Work Doctor OH
Working at Heights Medical
Working at height medicals are a vital check to confirm that your team is physically capable of handling high-risk environments without sudden illness or physical limitation. Beyond simple compliance, these assessments are a proactive way to prevent accidents and provide peace of mind that your staff are fit for the climb
Service Details
What is a Working at Heights Medical and Why is it Required?
A Working at Heights Medical is an occupational health assessment designed to determine whether an employee is fit to safely carry out tasks at height. Working at height includes activities such as climbing ladders, scaffolding, towers, access platforms, rooftops, or working in elevated environments.
While there is no single statutory medical for working at height, employers have a legal duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and The Work at Height Regulations 2005 to ensure employees are medically fit to perform such tasks. This includes assessing the risks of medical conditions that could compromise safety, such as dizziness, epilepsy, heart disease, poor balance, or medication side effects.
A working at heights medical helps employers manage risk, reduce accidents, and comply with HSE guidance on employee fitness for safety-critical tasks.
Key Benefits
- Incident Prevention
- Duty of Care
- Workforce Confidence
- Compliance Alignment
Who Is This For?
- Working at Elevation
- Vertical access tasks
- Operating from high platforms
- Restricted movement at height
Pricing
Our Working at Heights services are structured to provide flexible options based on your workplace needs:
Working at Heights
This medical includes a Medical & Health questionnaire , Physical examination, Vision & Hearing checks and Certificate of Fitness
Book Your Working at Heights Appointment
Work Doctor OH provides doctor-led, bespoke and ad-hoc occupational health services across the UK, including working at heights fitness assessments.
Questions
What Does the Working at Heights Medical Involve?
Working at height requires employees to be medically fit to minimise the risk of falls or sudden incapacity. Our Working at Heights (WAH) medicals assess fitness for height-based work, focusing on factors such as balance, vision, cardiovascular health, and relevant medical history.
WAH – Rooftop Only is suitable for lower-risk work on flat or guarded rooftops with edge protection.
WAH – Above and Beyond is designed for higher-risk roles involving unprotected edges, ladders, towers, scaffolding, or complex access systems and includes a more detailed assessment.
These medicals help employers meet health and safety duties and ensure staff are fit for the level of work undertaken.
Who needs a working at heights medical?
Any employee who undertakes work at height, such as construction workers, telecoms engineers, maintenance staff, or those using ladders and access equipment, should be assessed for medical fitness. WAH – Rooftop Only is suitable for lower-risk work on flat or guarded rooftops with edge protection.
WAH – Above and Beyond is designed for higher-risk roles involving unprotected edges, ladders, towers, scaffolding, or complex access systems and includes a more detailed assessment.
How often should the medical be done?
Baseline assessment before employment in a role involving work at height. Periodic reviews every 1–3 years, depending on age, risk level, and health status. Before 50 it should be carried out every 3 years. After 50 it should be annually. The frequency can be adjusted depending on clinical need. Early reviews if symptoms develop (e.g. dizziness, fainting, new medical conditions).
What medical conditions might prevent someone from working at height?
Conditions such as uncontrolled epilepsy, recurrent blackouts, significant heart disease, severe vertigo, or medication causing drowsiness may make working at height unsafe.
Shortness of breath may mean that climbing stairs/ladders is difficult.