Harness Awareness
Falls from height are a major cause of serious injury and death on job sites, highlighting the need for strict safety measures.
Course Length: 1/2 Day
Course Overview
Fall arrest safety harnesses are designed to minimise the consequences of falls from height, potentially saving your life or someone else’s. However, they can only do this if you know how to use and maintain them correctly.
This course equips you with the skills and knowledge needed to stay safe when working at height and protect those around you by using a safety harness correctly. Through this training, you’ll learn how to recognise and manage the risks associated with safety harnesses, how to put on your harness correctly, including checking and fitting it, how to maintain your harness to prevent damage, and how to respond to a fall.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand what constitutes working at height and recognise the hazards associated with falls from height.
- Understand the legal requirements relating to work at height, including the Health and Safety at Work Act, PUWER, MHSWR, and the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
- Recognise the importance of competency, training, and supervision when carrying out work at height activities.
- Understand how to conduct and apply work at height risk assessments using the hierarchy of control.
- Identify the most appropriate access equipment for different work at height tasks.
- Understand how weather conditions and environmental factors can affect safety when working at height.
- Recognise the safe use, inspection, and limitations of ladders, mobile towers, scaffolds, MEWPs, and other access equipment.
- Understand the principles of fall prevention, fall restraint, and fall arrest systems.
- Identify where and when safety harnesses should be used and understand the legal requirements surrounding their use.
- Select the correct harness, lanyard, and fall protection equipment for specific tasks.
- Conduct pre-use inspections of harnesses, lanyards, connectors, and associated fall arrest equipment.
- Demonstrate the correct fitting, adjustment, and use of a safety harness.
- Understand the risks associated with suspension trauma and recognise its signs and symptoms.
- Explain the four phases of fall protection: before the fall, fall arrest, suspension, and rescue.
- Understand the importance of emergency rescue planning and the requirements of an effective Emergency Rescue Procedure (ERP).
- Recognise common mistakes when using fall protection equipment and apply safe working practices to prevent accidents.
- Successfully complete a knowledge assessment demonstrating an understanding of work at height and safety harness awareness principles.
Who should attend?
This course is designed for anyone who uses personal fall protection equipment or is responsible for inspecting and maintaining it on behalf of their organisation.
At the end of the course delegates will:
- Understand regulations.
- Know how to inspect a harness.
- Know how to adjust a harness.
- Know how to read manufacturer’s instructions.
- Know why an emergency action plan needs to be in place.
- Know what Lanyard/Inertia reel to be used.
FAQ's
No. The course is designed for both first-time users and experienced workers looking to refresh or formalise their knowledge. No formal qualifications are required, although a basic understanding of the Work at Height Regulations and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 would be beneficial.
Yes, delegates will learn how to inspect, fit, adjust, and use safety harness correctly, as well as understanding the different types of lanyards and fall protection systems.
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, employers must ensure that anyone working at height is trained to use appropriate safety equipment. If your role requires you to wear a harness when working from a MEWP, you must be trained in its correct use. The IPAF Harness qualifications provide the recognised proof of that training.
Fall restraint systems prevent a worker from reaching a position where a fall could occur, whereas fall arrest systems are designed to safely stop a fall after it has happened.
The course covers key legislation including the Work at Height Regulations 2005, Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, PUWER, and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations.
At AM Training Specialists Ltd, we are committed to delivering high-quality, engaging, and practical training that equips learners with the knowledge and confidence to apply their skills in the workplace. Our experienced instructors bring real-world industry expertise to every course, ensuring training is relevant, interactive, and compliant with current legislation and best practice. Whether you are developing new skills or refreshing existing knowledge, our training is designed to help individuals and organisations improve safety, competence, and performance.
Interested in this course?
Get in touch with our training team directly to ask questions, secure your spot, or find out availability.
Prices From £100.00
(Excluding VAT)