What this template includes
This template covers every section of a compliant Working at Height Permit to Work, designed around UK regulatory requirements and the standard expected by insurers and the HSE.
- Permit details — permit number, site, location, height of work, permit issuer, permit holder, validity period
- Method of work at height — hierarchy of controls applied: elimination, collective protection, personal protection
- Equipment details — equipment type (scaffold, MEWP, ladder, rope access), reference number, last inspection date
- Equipment inspection checklist — pre-use checks for the specific equipment type
- Harness and lanyard inspection — harness ID, last formal inspection date, pre-use check confirmation
- Anchor point record — anchor point location, load capacity, last inspection date
- Rescue plan — named rescue method, rescue equipment location, named rescue operative
- Weather assessment — wind speed limit, conditions requiring work suspension
- Identified hazards — standard working at height hazards pre-populated (pre-filled version)
- Safety controls & precautions — standard controls pre-populated (pre-filled version)
- Authorisation — print name, job title, and signature fields
- Permit holder acknowledgement — print name, company, signature, and date fields
- Post-work closure — equipment condition, exclusion zone removed, site left safe
Pre-filled vs blank — which should I use?
The pre-filled version is the best starting point for most uses. Standard hazards, controls, and procedures are pre-populated — you review them, add or remove items to reflect your specific job and site, and fill in the job-specific details. Think of it as an AI-drafted permit you review and adjust, rather than a form you fill in from scratch.
The blank version has all the same sections but with empty fields throughout. Use this if you prefer to populate everything yourself, or if your organisation has its own standard content you want to use.
How to use this template
- Open the .docx file in Microsoft Word or Google Docs. All sections are clearly labelled.
- Fill in the permit details, work description, and validity period for your specific job.
- Review the hazards and controls. Add site-specific items and remove anything that doesn't apply.
- Complete all checklist fields and inspection records before authorising the permit.
- Print and obtain authorisation and permit holder acknowledgement signatures in person.
- Keep a copy on file. Complete the closure section once work is finished.
Legal requirements
Working at height permits are required under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, which define working at height as any place where a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. The regulations require employers to apply a strict hierarchy of controls: avoid the need to work at height; use collective protection (barriers, guardrails); use personal protection (harness, lanyard) only as a last resort.
Under PUWER 1998, all equipment used for working at height must be inspected at suitable intervals by a competent person. Scaffolding must be inspected every 7 days and after any event that may have affected stability. MEWPs must be LOLER-examined every 6 months.
A rescue plan is a legal requirement under the WAH Regulations for any work using personal fall protection — "call 999" does not constitute a rescue plan. The plan must identify how the casualty will be recovered, by whom, and using what equipment.
→ Read our full guide to Working at Height permits
Want permits without the paperwork?
Working at height remains one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities in the UK. Paper permit processes are vulnerable to incomplete inspection records, missing rescue plan details, and permits issued without all checks completed.
PermitDesk generates working at height permits digitally, with equipment inspection checklists and rescue plan fields built in, digital sign-off by both issuer and permit holder, and a full timestamped audit trail.