Free working at heights permit + checklist
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Free working at heights permit and checklist (PDF-ready). Anchor points, fall arrest systems, rescue plan, exclusion zones and compliance. Download free.
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See the first part of the working at heights permit + checklist below. Download the full version above.
What is a working at heights permit + checklist?
A working at heights permit is a formal authorisation document used to confirm that all safety controls are in place before workers carry out tasks at height. It records the scope of work, location, duration, personnel (with verified competency and tickets), and a pre-work checklist covering edge protection, fall arrest systems, anchor points, rescue plan, exclusion zones, weather conditions and worker briefings. The permit is issued by a competent person, accepted by the workers, and closed out when the work is completed and the area is made safe. Under Australian WHS Regulations, working at heights is high-risk construction work requiring a SWMS; the heights permit provides an additional layer of control and documentation.
Falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace fatalities in Australia. The permit system forces a systematic check of every fall prevention and fall arrest control before work begins, ensures a rescue plan is in place should a worker be suspended in a harness, and creates a documented record that can be produced during audits and incident investigations. This template includes both the permit authorisation and a comprehensive pre-work checklist.
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Benefits of using this working at heights permit + checklist
- Systematic safety verification: confirm every control is in place before work begins, reducing the risk of falls.
- Regulatory compliance: demonstrate due diligence under WHS Regulations and meet principal contractor requirements.
- Clear accountability: the permit records who issued it, who accepted it, and who is authorised to work at height.
- Rescue readiness: the checklist prompts verification that a rescue plan and equipment are in place before work starts.
- Audit trail: a completed and closed-out permit provides documented evidence for safety audits and incident investigations.
- Controlled close-out: the permit is formally cancelled when work is complete, ensuring the area is made safe.
Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack
When you move your permits from paper to MapTrack, you get:
- Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
- Automatically get alerts when faults are identified.
- Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
- Receive a digital PDF copy with every submission to your email.
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- Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
- Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
- Electronic signatures.
- Edit forms later without reprinting.
- Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
- Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
- Escalate critical hazards instantly to safety managers via push notification.
- Maintain an auditable safety register that satisfies WHS regulator requests.
- Correlate incident trends across sites with built-in safety analytics.
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What to include in a working at heights permit + checklist
This working at heights permit + checklist covers 7 key areas:
- Permit details: permit number, date, valid from/to times, site or location, project name.
- Work description: task description, specific location or level, height of work, estimated duration.
- Personnel: names of workers, confirmation that competency and tickets have been verified.
- Pre-work checklist (P/F/N/A): risk assessment completed, SWMS reviewed and signed, edge protection in place, penetrations covered or barricaded, anchor points rated and inspected, fall arrest system inspected (harness, lanyard, SRL), rescue plan in place, rescue equipment available, exclusion zone established and barricaded, signage in place, wind conditions acceptable (<40 km/h), lighting adequate, workers briefed on rescue procedure, emergency contacts displayed.
- Overall result: Permit Approved / Not Approved.
- Permit authorisation: issued by (permit issuer signature) and accepted by (worker/supervisor signature).
- Permit close-out: work completed, area made safe, permit cancelled with sign-off.
How to use this working at heights permit + checklist
- Complete the permit details - permit number, date, validity period, site and project.: Assign a unique permit number from the site permit register so the permit can be tracked and cross-referenced with the SWMS and any other related permits. Record the date and the exact start and end times for the permit validity. Note the site name or address and the project reference. The permit is only valid for the time period stated; if work extends beyond the end time, the permit must be closed and a new one issued after re-assessment of conditions.
- Describe the work - task, specific location, height, and estimated duration.: Provide a clear task description, for example "install roof sheeting on building B, southern elevation". Record the specific location including building, level and grid reference where applicable. Note the maximum height of the work in metres above ground or above the nearest lower level. Estimate the duration in hours. This information determines the scope of the permit and the fall protection and rescue requirements.
- List all personnel who will work at height and verify their competency (e.g. working at heights training, EWP licence).: Record the name of every worker who will be working at height under this permit. For each person, verify and record their relevant competency: current working at heights training certificate, elevated work platform (EWP) high-risk work licence (if using a boom or scissor lift), scaffolding licence (if erecting scaffold), and any site-specific induction. Do not include anyone whose training has expired or who cannot produce evidence of competency. Workers without current competency must not access the elevated work area.
- Work through the pre-work checklist. Mark Pass, Fail or N/A for each item. Do not issue the permit if any critical item fails.: Physically verify each item on the checklist at the work location: risk assessment completed, SWMS reviewed and signed, edge protection installed at all open edges, penetrations covered or barricaded, anchor points load-rated and inspected, harnesses and lanyards inspected (check webbing, stitching, D-rings, buckles and in-date labels), rescue plan documented and understood by all workers, rescue equipment on site and serviceable, exclusion zone established below the work area, signage in place, wind speed acceptable (most sites set a limit of 40 km/h), lighting adequate, and all workers briefed on the rescue procedure. Any critical item that fails means the permit cannot be issued until the deficiency is corrected.
- The permit issuer signs to authorise the work. The workers or their supervisor sign to accept the permit.: The permit issuer (a competent person with authority to authorise heights work, typically the site supervisor or safety officer) signs to confirm all pre-work checks have passed and the work is authorised to proceed. Each worker named on the permit, or their supervising foreman, signs to accept responsibility for following the permit conditions and control measures. Both signatures must include the printed name, role, date and time. The signed permit should be displayed or kept accessible at the work location for the duration of the task.
- When the work is complete, close out the permit - confirm all personnel have exited, the area is made safe, and sign off.: Confirm that all workers named on the permit have vacated the elevated work area. Verify that all tools and materials have been removed or secured, temporary edge protection remains in place (or permanent protection has been reinstated), penetration covers are secure, and the exclusion zone below can be released. The permit holder and permit issuer both sign the close-out section with the date and time. File the completed permit in the site permit register. A closed permit cannot be reopened; if further work at height is needed, a new permit must be issued.
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Back to download formHow often should you complete this permit?
A new working at heights permit should be issued for each separate task or work area where there is a risk of a fall. The permit is valid only for the duration, location and scope of work described. A new permit is required when the task changes, when conditions change (e.g. weather deteriorates, wind exceeds the site limit of 40 km/h), when personnel change, or at the start of each new shift. The permit should be closed out as soon as the work is completed and the area is made safe. Never allow work at height to proceed on an expired or closed permit.
Under WHS Regulations 2011 Chapter 6, Part 6.4, the PCBU must manage the risk of falls at the workplace so far as is reasonably practicable. Safe Work Australia's Code of Practice for Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces recommends that fall protection systems be inspected before each use and that rescue plans be rehearsed regularly. Principal contractors should audit heights permit compliance at least monthly, checking that all elevated work is covered by a current permit and that closed permits are filed in the site register. AS/NZS 1891 requires that harnesses and fall arrest equipment be formally inspected at the intervals specified by the manufacturer, typically every six months, and retired after ten years from date of manufacture or after any fall arrest event.
Frequently asked questions
Applicable regulatory standards
This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:
- WHS Regulations 2011 - Chapter 6, Part 6.4 (falls)
- Safe Work Australia - Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces
- AS/NZS 1891 - Industrial fall arrest systems and devices
- AS/NZS 4488 - Industrial rope access systems
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