RICS Surveying Safely: why it matters
Surveyors are exposed to hazards that require careful planning and management. RICS Surveying Safely provides a framework for identifying risks, protecting surveyors and others, and meeting professional obligations — promoting proactive health and safety rather than assumptions or routine practice. Every inspection should be treated as unique with risks assessed before attending site.
What is RICS Surveying Safely?
RICS Surveying Safely is professional guidance to help surveyors identify hazards, assess risks, plan inspections safely, protect themselves and others, and meet professional obligations. It sits alongside wider RICS professional standards and complements good practice in report writing and client care.
Common hazards faced by surveyors
Many surveyors work alone in unfamiliar environments. Working at height — roof inspections, flat roofs, balconies and roof voids — remains a serious risk; falls from height are among the most serious hazards in surveying. Structural instability may appear in fire-damaged, derelict or movement-affected buildings with unsafe floors or collapsed ceilings. Older buildings may contain asbestos in insulation board, pipe lagging, textured coatings or cement products — surveyors should avoid disturbing suspect materials. Electrical hazards include exposed wiring, unsafe installations and wet environments; visual inspections should not involve invasive investigation of live systems. Biological hazards include bird droppings, vermin, mould and contaminated water. Aggressive occupants or trespassers can arise during housing, vacant property, disrepair or enforcement visits — personal safety always takes priority.
Risk assessments before surveying
A key principle is understanding risk before arriving on site. Consider property type (residential, commercial, industrial, vacant or listed), building condition (structural issues, fire damage, unsafe access), occupancy (occupied, vacant, multiple or vulnerable residents) and inspection scope (roof, loft, cellar, plant room or external structures). The more information available beforehand, the better the preparation — especially on complex Level 3 surveys of older or altered buildings.
Lone working considerations
Many surveyors work alone throughout the day. Good procedures may include informing colleagues of locations, scheduled check-ins, GPS tracking, emergency contact procedures and personal safety alarms. Technology can play an important role in reducing lone worker risks when combined with clear company policies.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Surveyors should carry suitable PPE depending on the inspection. Common examples include safety footwear, hard hats on construction sites or unsafe buildings, high-visibility clothing where vehicles or site operations are present, gloves when inspecting building elements, and respiratory protection where dust, mould or contamination may be present. PPE should be selected based on risk assessment findings, not habit alone.
Safe access during inspections
Surveyors should avoid unnecessary risk. For roof inspections where safe access is unavailable, alternatives may include binocular inspection, pole cameras or drone surveys rather than physically accessing dangerous areas. Loft inspections require awareness of fragile ceilings, exposed wiring, limited lighting and restricted access — unsafe voids should not be entered. Cellars and basements may present flooding, poor air quality, structural instability and limited escape routes.
Fire safety during surveys
Surveyors should consider means of escape, fire compartmentation, fire doors, alarm systems and occupancy risks — particularly in HMOs, apartment blocks, commercial buildings and care facilities. This aligns with dedicated fire door inspection and fire risk programmes on housing stock.
Technology and surveying safety
Modern inspection software can improve safety management. Digital systems help surveyors complete pre-inspection risk assessments, record hazards, capture photographic evidence, log incidents, maintain audit trails and store inspection histories — improving consistency and supporting company procedures. See our survey application software guide for how digital capture supports site workflows.
How InstaSurv supports safer surveying
InstaSurv supports surveyors throughout the inspection process. Pre-survey risk assessments can record site hazards, access arrangements, lone worker considerations and PPE requirements before inspections begin. Hazard registers capture structural, fire, access and environmental risks linked to the property record. Digital inspection records maintain history, photographic evidence, survey notes and compliance records in one place. Property evidence timelines track site visits, risk assessments, findings, recommendations and remedial actions for a complete audit trail via InstaReport.
RICS Surveying Safely and housing providers
Housing associations and local authorities often commission large-scale stock condition surveys, fire risk assessments, HHSRS inspections, damp and mould surveys and compliance inspections. Digital systems help ensure safety procedures are applied consistently across large survey programmes.
Best practice checklist for surveyors
Before every inspection: review available property information, identify potential hazards, complete a risk assessment, confirm access arrangements, ensure appropriate PPE is available, inform colleagues of your location, assess whether specialist access equipment is required, and stop work if conditions become unsafe. Safety should always take priority over completing an inspection.
Conclusion
RICS Surveying Safely promotes proactive risk management and professional responsibility. Surveyors face hazards from structural instability and working at height to lone working and fire safety. By planning properly, carrying out risk assessments and using digital tools to record hazards and inspection information, surveying professionals can improve both safety and efficiency. InstaSurv helps manage inspections, compliance records and property intelligence from a connected platform.
Related topics: RICS Surveying Safely · surveyor risk assessment · lone working surveyor · site safety surveyor · building surveyor PPE · surveying health and safety · RICS guidance · InstaSurv
