3) Plan and organise your work properly, taking account of weather conditions and the possibility of
emergencies.
4) Make sure those working at height are competent.
5) Make use of appropriate work equipment.
6) Manage the risks from working on or around fragile surfaces and from falling objects.
7) Inspect and maintain the work equipment to be used and inspect the place where the work will be
carried out for both access and egress.
When preparing to install an air source heat pump heating system, it is required that you perform a risk
assessment in relation to work at height and plan how you will organise your work, taking into account
the site, the weather conditions and the experience and competence of colleagues or contractors who may
be working at height with you.
Health & Safety Information
The HSE has published a number of very useful free publications that advise how to undertake risk
assessments.
Two of these that you should obtain are:
Five Steps to Risk Assessment.
A Guide to Risk Assessment Requirements.
The five steps outlined in the HSE leaflet are:
Step 1: Look for the hazards
This will mean looking at the site and identifying significant hazards. For example, avoid fragile surfaces
and hazardous areas where the Heat Pump may be mounted. Do not work on uneven ground and avoid
obstructions where access to the Heat Pump may be required. Always fix ladders and platforms securely
before commencing work.
Step 2: Decide who may be harmed and how.
This might mean considering the particular risks that young workers or trainees might face and thinking
about the residents of the household or visitors who could be hurt by your activities.
Step 3: Evaluate the risks and decide which precautions should be made. You should consider how likely
it is that each hazard will cause harm, decide which precautions you might take and then assess, after
you have taken those precautions, whether the remaining risk will be high, medium or low. Where you
identify remaining risks, you should consider which further action you could take to control the risks so
that harm is unlikely.
Step 4: Record your findings
