RIIWHS204E — Work safely at heights
Nationally recognised working at heights training — fall prevention hierarchy, harness fitting, lanyard selection, anchor points and rescue procedures.
Course Overview
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work safely at heights in the resources and infrastructure industries.
It applies to those working in operational roles. They generally work under supervision to undertake a prescribed range of functions involving known routines and procedures and take responsibility for the quality of work outcomes.
View RIIWHS204E on training.gov.au →RIIWHS204E Work safely at heights provides workers with the knowledge and practical skills to work safely at any height where there is a risk of falling. Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of fatal and serious injury in Australian workplaces, and this unit ensures participants understand both the legislative requirements under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (QLD) and the practical techniques for eliminating and controlling fall hazards in their specific work environment.
Delivered face-to-face at our Dalby training facility, this course is widely applicable across the resources, construction, agriculture and utilities sectors throughout the Darling Downs and is required by most mine sites, construction projects and industrial facilities as a minimum competency for anyone working above two metres.
What You'll Learn
- Apply the fall prevention hierarchy — elimination, passive fall prevention (edge protection, covers), fall restraint and fall arrest
- Identify suitable anchor points and assess their adequacy for the applied load
- Select the correct harness type, fit a full-body harness and conduct a pre-use inspection
- Choose and connect appropriate lanyards, self-retracting lanyards (SRLs) and energy absorbers
- Calculate fall clearance requirements to prevent contact with lower levels
- Inspect, maintain and store personal fall arrest equipment (PFAS) in accordance with AS/NZS 1891
- Initiate and assist with a suspended worker rescue plan to address suspension trauma
- Understand ladder safety, mobile scaffold requirements and EWP interaction with fall protection systems
Assessment Method
Assessment includes a practical harness fitting and inspection exercise, anchor point selection task, fall clearance calculation and a written knowledge assessment covering the hierarchy of controls and legislative obligations. All assessment is conducted at our Dalby facility on the training day.
Prerequisites
None — open to all workers. Participants must be physically capable of climbing and working at heights and should not be affected by conditions that preclude working at height. A medical clearance may be required for certain site-specific roles — check with your employer.
Who Should Attend
- Construction workers, scaffolders, roofers and tradespeople working above ground level
- Resources and mining industry workers accessing elevated plant, structures and conveyors
- Agricultural workers conducting maintenance on grain silos, sheds and elevated platforms
- Telecommunications and utilities workers climbing towers, poles and structures
- Any worker required to meet site minimum competency for working at heights in Queensland