Latest Updated Safety Regulations for Working at Heights in 2026

1. Overview of Working at Heights

According to the National Technical Regulation QCVN 18:2021/BXD on Safety in Construction, working at heights includes tasks performed at a height of 2 meters or more above a safe working surface, or in areas where there is a risk of falling or dropping during labor. This serves as an important legal basis for determining the scope of applying safety regulations for elevated work in actual production, construction, and operational environments.

In reality, the concept of working at heights is not limited solely to the construction industry, as many might assume. Maintenance, factory repair, installation of electrical and mechanical systems, roof construction, working on scaffolding, high ladders, lifting platforms, multi-story warehouses, or cleaning the glass of high-rise buildings are all classified as working at heights. The commonality among these jobs is that workers must operate at high altitudes in unstable postures and rely heavily on supporting equipment.

2. Potential Hazards When Working at Heights

According to current regulations, this is a high-risk job category prone to serious occupational accidents if not strictly controlled. Falls from heights often result in severe consequences due to the direct impact forces on the body, especially the head, spine, and internal organs. In many cases, workers can suffer traumatic brain injuries, bone fractures, permanent paralysis, or even instant death.

The risk of accidents when working at heights increases significantly when the work environment does not ensure safety.

Lack of protective guardrails, unstable working platforms, slippery surfaces, or the use of substandard ladders and scaffolding are common causes of incidents. Furthermore, failing to equip or improperly use personal protective equipment (PPE) significantly increases the risk of occupational accidents at heights. Beyond technical factors, human factors play a crucial role. Subjectivity, lack of safety knowledge, working while fatigued, or non-compliance with technical procedures are underlying causes of accidents.

Properly identifying and understanding the danger level of this job category is the foundational first step to effectively implementing safety measures. When workers and businesses are fully aware of the risks, safety regulations transition from mere formalities to mandatory requirements in the labor process.

3. Latest Updated Safety Regulations for Working at Heights in 2026

The highest legal basis currently regulating safety when working at heights is the National Technical Regulation QCVN 18:2021/BXD on Safety in Construction (promulgated alongside Circular 16/2021/TT-BXD). Safety measures for working at heights are regulated to control risks and protect workers during construction. The regulation requires organizations and individuals participating in construction activities to deploy a synchronous approach—from training and providing protective equipment to organizing the construction site and supervising working conditions.

3.1. General Regulations on Safety for Working at Heights in Construction

According to QCVN 18:2021/BXD, all elevated work activities in construction must be strictly organized, managed, and supervised. Employers are responsible for organizing occupational safety training courses for workers before assigning them to such tasks. The training content must not only cover theoretical knowledge but also focus on hazard identification, understanding common accident causes, and practically using personal protective equipment.

Workers must be fully equipped with PPE appropriate for the nature of the work. Equipment such as hard hats, safety harnesses, slip-resistant shoes, and safety anchor hooks must meet technical standards and undergo periodic inspections. Inadequate equipment or the use of substandard gear nullifies protection and increases the risk of fall accidents.

Workers must be fully equipped with personal protective equipment appropriate for the nature of the work at heights.

The work area must feature stable working platforms that are capable of bearing loads, non-slip, and free of dangerous gaps. In scenarios where fixed protection systems like guardrails or working platforms cannot be installed, workers are required to use safety harnesses hooked to anchor points that ensure load-bearing capacity according to regulations.

Periodic inspection of scaffolding, ladders, lifting equipment, and the elevated work environment is mandatory. According to the regulation, these devices must be inspected before use and throughout the construction process. Upon detecting safety hazards, work must be suspended for remediation and cannot resume until safe conditions are verified.

3.2. Safety Regulations When Working on Roofs

Working on a roof is one of the highest-risk elevated work environments due to sloped surfaces, potential slipperiness, and limitations in the roof structure's load-bearing capacity. Before commencing work, the roof must be comprehensively inspected to evaluate stability, structural condition, and the load-bearing capacity of roofing sheets, purlins, and support systems.

The regulation mandates measures to securely anchor and fix roof boards or arrange temporary working platforms to create a safe surface. Guardrails and barricades must be installed at roof edges or areas with a risk of falling, ensuring height and sturdiness according to technical requirements. This is a vital preventive measure to reduce the risk of workers slipping or losing their balance.

