Work at Height Regulations 2005

Falls are still the biggest killer on British sites.

Accredited working at height training for operators, supervisors and managers — awareness, IPAF powered access, PASMA towers, ladders, scaffolds and harness inspection. Classroom, online and on-site delivery across the UK.

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Falls from height are the leading cause of workplace death in the UK Competence is a legal duty under the 2005 Regulations Accredited providers nationwide Independent course comparison

What the law actually requires

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 place duties on employers and anyone who controls work at height. Work at height must be avoided where reasonably practicable; where it cannot be avoided, it must be properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out by competent people using suitable equipment.

The Regulations do not ban any particular equipment — a persistent myth, particularly about ladders. What they require is that you select equipment suited to the task and that the people using it are competent. Accredited training is the most widely recognised way of demonstrating that competence to a client, an inspector or a court.

The hierarchy: avoid, prevent, minimise

1

Avoid

Do the work from the ground if you can. Extending poles, remote inspection and ground-level assembly remove the risk entirely rather than managing it.

2

Prevent

Where work at height is unavoidable, prevent falls using an existing safe place of work or collective measures such as guardrails, towers and platforms — protection that works without anyone remembering to use it.

3

Minimise

Only where a fall cannot be prevented do you minimise the distance and consequences, using nets, airbags or personal fall-arrest systems. This is the last resort, not the starting point.

Jump to a course

Working at Height Safe Working at Height IPAF Training PASMA Training Ladder Safety Ladder Inspection Ladder Association Harness & Lanyard Inspection Safe Use & Inspection of Harnesses Scaffold Awareness Scaffold Inspection

Working at height awareness

Foundation training for anyone who works at height or supervises those who do. No prior qualification needed, and available as e-learning for teams who cannot lose a day.

Legal requirement

Working at Height

Awareness level · e-learning

Covers the dangers of working at height, the Work at Height Regulations 2005, risk assessment and practical control measures. Suitable for anyone who works at height or supervises those who do.

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Awareness

Safe Working at Height

Awareness level

Focused on safe working practices, fall prevention and workplace responsibilities when working at height. A practical grounding for employees in any sector.

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Powered access and mobile towers

Card-based schemes for people who operate access equipment. Both include practical assessment, so both are delivered in person — and holding one does not cover the other.

IPAF accredited

IPAF Powered Access Training

Operator level · PAL Card, valid 5 years

Internationally recognised training for MEWP operators — scissor lifts (3a), mobile booms (3b) and static booms (1b), plus combined categories. Also covers harness training and MEWPs for Managers.

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PASMA accredited

PASMA Mobile Access Tower Training

Operator level · PASMA card, valid 5 years

Assembly, use, inspection and dismantling of mobile access towers. Includes Towers for Users, Towers for Managers, Low Level Access and the specialist stairs and cantilever courses.

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Ladder Association

Ladder Association Training

User level · LadderCard, half a day

The benchmark scheme for professional ladder users and inspectors. Half a day gives a worker the competence to use ladders safely and the LadderCard to prove it — the quickest recognised qualification on this page.

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Ladder, scaffold and harness courses

Awareness and inspection training for specific equipment. Inspection courses suit the competent person responsible for checking and signing off gear.

Awareness

Ladder Safety

Awareness level · e-learning

Safe use, inspection requirements and common ladder-related hazards. Suitable for anyone who uses ladders or stepladders at work.

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Inspection

Ladder Inspection

Inspection level

For those responsible for inspecting ladders and stepladders to identify defects and unsafe conditions, and recording inspections in line with safe working practice.

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Inspection · IIRSM

Harness & Lanyard Inspection

Inspection level · e-learning

IIRSM-approved training in carrying out harness and lanyard inspections correctly, identifying wear and defects before equipment goes back into use.

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Awareness & inspection

Safe Use & Inspection of Harnesses & Lanyards

Awareness & inspection level

Safe use of harnesses, lanyards, anchor points and fall prevention systems, plus pre-use inspection. For anyone relying on personal fall protection.

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Awareness

Scaffold Awareness

Awareness level · 1 day

Basic scaffold safety, inspection awareness and recognising unsafe scaffolds. Suitable for site staff working near or around scaffolding.

