Working at Heights Course (WAH)

PURPOSE:

This Perth-based training course is designed for participants to gain the necessary skills to work safely at heights and is based on the National Unit of Competency: RIIWHS204E – Work Safely at Heights.

This comprehensive one day Work Safely at Heights course involves both theory and practical components and can be completed at our training centre in Perth.

Participants who are successful in the completion of the Working at Heights course will be at an advantage to secure operational roles within, but not limited to, the Mining, Construction and Building Industries.

WHAT DOES THE WORKING AT HEIGHTS COURSE INCLUDE?

On completion of this course, participants will have knowledge of the OHS, legislation and Australian Standards relating to working at heights and be able to:

• Identify the work requirements, procedures and instructions for the task;
• Be able to identify and control hazards;
• Fall arrest systems and Personal Protective Equipment;
• Perform work at heights.

Knowledge gained during the course

On completion of the course, each candidate will have demonstrated knowledge of the following when working safely at heights:

• names and functions of equipment, components and materials
• complying with equipment manufacturer’s instructions and specifications
• safe shifting and handling of tools and materials
• adhering to statutory and regulatory authority requirements
• the nature of work undertaken at heights/li>
• complying with heights safety systems
• the processes of providing for safe working practices
• using safety equipment/systems and considerations to facilitate working safely at heights
• complying with safe work methods

Skills performed during the course

To complete the course, each candidate must demonstrate the ability to competently perform the following tasks:

• locate and apply relevant documentation, policies and procedures
• demonstrate completion of working safely at heights that safely, effectively and efficiently meets all of the required outcomes on more than one (1) occasion including:
  • accessing, interpreting and applying technical and safety information for working at heights
  • assessing hazards and risk associated with working at heights and implement control methods
  • selecting wearing and caring for personal protective equipment
  • identifying required safety systems including fall protection and associated equipment
  • checking that fitting, adjusting and anchoring of fall protection and associated equipment is correct
  • performing work safely at heights

PREREQUISITES & COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

• Photo ID must be presented i.e. current drivers license or passport
• Basic English language and literacy skills

CERTIFICATION & WORKING AT HEIGHTS LICENCE:

On successful completion of the course persons will be issued with a KI Training and Assessing Certificate/Statement of Attainment and a Work Safely at Heights card. This course is a Nationally Accredited Course.

WHEN DO YOU NEED A WORKING AT HEIGHTS TICKET?

Anyone working on structures that include risk of a fall of two metres and above is required to have successfully completed a Working at Heights course.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ELEVATED WORK PLATFORMS (EWP) AND WORKING AT HEIGHTS (WAH)?

The skills and knowledge required to operate an elevated work platform are different to learning to perform work at varying heights in the workplace.

Elevated work platforms, such as operating scissor lifts and mobile boom type elevated work platforms, require training that prepares the worker to operate the machinery. KI Training and Assessing offer Elevated Work Platform training courses that teach workers how to safely operate elevated work platforms.

The Working safely at heights training course teaches workers how to perform work at varying heights in the workplace. This course is designed to instill the knowledge and precautions in the workplace where, for example, workers may be stepping up onto a ladder and therefore need to know about how to prevent falls.

HOW LONG IS WORKING AT HEIGHTS VALID FOR?

Work at Heights Safely licence does not have an expiry date. When to update or refresh your WAH training mainly depends on the site procedures involved and your employer’s policies. The currency period most employers require for this unit of competency is about 2 years. If you’d like to update your training, skills and knowledge, KI Training and Assessing offer Working At Heights Refresher Courses.

Full course content

The course includes five main work elements. Successful candidates must demonstrate that they can competently perform the full requirements for each element.

1. Identify work requirements
1.1 Access, interpret and apply height safety procedures and ensure the work activity is compliant
1.2 Inspect site to determine layout and physical condition, condition of structures, prevailing weather conditions, equipment requirements and potential hazards
1.3 Adhere to WHS requirements
1.4 Identify, select and check safety equipment for serviceability
1.5 Identify, manage and report potential risks and hazards
2. Identify work procedures and instructions
2.1 Consult with authorised personnel to select materials, tools and equipment and check for serviceability
2.2 Select, wear and care for personal protective equipment
2.3 Inspect/install fall protection and perimeter protection equipment
2.4 Identify approved methods of moving tools and equipment to work area and minimise potential hazards associated with tools at heights
2.5 Ensure safety system has been installed correctly
2.6 Select and install appropriate signs and barricades
3.Access and install equipment
3.1 Consult with authorised personnel to ensure anchor fall protection and associated equipment is correctly fitted and adjusted
3.2 Ensure all required equipment is installed
3.3 Use recommended methods to access work area for people, tools and equipment
3.4 Locate tools and materials to eliminate or minimise the risk of items being knocked down
4.Perform work at heights
4.1 Check access from ground to work area and ensure it is safe
4.2 Keep fall equipment in place and adjusted appropriately for movement during work
4.3 Undertake manual handling of materials and equipment
4.4 Locate materials and equipment ensuring that they are safely secured and distributed
4.5 Check safety system periodically for compliance
4.6 Monitor risk control measures to ensure that they are effective and appropriate
4.7 Reassess risk control measures, as required, in accordance with changed work practices and/or site conditions and undertake alterations
5.Clean up work area
5.1 Consult with authorised personnel to ensure safety system is dismantled and removed
5.2 Clear work area and dispose of or recycle materials
5.3 Clean, check, maintain and store tools and equipment