If you want to transition from basic labouring to specialised high-paying roles, you need your work safely at heights ticket. Major commercial builds, roofing jobs, and tier-1 construction sites all require proper safety training before you can step onto a high-risk platform.
Working at heights is incredibly high-risk. Because of this, principal contractors and site supervisors strictly enforce compliance rules. If you are looking to get certified, you probably have a few questions about what training is required, how the process works, and what it will cost you.
What Safety Training Do I Need Before Working at Heights
To legally perform work where a fall hazard exists, you must complete the nationally recognized unit of competency RIIWHS204E Work Safely at Heights.
This is a comprehensive course that combines safety theory with hands-on practical assessments. When you successfully complete your training with a Registered Training Organisation like SafeZone Training, you will receive two key items to prove your compliance:
A digital Statement of Attainment sent straight to your phone for quick site verification.
A physical wallet card to keep on you at all times for easy site check-ins.
What Do You Actually Learn and the Number One Practical Mistake
The theory component teaches you about Australian legislation and risk assessment frameworks. However, the hands-on practical training is where lives are genuinely saved. Read more from SafeWork NSW HERE.
In our experience delivering this course, the safety harness is where most people struggle. Time and time again, we see students struggle to fit their harnesses correctly. The straps are either left far too loose or they get twisted up. A loose or twisted harness can cause severe, irreversible body trauma during a fall deployment.
Furthermore, many workers overlook the most critical habit of all. You must physically check the state of your harness before every single use. Before putting your gear on, you need to meticulously inspect the webbing. You must ensure there is no physical damage, structural cuts, or fraying straps. If the gear is compromised, it cannot save you.
How Much Does Working at Heights Training Cost
Quality safety training should not break the bank. We have streamlined our course delivery to make compliance highly affordable for Australian workers.
Standard industry pricing for this qualification sits around $230. However, our course was $230 and is now only $149. BOOK NOW
This upfront cost includes the use of all necessary personal protective equipment required to safely conduct the practical training. There are no hidden fees or surprise levies on the day. For employers looking to get a full crew compliant at once, group and corporate rates are available upon request.
Do Heights Tickets Expire and Why Refreshers Matter
Legally speaking, a Statement of Attainment does not have a hard expiry date. However, real-world site requirements tell a very different story.
We normally recommend that workers undertake a refresher course after the 3-year mark. There are two major reasons why skipping refreshers is a massive mistake:
Beating Skill Fade
If you have not actively utilized your heights training or adjusted a harness in a few years, your muscle memory fades. In high-risk environments, hesitation or an incorrect knot can be fatal.
Regulatory Changes
Workplace Health and Safety regulations evolve over time. Taking a refresher ensures you are fully across any new equipment mandates, codes of practice, or regulatory changes that have occurred since you last trained.
Advice for Your First Day on a High Risk Site
It is entirely normal to feel a bit anxious before stepping onto a high-risk job site or taking a new high-altitude course for the first time. The best insider advice we can give anyone feeling nervous is simple: trust your training, but never be afraid to speak up. Find out more about reporting issues.
With the appropriate training and a supportive company, you should feel completely confident to tackle any work procedure on-site after your course. However, if you ever feel unsure about the state of the equipment or a specific hazard on the site, make sure to raise this with your site supervisor immediately. They may be completely unaware of a developing situation or a faulty anchor point. Constant monitoring of any site is the absolute key to maintaining a safe work environment for everyone.
To talk to one of our amazing staff about corporate or group booking rates connect with us now.