Harness Awareness Training from Heightsafe gives personnel the skills to select, inspect and fit the most appropriate harness for the work at hand, keeping them safe whilst Working at Height.
It’s a crucial competency for any operative who carries out work at height within their role. The correct practices must be followed so that care, attention and maintenance are given to what are essentially lifesaving skills and actions.
The half-day course is suitable for users new to working at height, or as a refresher for those with more industry experience. We deliver it at Heightsafe’s premises or on-site at your own premises.
When working at height, a harness is often the last line of defence between a worker and a serious fall. But simply wearing a harness is not enough: without the right knowledge, even the best equipment can fail to protect.
Misuse, poor fitting or a lack of inspection are among the most common causes of incidents involving fall protection systems. Our training ensures that employees:
Without this training, workers risk serious injury, employers risk non-compliance, and both face potentially devastating consequences. Harness awareness gives teams the confidence and competence to make safe choices every time they work at height.
This course is ideal for anyone who:
What’s Included in the Course
Participants will gain hands-on and theoretical knowledge, including:
When it comes to personal protective equipment, you can’t afford uncertainty. At Heightsafe, we bring expertise and real-world experience to make sure your team understands not only how to wear a harness, but why correct use is so critical.
Book your Harness Awareness Training today and take a proactive step towards a safer, more confident workforce.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require employers to make sure anyone working at height is competent, or supervised by someone who is. Where a harness is used, the people wearing it must know how to select, check and use it correctly.
The regulations also set out a hierarchy: avoid work at height where possible, then use collective protection such as guardrails, and only rely on personal fall protection like harnesses where risks remain.
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 add a duty to provide information, instruction and training on any PPE supplied. Our course covers both sets of regulations, so delegates understand their duties as well as their equipment.
Work restraint – A restraint system stops the user from reaching a position where they could fall. It’s the preferred personal option because a fall never happens, and it’s commonly used with safety line systems on roofs.
Fall arrest – A fall arrest system stops a fall after it has started, using an energy-absorbing lanyard or a self-retracting device. Users need enough clearance below them, and a rescue plan must be in place before work begins.
Choosing the wrong system, or using the right one incorrectly, can turn a minor slip into a serious injury. Understanding this difference is one of the most important outcomes of our harness training.
We host courses at Heightsafe’s premises, or our trainers can come out to your premises. On-site training lets delegates practise with the harnesses, lanyards and anchor points they’ll use every day.
The course takes half a day and combines classroom learning with hands-on practice. Delegates inspect, select and fit harnesses themselves under expert guidance, rather than simply watching a demonstration.
Groups are kept to a trainer to student ratio of 1:12, so everyone gets the time and feedback they need to fit their harness confidently and correctly.
Delegates receive a certificate on completion, valid for 2 years. Keeping records of each person’s training helps you show competence to clients, principal contractors and auditors.
The equipment matters as much as the training. Heightsafe can inspect and maintain your harnesses and lanyards through our PPE Kit Testing and Maintenance service.
For broader knowledge, delegates often go on to our Height Safety Awareness Training, Rooftop Safety Awareness Training or Technical Rescue Training.
It’s a practical course that teaches personnel how to select, inspect, fit and use a safety harness correctly. It covers the difference between fall arrest and restraint, and how harnesses fit into wider work at height safety.
Our Harness Awareness Training course takes half a day. It combines classroom learning with hands-on practice, with a trainer to student ratio of 1:12.
Anyone who uses fall protection equipment as part of their job, supervises work at height, or is responsible for selecting and maintaining PPE. It’s suitable for those new to height work and as a refresher for experienced staff.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require anyone working at height to be competent, and the PPE at Work Regulations 1992 require training on any PPE provided. Harness training is the usual way to meet both duties.
The certificate is valid for 2 years. We recommend booking a refresher before it expires, or sooner if your equipment, work activities or site conditions change.
Users should check their harness before every use. HSE guidance also recommends detailed inspections by a competent person at least every six months, and more often where equipment is used in harsh conditions.
Get in touch with Heightsafe’s friendly, professional team today for free, no obligation advice on your harness training requirements.
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