The roof is a work environment with many potential risks due to sloped, slippery surfaces and load-bearing capacity constraints.

For roofs with steep slopes, safety regulations strictly require workers to use safety harnesses, safety belts, and anchor hooks attached to fixed points. Working on sloped roofs without personal protective equipment is considered a severe violation of occupational safety regulations.

Working on a roof is prohibited when weather conditions are unsafe, such as during rain, strong winds, or when the roof surface is wet. During work, materials and tools must be strictly controlled to prevent them from falling freely to the area below, causing danger to people and property.

3.3. Safety Regulations When Working on Scaffolding and High Structures

Scaffolding used in construction must be suitable for the specific type of work and assembled according to proper technical procedures. It must guarantee stability and load-bearing capacity, and be securely fixed before allowing workers onto it. The working platform on the scaffolding must be installed tightly, sturdily, without sagging, and leaving no dangerous gaps. The distance between the scaffolding and the structure must be controlled within permissible limits to ensure safe movement and operation.

Below elevated work areas, the regulation requires arranging support platforms, safety nets, or establishing hazard zones with barricades and warning signs. This is a necessary measure to prevent falling objects and protect both the workers above and individuals working below. Safety harnesses must be installed and used correctly, hooked to sturdy anchor points with adequate load-bearing capacity.

Full-body safety harnesses must be used, equipped with shock absorbers, and hooked to sturdy positions.

Moving up and down high structures must utilize stairs, climbing ladders, or specially designed means. Workers must not climb freely on the structure without appropriate protection measures. Under no circumstances is working at heights allowed when protection measures are incomplete or when the structure is in an unsafe state.

4. Corporate Responsibility and Safety Measures When Working at Heights

According to QCVN 18:2021/BXD, ensuring safety when working at heights is a mandatory obligation of the employer during the organization of production and construction. In reality, many accidents occur because businesses fail to fully implement prescribed safety measures, especially during the preparation, training, and working condition inspection stages. Regulations clearly define the responsibilities of businesses in controlling risks, organizing training, and maintaining safe working conditions to minimize accidents.

4.1. Responsibilities of the Employer

QCVN 18:2021/BXD stipulates that before assigning workers to work at heights, the enterprise must organize risk assessments, develop safe construction measures, and ensure the work area meets technical requirements. Workers are only permitted to work when protection systems (e.g., working platforms, guardrails, safety anchor points, and PPE) have been installed, inspected, and accepted. Allowing work before protective measures are finalized is a violation of regulations and poses a severe risk of accidents.

The enterprise is responsible for fully equipping workers with PPE, including hard hats, full-body safety harnesses, slip-resistant shoes, and appropriate support equipment. Concurrently, the enterprise must regularly inspect and maintain equipment used for working at heights, such as scaffolding, ladders, working platforms, and safety anchor systems. QCVN 18:2021/BXD clearly states these devices can only be used when they ensure load-bearing capacity and stability. Using substandard scaffolding, loose working platforms, or insecure anchor points are frequent causes of elevated work accidents.

4.2. Safety Measures When Working at Heights

Occupational safety training is a crucial measure emphasized in these regulations. Enterprises must organize training for workers prior to starting work and periodically during the labor process, focusing on hazard identification, safe working procedures, and how to use protective equipment. When workers clearly understand the risks and comply with procedures, safety effectiveness significantly improves.

In addition to preventive measures, enterprises must prepare response plans for when incidents occur. Providing first aid training to workers is essential for minimizing the consequences of fall accidents. Workers need to be equipped with first aid skills to perform initial handling for injuries caused by falls, such as immobilizing injuries, stopping bleeding, assisting respiration, and protecting the victim before professional medical help arrives. Proper initial handling plays a critical role in limiting complications and protecting the worker's life.

Working at heights is a high-risk job category and consistently ranks among the most dangerous tasks in industrial production. Safety cannot solely rely on the individual awareness of workers; it requires the synchronized involvement of the enterprise. Behind every worker operating at a height is a waiting family. Proactively complying with regulations is not only a legal responsibility but also the foundation for enterprises to build a safe, stable, and long-term sustainable work environment.

References:

Thư viện pháp luật (Law Library), Circular 16/2021/TT-BXD promulgating QCVN 18:2021/BXD National Technical Regulation on Safety in construction