Working at Height Awareness Training
GH Training provides practical working at height awareness training for employees, supervisors and managers.
The course helps delegates understand common working-at-height hazards, workplace responsibilities and the importance of suitable planning, equipment and control measures.
Training is delivered at customer premises across the North West, North Wales and West Yorkshire.
Request a Training Quote Call 01925 500796
Who Is This Course For?
Working at height awareness training is suitable for:
- Employees who work above ground level
- Warehouse and maintenance teams
- Facilities staff
- Supervisors and team leaders
- Managers responsible for planning work
- Employees who use ladders or stepladders
- Employees working near fragile surfaces or open edges
- Staff who work around access equipment
- Employees moving into roles with additional safety responsibilities
The course can also help employees who supervise others without personally undertaking the work.
What Does the Course Cover?
Course content is tailored to the workplace and normally includes:
- What constitutes working at height
- Employer and employee responsibilities
- Identifying working-at-height hazards
- The hierarchy of control
- Avoiding work at height where reasonably practicable
- Preventing falls
- Reducing the consequences of a fall
- Selecting suitable access equipment
- Ladder and stepladder awareness
- Mobile platform awareness
- Fragile surfaces
- Falling objects
- Exclusion areas
- Weather and environmental conditions
- Equipment inspections
- Emergency arrangements
- Reporting unsafe conditions
What Is Working at Height?
Work at height means work in any place where a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury.
It can include:
- Working on ladders or stepladders
- Using platforms or access equipment
- Working near open edges
- Working on roofs
- Working near fragile surfaces
- Working above floor openings
- Accessing elevated storage
- Working below ground level where a fall could occur
The appropriate controls depend on the task, environment, duration and equipment involved.
The Working at Height Hierarchy
Work should be planned using a clear hierarchy:
- Avoid working at height where reasonably practicable.
- Where it cannot be avoided, use suitable equipment or measures to prevent falls.
- Where the risk cannot be eliminated, minimise the distance and consequences of a fall.
Personal protective equipment should not automatically be treated as the first or only control.
Does This Course Include Practical Equipment Training?
No. This is an awareness course.
It does not qualify someone to operate a MEWP, erect scaffolding or use specialist fall-protection equipment.
Employees using particular access equipment may require additional practical instruction, familiarisation and assessment.
Does Working at Height Always Mean Working on a Roof?
No. A person does not need to be working at a significant height for the activity to fall within working-at-height requirements.
A fall from a ladder, loading platform, vehicle, mezzanine, raised work area or into an opening may cause serious injury.
The risks should be considered according to the task and environment rather than height alone.
Ladder and Stepladder Awareness
Where ladders or stepladders are appropriate for the task, employees should understand:
- Equipment selection
- Pre-use checks
- Safe positioning
- Ground conditions
- Maintaining stability
- Avoiding overreaching
- Safe access and descent
- Securing equipment where necessary
- Manufacturer instructions
- When another form of access equipment is more suitable
This awareness course does not replace any practical instruction required for specific equipment or activities.
Planning and Supervision
Working at height should be properly planned and appropriately supervised.
Planning should consider:
- The task
- The people involved
- Equipment suitability
- Ground and weather conditions
- Access and egress
- Falling objects
- Other employees and members of the public
- Emergency and rescue arrangements
- Inspection requirements
- Changes during the work
Training at Your Workplace
Training at your premises allows examples to reflect your equipment, tasks and workplace risks.
Where appropriate, the course can consider:
- Warehouse access
- Maintenance activities
- Loading areas
- Mezzanine floors
- Ladders and stepladders
- Mobile platforms
- Roof access
- Fragile surfaces
- Contractors
- Emergency arrangements
We will discuss your workplace and delegate requirements before confirming the course.
Evidence of Completion
Delegates who successfully complete the course receive appropriate evidence of completion.
Employers remain responsible for providing any task-specific training, suitable equipment, supervision and workplace authorisation required.
Related Training
Risk Assessment and Method Statement Awareness
Areas We Cover
Based in Newton-le-Willows, we deliver working at height awareness training throughout Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire, North Wales and West Yorkshire.
Key areas include St Helens, Wigan, Warrington, Liverpool, Manchester, Widnes, Runcorn, Preston, Blackburn, Deeside, Wrexham and Leeds.
Arrange Working at Height Awareness Training
Tell us about your workplace, delegate numbers and the activities you want the course to address. We will discuss your requirements and provide a tailored quotation.