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Inspection

Scaffold Inspection

Inspection level · 2 days

For managers and supervisors responsible for inspecting and signing off basic scaffolding structures — inspection procedures, defects and record-keeping.

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Which equipment, which card? Ladders suit short-duration, low-risk tasks. Mobile towers suit longer work needing a platform. Powered access suits greater heights or reaching over obstacles. Each has its own scheme and its own card — holding one does not cover the others, and the right choice is driven by the job rather than by what you already hold.

Training a team? Practical courses work particularly well delivered at your own premises, on the equipment your people actually use. Group pricing is lower per head, and everyone’s card then expires on the same date. See on-site training for groups.

Who should attend

Construction operatives
Site managers & supervisors
MEWP & tower operators
Scaffolders & inspectors
Facilities managers
Maintenance teams
Warehouse & logistics staff
Roofers & cladders
Health & safety officers
Anyone working at height

Why working at height training matters

Legal obligation

The Regulations require work at height to be properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people. Accredited training is how employers demonstrate that competence.

Prevent falls

Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of workplace death and serious injury in the UK. Training helps workers recognise hazards and use the right equipment.

Use equipment safely

Ladders, towers, scaffolds, MEWPs and fall-protection systems are only safe when used and inspected correctly. Training builds the competence to select, use and check them.

Improve planning

Safe work at height starts with risk assessment, suitable supervision and a clear plan. Trained staff plan elevated work better and take fewer shortcuts.

Support inspection duties

Equipment must be inspected and the findings recorded. Inspection-level courses prepare the competent person to check ladders, scaffolds and harnesses properly.

Demonstrate due diligence

Documented, accredited training is evidence of compliance during HSE inspections, insurance assessments and after any incident.

Frequently asked questions

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require anyone working at height to be competent, which means having suitable training, knowledge and experience for the task. While no single course is named in law, accredited working at height training is the most widely recognised way to demonstrate that competence. Employers must also ensure work at height is properly planned, supervised and carried out safely.
No, and this is the most persistent myth in working at height. The Regulations do not prohibit any particular equipment. They require you to select equipment suited to the task, and ladders remain appropriate for short-duration, low-risk work where a tower or platform would be disproportionate. What the Regulations do require is that the person using the ladder is competent — which is what Ladder Association training provides.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 place duties on employers and those who control work at height. They require work at height to be avoided where reasonably practicable; where it cannot be avoided, work must be properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out by competent people using suitable equipment. The Regulations follow a hierarchy: avoid the work, then prevent falls using collective measures such as guardrails, then minimise the consequences using equipment such as harnesses.
IPAF training is for operators of powered access equipment such as scissor lifts and boom lifts, and leads to a PAL Card. PASMA training covers the manual assembly, use, inspection and dismantling of mobile access towers and leads to a PASMA card. They cover different equipment, and many people who work at height regularly hold both.
It depends on the equipment you use and your role. General awareness courses suit most workers; IPAF covers powered access, PASMA covers mobile towers, and there are dedicated ladder, scaffold and harness courses. Inspection courses suit those responsible for checking and signing off equipment. If you are unsure, our team can help match a course to your work.
Access equipment such as ladders, towers, scaffolds and fall-protection gear should be checked before use and inspected at intervals by a competent person, with formal inspections recorded. Some equipment carries specific duties — lifting equipment falls under LOLER, and scaffolds and towers must be inspected by a competent person. Inspection courses are available for those carrying out and recording these checks.
Many awareness and inspection courses are available online or by virtual classroom. Practical qualifications such as IPAF, PASMA and Ladder Association include hands-on assessment that must be delivered in person. On-site group training is also available, allowing courses to be tailored to your equipment, site conditions and risk profile.

Find working at height training near me

Awareness and inspection courses are widely available online, so location need not be a constraint. The card-based practical schemes — IPAF, PASMA and Ladder Association — are delivered in person at approved centres across the UK, or at your own premises where you have suitable equipment and space.

Open the course you need above for live dates and venues. Nothing suitable showing? Contact us and we will let you know when something becomes available in your area, or arrange delivery at your site.

Related guidance

Working at height guidance Risk assessment Personal protective equipment LOLER training Scaffolding courses Construction safety courses On-site group training All health & safety courses

Get your team trained at height

Compare accredited courses across every scheme, or ask about delivery at your own premises on your own equipment.

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