Permit to work - roof work

If you have work completed on your roof, then you have a legal responsibility to ensure that it’s done safely. Our permit to work will help you to fulfil your duty.

What’s covered

You should use the Permit to Work - Roof Work whenever work is to be completed on your roof, whether by contractors or in-house staff. As described at the top of the form the “Permit is to be applied for any work on a roof other than work on a flat roof where the work area is surrounded by a fixed guard rail or roof parapet of at least 910mm height and with no gap greater than 470mm.”

It should be issued by someone who has been authorised to do so on behalf of your organisation. They should have sufficient knowledge and understanding to make the checks listed on the form.

The form is divided into six parts:

• Part 1 - job details
• Part 2 - precautions
• Part 3 - authorisation
• Part 4 - receipt
• Part 5 - hand back
• Part 6 – cancellation.

Part 2 includes questions which should be answered before each roof work activity is undertaken. It covers topics such as fragile surfaces, overhead power lines, weather, preventing unauthorised access, protecting passers by, access, emergency rescue, use of harnesses and supervision.