*
Contractor
Vendor ID
Format VEN-0000.
Links to FDN-005 Vendor ID
Induction Verified
- Yes2 pts
- No0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Method Statement Received
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Gate 1 Avoid the fall
4 fieldsCan The Work Be Done From The Ground*
- No1 pt
- Yes0 pts
Working Height Metres*
Access Method*
Scaffold and MEWP sit above ladder in the hierarchy for a reason.
- Printed folder2 pts
- Terminal3 pts
- Mobile device4 pts
- Mixed3 pts
Equipment Inspection Current*
- Yes2 pts
- No0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Gate 2 Fall protection
8 fieldsCollective Protection In Place*
Guardrails and nets protect everyone. Harnesses protect one person if used correctly.
- Yes2 pts
- No0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Personal Fall Protection Required*
- No, collective protection only3 pts
- Yes1 pt
Anchor Point Certified
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Anchor Reference
Links to SAF-102 Anchor Reference
Fall Clearance Calculated
Lanyard plus deceleration plus body length plus safety margin. Many falls hit the floor before arresting.
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Clearance Available Metres
Equipment Inspected Before Use
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Inspection Record ID
Links to SAF-026 Inspection ID
Gate 3 Area and conditions
5 fieldsExclusion Zone Below Established*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Dropped Object Prevention In Place*
- Yes2 pts
- No0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Weather Within Limits*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Fragile Surfaces Identified*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Overhead Services Identified*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Gate 4 Rescue
4 fieldsRescue Plan ID*
Links to SAF-103 Plan ID
Rescue Equipment On Site*
- Yes2 pts
- No0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Rescue Achievable Within 15 Minutes*
Suspension trauma can begin within minutes.
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Rescuers Named And Present*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Food safety controls
7 fieldsWork In Or Above A Food Area*
Meat and dairy areas need protection before, during and after the work.
Product Removed Or Covered
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Area Screened Off
- Yes3 pts
- Partly1 pt
- No0 pts
Tool And Part Accountability Agreed
Every tool and fastener taken in must be accounted for before release.
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Food Grade Materials Only
- Yes3 pts
- No0 pts
Post Work Sanitation Required
Sanitation Record ID
Links to QUA-030 Inspection ID
Authorisation
11 fieldsNo Gate, No Start
Every gate above must pass before work begins. There is no partial permit. If anything is unresolved, the permit is not issued.
All Gates Passed*
- Yes2 pts
- No, entry refused0 pts
Reason Not Issued
Issued By*
Issuer Authorised For This Permit*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Issuer Signature*
Issue Time*
Accepted By*
Acceptor Signature*
Toolbox Talk Held With Crew*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Talk Record ID
Links to TRN-009 Talk ID
Closure
12 fieldsWork Complete*
- Yes3 pts
- No0 pts
Work Suspended
All Persons Accounted For*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Tools And Equipment Removed*
- Yes2 pts
- No0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Area Left Safe*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Guards And Controls Restored*
- Yes3 pts
- No0 pts
Equipment Removed From Height*
- Yes2 pts
- No0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Exclusion Zone Lifted*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Permit Cancelled Time*
Cancelled By*
Closure Signature*
Area Owner Signature*
SAF-051 · record IDs look like PTW-2026-000 · Links Anchor register, Rescue Plan
Open in KnowellaRun it with agents
From a document you fill in to a programme that runs itself
The permit is four gates. What fails is the avoidance question nobody asked and the rescue arrangement that names an ambulance.
Issues the permit against gates in order, requires the avoidance consideration to be recorded, and blocks issue where rescue is not established.
Verifies contractor competence, equipment and rescue capability before a permit is issued for work at height on your premises.
Holds anchor point registers with capacity and inspection status, and flags tasks recurring at height as design-out candidates.
Tracks fall protection training certified by a competent person, which OSHA cites separately from equipment provision.
This template lives in KnowSafe — safety and compliance. Incidents, hazards, permits, inspections and the critical controls behind them.
Meet KnowSafe→Glossary
Working at Height Permit definitions and key terms
- Personal fall arrest system
- Harness, connector and anchorage arresting a fall in progress, the last tier of the hierarchy.
