WAHR Inspections
Work at Height Regulations 2005
WAHR stands for the Work at Height Regulations 2005, which govern any work where a person could fall far enough to be injured. Regulation 12 requires the equipment relied on to prevent that fall to be inspected before first use and at suitable intervals afterwards. Scaffolding in use is inspected at least every 7 days, while harnesses, lanyards and fall arrest blocks are usually on a 6 or 12 month formal examination.
What WAHR Inspections covers
Work at Height Regulations 2005Work at height equipment splits into two groups that are inspected differently. Collective measures, such as scaffolding, tower scaffolds, guardrails and edge protection, protect everyone on site and are inspected as structures: scaffolding in use requires inspection at least every 7 days and after anything likely to have affected its stability. Personal fall protection, meaning harnesses, lanyards, self-retracting lifelines and anchor devices, is examined item by item for webbing and stitching condition, hardware function and remaining service life. Both groups also need a pre-use check by the person using them, which is the user's job and never a substitute for formal inspection. Safe-Lee provides item-level records rather than a single site certificate, so each harness can be traced.
WAHR at a glance
The facts that decide what you need and when, in one place.
| Governing regulation | Work at Height Regulations 2005, regulation 12 |
|---|---|
| Interval | Scaffolding at least every 7 days while in use, and after anything likely to have affected its stability. Harnesses, lanyards and fall arrest equipment typically every 6 to 12 months |
| Also required | A pre-use check by the user before every use, which is the user's job and not a substitute for formal inspection |
| Who must arrange it | The employer or the person controlling the work at height |
| Who may carry it out | A competent person for the type of equipment concerned |
| What you receive | An inspection report with individual item-level records and the next due dates |
| Typical report turnaround | 1 to 2 working days |
What Work at Height Regulations 2005 requires of you
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, employers and duty holders are legally required to ensure equipment is thoroughly examined by a competent person at regular intervals. Failure to comply can result in significant fines, enforcement action, and, most importantly, puts your workforce at serious risk.
Work at Height Regulations 2005 compliance is not optional
Our WAHR Inspections Process
Every WAHR Inspections follows the same five steps, from the first conversation about what you have on site to the report landing in your inbox. Knowing the sequence matters because two of the steps need something from you: agreeing the scope at the start, and giving the engineer safe access on the day. The rest is ours to carry.
- 1
Initial Consultation
We talk through what equipment you hold, how it is used and which regulations bite on it. That conversation sets the scope, and it is what makes a quote a real figure rather than a guess.
- 2
Site Survey
An engineer visits to confirm what is actually on site against what was described, and to identify anything needing immediate attention. Sites often hold more equipment than the office records show, and this is where that surfaces.
- 3
Thorough Examination
The examination itself is hands-on rather than a walk round, carried out to the standard the relevant regulation sets. Each item is assessed on its own and recorded individually, including accessories stored away from the machine.
- 4
Report & Recommendations
You receive a written report identifying every defect found, classified by how urgently it must be put right, with the date the next examination falls due. Anything dangerous is raised with you on site the same day rather than held back for the paperwork.
- 5
Ongoing Support
Once the first examination is done we hold the due dates and flag them before they lapse. Most compliance failures are diary failures rather than equipment failures, so that is the part worth automating.
What a WAHR costs, and what moves the figure
We do not publish a flat rate, because WAHR work is scoped to your equipment and site and any single figure would be wrong for most readers. Here is what we price on, what a complete quote covers, and how to judge one quote against another, so you can budget before you speak to anyone.
What moves the price
- Number of items. Harnesses, lanyards, fall arrest blocks and anchor points are examined individually
- Equipment type. Personal fall protection is quicker per item than a scaffold structure or a permanent guardrail system
- Interval. Scaffolding in use requires inspection at least every 7 days; most personal equipment is on a 6 or 12 month formal examination
- Site conditions. Access, weather exposure and working over live areas all affect how long an inspection takes
- Location and travel, and whether other statutory work is bundled into the visit
What a complete quote should cover
- The competent person's time on site, examining to the standard the regulations require
- A written report identifying any defects and classifying them by how urgently they must be addressed
- The date the next examination falls due
- Certification you can show an HSE inspector or your insurer
- Travel to your site
If a quote does not spell these out, ask. The report is the part that proves compliance; an examination with no usable report leaves you no better off than before.
How to compare quotes fairly
Ask every firm the same questions, including us. A cheaper quote usually differs on one of these rather than on the work itself.
| Compare on | Safe-Lee |
|---|---|
| Who carries out the examination, and what qualifications and competent-person status they hold | Stated in writing |
| Whether they hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance | Stated in writing |
| Whether they are independent of the equipment's supply, hire and maintenance | Stated in writing |
| Exactly what is included, in writing, with a sample report | Stated in writing |
| How quickly the report is issued after the visit | Stated in writing |
| Whether individual item-level records are provided, or a single site certificate | Stated in writing |
Are Safe-Lee WAHR inspections right for you?
We would rather tell you now than after you have booked. Below is who we are a good fit for, who we are not, what this service does not cover, and what else you could do instead, including options we do not sell. Statutory examination is a legal duty rather than a purchase, so the useful question is not whether you need it but whether we are the right people to do it for you.
