Practical Safety Update: Loft Hatches - A Small Feature with Significant Risk

Loft hatches are often overlooked during routine maintenance, yet they present real and foreseeable safety risks. Poorly maintained hatches can lead to falls from height, manual handling injuries, and damage to property when staff or contractors require access for inspections, repairs, alarms, insulation, or leak tracing.

For housing associations and third sector landlords, safe loft access is a legal duty.

Why this matters

Accessing a loft involves working at height. If the hatch, surrounding ceiling, or access arrangements are unsafe, the risk of injury increases significantly. This applies not only to employees and contractors, but also to residents who may attempt access themselves.

Key legal duties

Safe loft access is covered by:

• HSWA 1974 - general duty to keep people safe

• MHSWR 1999 - risk assessment and safe systems of work

• WAHR 2005 - prevention of falls from height

• PUWER 1998 - safe ladders and equipment

• CDM 2015 - safe planning and contractor management

Common issues found

• Damaged or warped hatch covers

• Failing hinges, frames or latches

• Poor lighting and restricted landing space for ladders

• Ceiling damage or water ingress around the hatch

• Obstructions beneath the access point

  
  

What landlords should be doing

Loft hatches should be included in routine void inspections, repairs visits and stock condition surveys. The hatch, frame, seals and surrounding ceiling should be checked for condition, with clear space and adequate lighting provided below.

Where defects are identified, repairs or upgrades should be prioritised. Access should be restricted if the hatch, ceiling or access arrangements are unsafe.

For practical health, safety and wellbeing advice, contact ACS at info@acsrisk.com or call us on 0141 427 5171.