- Fall restraint
- A system preventing a person from reaching a fall hazard, which prevents rather than arrests and is preferable.
- Anchorage
- The secure point of attachment, requiring verified capacity and suitability for the system in use.
- Free fall distance
- The vertical distance before the arrest system begins to take load, limited by the standard and by clearance below.
- Suspension trauma
- The physiological consequence of prolonged suspension in a harness after an arrest, which makes prompt rescue essential.
- Competent person
- Someone capable of identifying hazards and authorised to take corrective action, required for training certification and inspections.
- Fragile surface
- A roof surface, rooflight or skylight incapable of bearing a person's weight, a recurring cause of fatal falls.
- Leading edge
- An unprotected edge of a floor, roof or formwork that changes as work progresses.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about working at height permit
Why is fall protection cited so much more than anything else?+
Partly exposure, since work at height is ubiquitous, and partly because the failures are simple and visible to an inspector: an unprotected edge, an unguarded hole, a worker on a roof without a system. In FY2025 OSHA issued 5,914 citations under 1926.501, more than double the second-ranked standard, and four of the top ten standards related to falls.
Is training a separate obligation?+
Yes, and it is separately cited. Fall protection training under 1926.503 attracted 1,907 citations in FY2025. Providing equipment and ensuring people are trained by a competent person to select, use, inspect and be rescued with it are different duties, and citations under the two frequently appear together after an incident.
What is the most important gate on the permit?+
Avoidance, because it is the only one that removes the exposure. Can the work be done from the ground, with an extending tool, a camera or a drone, or by lowering the equipment? It costs minutes at planning and is routinely skipped once equipment is loaded and the job looks short.
What makes a rescue plan adequate?+
A named person or team on site for the duration of the work, with the equipment to recover a suspended worker, and a realistic time to do it. Suspension after an arrest requires prompt recovery. A plan citing emergency services records an intention and does not establish that anyone can reach the person in time.
What goes wrong with anchors?+
Capacity and suitability. Tie-offs to pipework, ductwork, handrails, roof plant and anything convenient appear repeatedly in citations and incident reports. An anchor that has not been verified as an anchor is an assumption bearing a person's weight, and the permit should record what it is and what it is rated for.
Keep going
Related templates and programmes
Industries this is written for
Programmes this belongs to
Used together in Permit to Work
Contractor Permit Compliance Check
Checks that a contractor working under permit is doing what the permit says, at the work point
Hot Work Permit
Controls welding, cutting, grinding and any work that makes sparks or heat
Confined Space Entry Permit
Controls entry into tanks, pits, silos and other confined spaces
Energy Isolation Permit
Controls work where machinery must be shut down and locked out
Excavation Permit
Controls digging and trenching, including checks for buried services
Electrical Work Permit
Controls work on or near live electrical equipment where it cannot be de-energised
More in Permits
Hot Work Permit
Controls welding, cutting, grinding and any work that makes sparks or heat
Confined Space Entry Permit
Controls entry into tanks, pits, silos and other confined spaces
Energy Isolation Permit
Controls work where machinery must be shut down and locked out
Excavation Permit
Controls digging and trenching, including checks for buried services
Electrical Work Permit
Controls work on or near live electrical equipment where it cannot be de-energised
Line Breaking Permit
Controls opening pipework that has held hazardous liquid, gas or steam
Written and reviewed by
Siddarth Singh
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Knowella
Certified Safety Professional and industrial and systems engineer with more than a decade inside food supply chain, freight and manufacturing operations. This page was written against the current text of the standards it cites, not against secondary summaries of them.
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Board of Certified Safety Professionals
- MBA, University of Chicago Booth School of Business
- MS and BS, The Ohio State University, Industrial and Systems Engineering
- Six Sigma Black Belt
Sources and last review. Reviewed 16 August 2026 against:
- 29 CFR 1926.501, 1926.502 and 1926.503, fall protection in construction, OSHA
- OSHA Top 10 most frequently cited standards, fiscal year 2025
- 29 CFR 1910.28 and 1910.30, walking-working surfaces, general industry, OSHA
- Work at Height Regulations 2005 (GB)
- ANSI/ASSP Z359 fall protection code
This page is general guidance, not legal advice. Confirm requirements with your jurisdiction’s regulator.