Flagpole safety: wind, liability and working at height

A flagpole is a tall, slender structure that has to withstand wind and weather for years. If it breaks or sheds a part, it can injure people and damage houses, cars or fences, and work at the top of a pole carries its own risks. There is no specific law for flagpoles in the UK, but several general rules apply.

What the law says

• Occupiers’ liability: under section 2 of the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, the occupier of premises owes visitors the “common duty of care”: to take such care as in all the circumstances is reasonable to see that the visitor will be reasonably safe.
• Flags in England: the government’s plain English guide requires all flags to be kept in a safe condition, and not to obscure or hinder official road, rail, waterway or aircraft signs.
• Work at height: for employers, the Work at Height Regulations 2005 aim to prevent death and injury from a fall from height.

Wind

Wind is the biggest load, and most of it acts on the flag. Wind pressure rises with the square of the wind speed, so a gale puts many times the force of a breeze on pole and foundation.

• Manufacturer’s limits: many poles are designed for a particular maximum flag size and wind load.
• A smaller flag in storms: a smaller flag catches less wind and relieves the pole.
• Weather warnings: the Met Office issues weather warnings for wind across the UK. Before severe storms it is common to take the flag down or to lower a hinged pole.
• Size guide: as a guide, the Flag Institute gives a flag length of no more than one third of the height of a ground-level pole. More in the guide to flag sizes.

Fall zone and siting

A pole that breaks can reach roughly as far as it is tall. Houses, paths, play areas, parking spaces and neighbouring land within that distance are affected, and the same applies while a pole is raised or lowered. More in the guide to installing a flagpole.

Electricity and cables

• Overhead lines: aluminium and steel poles conduct electricity, and glass fibre can become conductive when wet or dirty. The risk is greatest when a pole is raised or lowered and swings through a wide arc.
• Buried services: cables and pipes can run where the foundation is dug.
• Lighting: in England, electrical installation work in homes falls under Part P of the Building Regulations; Approved Document P explains when work has to be notified.

Working at height

The greatest risk arises when something at the top needs attention, such as a broken halyard or a jammed pulley.

• Ladders: the Health and Safety Executive describes ladders as a sensible and practical option for low-risk, short-duration tasks, but not automatically the first choice. A flagpole is narrow and flexible, which makes it a poor support for a ladder.
• Hinged poles: a pole that can be lowered allows the work to be done on the ground.
• Access equipment and specialists: for tall fixed poles, access platforms or specialist flagpole firms are common.
• Employers: according to the HSE, work at height means work in any place where a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury, and falls from ladders are among the common causes.

Usual checks

A pole that leans, has cracks at the base or moves in its foundation may be damaged. More in the guides to flagpole maintenance and flagpole repair.

Insurance

Whether home or business insurance covers damage caused by a flagpole, or damage to it, depends on the policy.