We are a good fit if
- You are the duty holder or employer responsible for arranging statutory examination
- Your site is in Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire or the surrounding North West
- You want the examination done by someone with no commercial interest in the equipment staying in service
- You hold harnesses, lanyards, fall arrest blocks, anchor points, guardrails or scaffolding that need formal periodic inspection
We are not the right choice if
- You need the equipment repaired, serviced or maintained. We examine and report, and we do not carry out remedial work
- You need a single provider to cover many sites across the UK on the same day. We are a small independent practice, not a national network
- You need 24/7 emergency callout. Work is scheduled, including out of hours where that avoids disrupting production
- You need scaffolding erected, altered or struck. We inspect it, we do not build it
- You need someone on site every 7 days to sign a scaffold register for the duration of a build. That is usually best held by the principal contractor
What this service does not cover
- Repair, servicing, maintenance or refurbishment of the equipment examined
- Supply, hire or sale of equipment or spare parts
- Any work that would compromise our independence as the examining body
- Erection, alteration or dismantling of scaffolding and temporary works
- Design of fall protection systems or specification of anchor points
What else you could do instead
- Your insurer's engineer surveyor scheme
- Many business insurance policies include statutory inspection for lifting and pressure equipment. Check what you already pay for before buying it twice. It is a genuine alternative, and for some businesses the right one.
- A national inspection body
- If you have many sites across the UK, or need round-the-clock cover, a large provider will suit you better than we will.
- An in-house competent person
- If you employ someone with the right knowledge and experience who is genuinely independent of the equipment's operation and maintenance, they can carry out the examination themselves.
What we need from you
Having these ready shortens the visit and keeps the quote accurate.
- A list of the equipment to be examined, with identification or serial numbers where they exist
- Previous reports or certificates, if you have them, so we can see the history and the next due dates
- Safe access to each item, including any isolation, permits or escorts your site requires
- Someone available who can operate the equipment if a functional check is needed
- Equipment gathered in one place where possible, since personal fall protection is examined item by item
What Our Clients Say
“Lee is a fantastic engineer and very approachable. He delivers examinations with minimal disturbance to your operations in a timely manner. If you need or are unsure if your equipment requires an examination, contact Lee and he will guide you through the process of becoming and staying compliant.”
Lee Stanaway
Reviewed on Google
“Brilliant company! Can't recommend Lee enough. Great communication throughout and speedy reporting to ensure kit is compliant with LOLER and PUWER.”
Thomas Bullivant
Reviewed on Google
“Great service, very knowledgeable regarding my lifting equipment. If you're needing a LOLER examination carried out, get on to Safe Lee!”
Sean Crawford
Reviewed on Google
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a WAHR inspection involve?
A WAHR inspection involves examining all work at height equipment for defects, damage, and suitability. This includes checking structural integrity, testing safety mechanisms, verifying correct assembly, and ensuring equipment meets the requirements of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
How often is a WAHR inspection required?
Work at height equipment must be inspected before each use by the user, and must undergo a formal inspection by a competent person at regular intervals. The frequency depends on the type of equipment and the conditions of use, scaffolding requires inspection at least every 7 days when in use, while other equipment such as harnesses and lanyards typically require formal examination every 6 to 12 months.
What equipment does a WAHR inspection cover?
WAHR inspections cover scaffolding, mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs), ladders, stepladders, roof ladders, safety harnesses, lanyards, fall arrest systems, guardrails, safety nets, and any other equipment used to prevent or mitigate falls from height.
Where the WAHR rules come from
Everything on this page is our reading of the following documents. They are the authority, not us, so we link them directly and you can check any of it yourself.
- The Work at Height Regulations 2005
legislation.gov.uk
The statutory instrument itself. Regulation 12 covers inspection of work equipment used at height.
- Working at height: A brief guide (INDG401)
Health and Safety Executive
HSE's summary of the duty hierarchy: avoid, prevent, minimise.
- Work at height
Health and Safety Executive
HSE's topic page, including inspection and pre-use check requirements.
Further reading
Plain-English guides to the regulations behind WAHR: what they require, how often, and who can sign it off.
Working at Height Equipment Inspections: WAHR Explained
What WAHR requires for harnesses, lanyards and anchor points, where MEWPs also fall under LOLER, and the records you need to keep.
Inspection Frequency Guide
Work-at-height intervals set against the statutory timings for the lifting and pressure equipment on the same site.
Need WAHR inspections or a quotation?
The short version: if you hold this equipment, examination is a legal duty rather than a choice, the interval is set by the regulation or by your own scheme rather than by us, and the report is the part that proves you complied.
Tell us what you have on site and roughly where it is, and you will get a scoped quote rather than a rate card. If we are not the right people for it, we will say so.
Areas We Cover
Based in Irlam, Manchester, we provide inspection services across Greater Manchester, the North West, and nationwide.
Where we provide WAHR inspections, and what else we examine on the same visit
Safe-Lee works from Irlam in Greater Manchester and covers the North West from that single base, so most sites in the region are within an hour's drive. The county links below open a page for each area we work in regularly.
Most sites need more than one regime. A workshop with a crane, an air receiver and an extraction system falls under LOLER, PSSR and COSHH at the same time, and examining all of it on one planned visit takes less of your time than booking three. The service links below cover the other regimes we examine.