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Are my workers competent to work at height?
Do they have the correct training?
As an employer, it’s your responsibility to minimise risk and keep your workers safe. Part of this involves ensuring that everyone you hire, whether an employee or contractor, is competent and able to do their job safely.
But, what does competency really mean? Read on to find out.
What is competency?
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 state that someone is competent if they have sufficient knowledge, skills and training to be able to work at height safely. For low-risk work, this may mean attending informal on-site instruction while jobs with access equipment require specific training courses.
Training associations for working at height
For working at height, there are two main trade associations; the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) and the Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association Ltd (PASMA).
IPAF regulates training for powered access equipment while PASMA is concerned with mobile access towers. Neither offer training themselves. They approve courses run through external training centres – like us! When looking for training, look for these organisations.
Which training course?
Both IPAF and PASMA offer a wide range of training, with specific courses for different equipment and experience levels. All workers must hold the correct certificate for the job they are doing.
Certifications as well as the validity of IPAF PAL and PASMA cards can be checked using the validity checker on their websites:
On-site familiarisation
Holding the appropriate certification ensures a worker is competent to use a particular type of access equipment, but there are many makes and models of each. Providing on-site familiarisation with the particular equipment you are using is an additional way to guarantee competency and safe working.
Still unsure?
Give us a call, our experienced and knowledgeable team are happy to help and will keep you safe at height:
