The Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR) require that equipment used for work at height is inspected at suitable intervals so it stays safe, and after any event that could affect its safety. The regulations set no fixed figure. For personal fall-protection equipment such as harnesses and lanyards, HSE guidance recommends a detailed inspection by a competent person at least every 6 months, increased to at least every 3 months where the equipment is used frequently or in arduous conditions, alongside a pre-use check by the user each time. Some equipment used for work at height, such as mobile elevating work platforms, also falls under LOLER because it lifts people. This guide explains what WAHR requires, which equipment it covers, the inspection intervals, and the records you need to keep.
What the Work at Height Regulations require
WAHR places a duty on employers to plan, supervise and carry out work at height safely, and to make sure the equipment used is fit for purpose and kept in safe condition. Part of that duty is inspection: equipment exposed to conditions that could cause it to deteriorate must be inspected at suitable intervals, and after any event that could affect its safety. The aim is simple: to catch damage or wear before someone relies on failed equipment at height.
Which equipment is covered
Work at height covers a wide range of equipment, and different items are inspected in different ways:
- Personal fall-protection equipment: harnesses, lanyards, fall-arrest blocks, energy absorbers and anchor devices. These need detailed periodic inspection by a competent person and a pre-use check by the user.
- Access equipment: ladders, stepladders, podiums and scaffold towers, checked for damage and safe condition.
- Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs): scissor lifts and boom lifts. Because they lift people, MEWPs also fall under LOLER and need a thorough examination, generally every 6 months.
Where a piece of equipment is used to raise or lower a person, LOLER applies as well as WAHR, and the shorter lifting interval is the one to work to. Our LOLER inspection service covers MEWPs and other people-lifting equipment.
Inspection intervals
WAHR does not set a single fixed interval. It requires inspection at suitable intervals, determined by how and where the equipment is used, and after any event that could affect safety. HSE guidance and equipment standards turn that duty into practical schedules:
- Pre-use checks: carried out by the user before each use or shift, looking for obvious damage, wear or contamination.
- Detailed inspection of fall-protection equipment: by a competent person at least every 6 months, increased to at least every 3 months where the equipment is used frequently or in arduous environments such as demolition, steel erection and scaffolding. A 12-monthly inspection is the bare minimum some standards allow, not the recommended regime.
- MEWPs: a LOLER thorough examination, generally every 6 months because they lift people.
- After an event: any equipment involved in a fall arrest, a shock load, or exposure to chemicals or damage should be inspected before further use.
For how these intervals sit alongside LOLER, PUWER and the other regimes, see our inspection frequency guide.
What an inspection looks at
A detailed inspection of fall-protection equipment examines the condition of every safety-critical part:
- Webbing and stitching, for cuts, fraying, abrasion, and heat or chemical damage.
- Metal components, buckles, D-rings and connectors, for wear, distortion and corrosion.
- Energy absorbers and fall-arrest blocks, for signs of deployment or internal damage.
- Labels and markings, confirming the item is identifiable and within its service life.
Any equipment that fails inspection, or shows signs of having arrested a fall, is withdrawn from use.
Records you need to keep
WAHR requires that the results of inspections are recorded and kept until the next inspection is recorded. For fall-protection equipment, a clear inspection history, item by item, is essential: it shows each piece has been checked, when, and by whom, and it lets you retire equipment at the end of its service life with confidence. A traceable numbering system for each harness and lanyard makes this straightforward.
Working at height inspections across Manchester and the North West
Safe-Lee carries out independent inspections of work-at-height and lifting equipment for employers across the Manchester and North West area. Inspections are carried out by Engineer Surveyor Lee Charnock (EngTech MSOE MBES), and reports are typically issued within one to two working days. See our WAHR inspection service, or our LOLER inspection service where MEWPs and other people-lifting equipment are involved.
Frequently asked questions
How often should working at height equipment be inspected?
WAHR sets no fixed figure; it requires inspection at suitable intervals and after events that could affect safety. In practice, HSE guidance recommends a detailed inspection of harnesses, lanyards and similar equipment by a competent person at least every 6 months, and at least every 3 months where the equipment is used frequently or in arduous conditions. A pre-use check by the user is needed each time. MEWPs need a LOLER thorough examination, generally every 6 months.
What is a WAHR inspection?
An inspection carried out to meet the Work at Height Regulations 2005, checking that equipment used for work at height remains safe. For fall-protection equipment it is a detailed examination by a competent person.
Do harnesses need a certificate of inspection?
The regulations require inspection results to be recorded and kept. A clear, item-by-item inspection record for each harness and lanyard is the practical way to meet this.
Does a MEWP fall under WAHR or LOLER?
Both. It is work at height equipment under WAHR and, because it lifts people, lifting equipment under LOLER, so it needs a thorough examination, generally every 6 months.
When should equipment be taken out of use?
Whenever it fails inspection, shows signs of having arrested a fall, or reaches the end of the manufacturer's stated service life.