Health and safety training course for working at heights

• 29 July 2021

There are a plethora of hands-on occupations that call for working at heights. In order to be an appealing applicant for any of these jobs, it is a great idea to have a health and safety training course for working with heights under the belt. The dangers of working with heights cannot be understated, which is why courses like this are of the utmost importance should you wish to practice tried and tested safety practices while high up on the job. At Emcare, we offer an in-depth health and safety training course that offers participants high-class practical and theoretical training on the matter – and in just a few minutes of reading, find out what exactly the course entails and which job opportunities may become open to you.

Health and safety training for heights – course content

During Emcare’s health and safety training course for working with heights, you will learn many practical and theoretical skills, including the following:

• Relevant definitions relating to systems, techniques and methods that come in handy when working with heights
• Legislation pertaining to height safety
• Performing risk assessments
• Fall protection plans
• Types of personal protection equipment needed for height safety
• Categories of work

Now that you have a basic idea of what this specific health and safety training course offers, some of the important aspects mentioned must be explained:

Legislation pertaining to Height Safety

During this health and safety training course, you will learn about the existing South African legislation relating to height safety. Unfortunately, the building, construction and maintenance industry (into which many jobs that require working with heights fall) remains one of the biggest causes of severe injuries and deaths. Falls off of ladders, fragile surfaces and scaffolding are commonplace and are oftentimes the result of inadequate training and preparation. “Working at heights” includes work in area space where should there be no precautions or safety measures in place, a fall could result in personal injury or death.

In 2015, The Institute for Work at Height Trade Association and Professional Body as well as several other organisations, began developing guidelines for working safely at heights. The Department of Labour got on board and ultimately new legislation was finalised. During your health and safety training course, you will become familiar with the relevant legislation.

Risk Assessments

By the end of the course, you will be able to perform some level of a risk assessment to assess the safety of your work space and identify potential risks and hazards.

Fall Protection Plans

A Fall Protection Plan, also known as FPP, is a documented plan or strategy to work around a fall risk. During your course, you will be exposed to information that will allow you to understand the procedures that come hand-in-hand with FPP.

Types of PPE required for working with heights

During your course, you will be exposed to several types and categories of important equipment such as lanyards, anchors, hooks and other restraint systems that you will come into contact with should you pursue a career working at heights.

Suspension Trauma

Also known as harness hang syndrome, suspension trauma takes place after a worker has fallen into their fall arrest harness. As they are hanging waiting for rescue officers, the leg straps of the harness can restrict blood circulation and cause injury. During your course, you will learn about this condition and how to prevent and work around it in the event of a fall.

Who can benefit from our health and safety training for working with heights?

Having a “job at the top” is not just a saying when it comes to occupations that involve working at considerable heights. There are various jobs that may become accessible to you if you choose to invest your time in health and safety training courses that prepare you for working with heights. If you are afraid of the latter, however, the following jobs are certainly not for you:

Work as a lighting technician

Although this job does not usually require ascending hundreds of metres up into the air (in most cases), having a health and safety course in heights can only back up your offering to any company with available positions. Whether you will be atop a ladder installing lights at events like concerts and weddings, or walking across platforms in roofs – you will certainly spend a lot of the time off of solid ground. Light technicians maintain, install, repair and operate lighting fixtures and facilities for a wide variety of purposes. This job will certainly prevent boredom, as it is unlikely that you will spend much time in the office performing repetitive tasks. 

Work as a roofer

Working atop the roofs of homes or commercial buildings may not seem as daunting as perching on a ladder or even hanging by a harness. However, the dangers of working as a roofer should not be overlooked. Not only do those in this occupation have to deal with weather elements such as rain and wind, but it is likely that they are performing work on that roof because it is unstable in the first place. Roofers repair, install and maintain roofs on a daily-basis – meaning that their work hardly ever takes place on solid ground. Having a practical and theoretical height training course can therefore boost your CV should you wish to apply for such a job, as well as keep you as safe as possible during your workday.

