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Working at Height. Buy in our course store and start straight away: about 1 hour 45 minutes.
ONLINE COURSE
Working at Height Training
Our online working at height training covers what counts as work at height, the dangers, the Work at Height Regulations 2005, the hierarchy of control and how to assess the risk. It’s for anyone who works at height and the employers who plan that work. Study on any device, get your certificate on completion and try the first module free. It is an awareness course.
- IOSH Approved Training Provider 4301
- Highfield Approved Centre 17588
- Reply within one working day.
Photo: Josue Isai Ramos Figueroa on Unsplash
The Short Answers
What is working at height training?
It teaches people to recognise work at height, understand the law and control the risk. HSE defines work at height as work in any place where, without precautions, a person could fall a distance liable to cause injury. That includes ladders, roofs, platforms and scaffolds, and falls into openings in the ground.
Is working at height training a legal requirement?
Regulation 5 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 says no one may carry out, organise, plan or supervise work at height unless they are competent, or are being trained under the supervision of a competent person. HSE describes competence as the right skills, knowledge and experience for the job.
Is an online working at height course enough?
It gives the knowledge, not the practical skills. This is an awareness course: if your duties include working at height, you also need practical training for the equipment and tasks you use. For low-risk ladder work, HSE says competence may be instruction and training, often given on the job.
Course facts
- Format
- E-learning approved by CPD, Gatehouse Awards and IIRSMonline, self-paced, on any device
- Duration
- About 1 hour 45 minutes3 CPD units
- Who it’s for
- Anyone who works at heightand employers who plan, organise or supervise work at height
- Certificate
- Certificate on completion
- The law
- Work at Height Regulations 2005, regulation 5competence
- Price
- £35 + VATper learner. Team pricing available.
- Free trial
- First module freetry it before you buy
What the Working at Height Course Covers
Eleven short modules, each with a multiple-choice test. You need 70% to pass each one.
Introducing Work at Height
What counts as work at height: it’s not how far you climb, but how far you could fall.
The Dangers of Work at Height
Falls of people, and falling materials and equipment that put people below at risk.
The Work at Height Regulations
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 and the duties they place on employers and employees.
Summary of Duty Holders’ Responsibilities
Who is responsible for what when work at height is planned and carried out.
Employer’s Responsibilities
What employers must do to plan, organise and supervise work at height safely.
The Hierarchy of Control
Avoid, prevent, minimise: the order in which to tackle the risk.
Avoiding Work at Height Wherever Possible
Doing as much of the work as possible from the ground.
Prevent Risk of Falls
Using a safe existing place of work or the right equipment to stop falls happening.
Minimise Consequences
Reducing the distance and consequences of a fall where the risk can’t be removed.
The Risk Assessment
How to assess the risks of a work at height task and choose suitable controls and equipment.
Course Summary
A recap of the key points from every module.
Avoid, Prevent, Minimise: The Hierarchy of Control
HSE sets out three simple steps before anyone works at height:
- Avoid work at height where it is reasonably practicable to do so.
- Prevent falls where it can’t be avoided, using an existing place of work that is already safe or the right type of equipment.
- Minimise the distance and consequences of a fall where the risk can’t be eliminated.
At each step, collective protection that protects everyone, such as guardrails, scissor lifts and tower scaffolds, comes before personal protection such as a harness. HSE also advises using ladders and stepladders only for light work of short duration, as a guide no more than 30 minutes at a time.
Falls from height are covered briefly in our guide to slips, trips and falls, and higher risk jobs are best planned with a method statement.
Is an Online Course Enough?
This is an awareness course. It gives people the knowledge behind safe work at height, which is useful for everyone involved and for those who plan and supervise the work. If your duties include working at height, you will also need practical training for the tasks and equipment you use, so ask us about practical options.
HSE says competence for low-risk, short duration ladder work may be no more than instruction on using the equipment safely and appropriate training, often on the job. Where more technical competence is needed, such as assembling a tower scaffold or using a mobile elevating work platform, look for training and certification schemes from the relevant trade associations.
Try before you buy
Try the First Module Free
See how the Working at Height course works before you pay. Tell us where to send it and we’ll give you free access to the first module straight away.
Ways to Take This Course
Buy for one person in a couple of minutes, or talk to us about a team.
CLARITY
Common Questions
What counts as working at height?
HSE says you are working at height if you work above ground or floor level, could fall from an edge, through an opening or fragile surface, or could fall from ground level into an opening or hole. It does not include a slip or trip on the level, or walking up and down a permanent staircase.
What do the Work at Height Regulations 2005 require?
HSE summarises them as: plan and organise all work at height properly, make sure those involved are competent, assess the risks and select and use appropriate equipment, manage the risks from fragile surfaces, and properly inspect and maintain work at height equipment.
How long can you stay on a ladder?
HSE advises using leaning ladders and stepladders only for light work of short duration. As a guide, if a task would mean staying up a ladder for more than 30 minutes at a time, consider other equipment. Short duration isn’t the deciding factor on its own: assess the risk first.
Do I need PASMA or IPAF training as well?
It depends on the equipment. HSE says you need to be competent to build, inspect, use and dismantle a mobile access tower, and MEWP operators should be trained, competent and fit to do so. This online course doesn’t cover those practical skills, so check the right scheme for your equipment.
Can I train my whole team?
Yes. Buy several places at once, or use our e-learning platform to enrol your team, track completion and keep certificates in one place. Ask us for team pricing using the form on this page, and tell us about any practical training needs so we can point you to the right option.
Get Team Pricing
Training more than a few people on Working at Height? Tell us how many and we’ll send team pricing within one working day.
- IOSH Approved Training Provider 4301
- Highfield Approved Centre 17588
- Reply within one working day.
Related Courses
Plan the Work Before Anyone Climbs
Start the online working at height course today, or try the first module free. Need practical training too? Ask us about the options.
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