Working high-up as a glazier

Many people are unfamiliar with the word “glazier”.  Working as a glazier means that you will be spending your workday installing glass windows on impressive commercial buildings, such as skyscrapers (as daunting as that sounds). As you go about your day, you will be treated to views of the city and horizon, as well as those of the individuals working inside the buildings (which you may enjoy if you are a people-watcher). Glaziers perform their duties using ladders, scaffolding, and even harnesses when the former two are not appropriate.

Usually, you will need to complete a 4-year internship should you wish to become a pro in the trade. A certificate in height safety training can only be to your benefit when you apply for internships for this thrilling occupation.

Saving lives as a firefighter

Firefighting is one of the most heroic jobs out there, and as such requires self-sacrifice and a considerable amount of bravery and brawn. As a firefighter, you will be required to respond to a diverse range of emergencies. Some of these situations will require rescues off of the ground. Firefighters often don harnesses, climb up ladders and perform intricate rope rescues – all in the name of helping citizens and animals in danger.

 

While one health and safety training course in working with heights certainly will not cut it on its own to get you into a fire department, Emcare offers advanced firefighting training and first responder courses to help you on your way. Firefighting is said to be one of the most rewarding occupations, and if you can manage giving up a lot of your free-time to attend charity events, exercise to keep fit, as well as help out your community – then you will be a perfect fit for the job.

Rock-climbing or abseiling instructor

Calling all adventurers and adrenaline junkies! Working as a rock-climbing or abseiling instructor basically sets you up for working intimately with heights and clinging on cliff-faces. As an instructor, you will be teaching and exhibiting safe climbing techniques, advising how exactly to use the plethora of gear and equipment required, as well as calming down any extra nervous clients with cold feet. It is easy to see why certification in height training would be highly beneficial before walking this career path.

Working high-up as a steelworker

If dangling off of the side of a bridge sounds like a fun time to you, then a career in steelwork could be the perfect solution! Not all steelwork has to be done at great heights, but at some point or another in this career, you will need to repair, raise and reinforce a plethora of steel structures from the ground upwards (sometimes very far upwards). Such is the case with most metalwork occupations, an apprenticeship will need to be completed before entering the industry as an independent and reliable professional. It is highly likely that a course or two in height training can only be a boon in your journey to occupy this exciting career.

Working amidst the leaves as a trimmer or tree-feller

If you adored climbing trees as a child, and can imagine yourself doing it as a career – then this is the perfect job for you. As a trimmer or feller, you will have to learn a variety of climbing rigging systems and methods to get the job done efficiently. There is a high demand for professionals in this occupation, as trees grow quite literally everywhere. As they grow, they can compromise power lines, roadways and commercial and residential properties.   

In this occupation, you are likely to get acquainted with cutting tools, such as chainsaws (especially when it comes to tree-felling). Working at considerable heights with power-tools adds an even more dangerous aspect to the job. For this reason, you must be completely comfortable and equipped to work in elevated spaces. Taking part in a height training course will help improve your abilities and overall confidence. 

Making windows spotless as a window cleaner 

If you have lived in a city at any point in your life, you will be familiar with window cleaners working high-up above the ground, often dangling from questionable-looking rigs and ropes as they go about their workday. Most of the time, however, window cleaners get to do their job while sitting on a sturdy platform that hangs with the help of ropes on the side of high-rise buildings. Not only does this occupation require a considerable amount of bravery and endurance, but comfortability with working with heights is a must. Whether it is learning about practical systems, extra safety measures or performing risk assessments for your own safety – taking part in a relevant height training course is an important step in the right direction to succeeding at this job.

Wind turbine technician 

Wind turbines are fast becoming one of the world’s most popular energy garnering methods and facilities. They are environmentally friendly and do not emit harmful chemicals and gasses into the atmosphere. The wind turbines of today have almost doubled in size, which means that those who maintain, repair and install them must be confident with working with great heights. As a wind turbine technician, you will be expected to perform inspections on the wind farms, solve technical mishaps as well as troubleshoot any malfunctions.

All of this must be done while hanging from a harness, while at the same time rappelling from ropes. To be an ideal candidate for a job in this field, you will need to attend a technical school as well as spend a certain amount of time of on-the-job training or alternatively, an apprenticeship program. As you can imagine, this type of work certainly calls for a high level of concentration and confidence – a good portion of which can come from appropriate health and safety training in heights.