Working at Height Training: What the Regulations Require

In Great Britain, the Work at Height Regulations 2005 do not prescribe a named working at height training course. What they require is competence: nobody may take part in work at height, or in planning, supervising or handling the equipment for it, unless they are competent to do so, or are being trained under the supervision of a competent person. How you make people competent is up to you, and it should match the task, the equipment and the level of risk.

This guide explains what the regulations say, what HSE (the Health and Safety Executive) says about competence and training, and how to organise it for your workforce. It covers Great Britain only. Northern Ireland is regulated by HSENI and is outside the scope of this article.

What counts as work at height?

According to HSE, work at height means work in any place where, if there were no precautions in place, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. That definition does not set a minimum height. A fall from a stepladder, a loading platform or through a fragile roof can all be covered. HSE gives falls from ladders and through fragile roofs as common causes of serious injury.

Who do the regulations apply to?

HSE says the regulations apply to employers, to the self-employed, and to anyone who controls work at height, such as a facilities manager or building owner who contracts others to do it. If you arrange for someone else to clean gutters, repair a roof or service rooftop plant, you may still hold duties under the regulations. Employees have duties too, covered below.

What Regulation 5 says about competence

Regulation 5 is the training-related duty. In summary, every employer must ensure that nobody engages in any activity, including organisation, planning and supervision, in relation to work at height or work equipment for use in such work, unless they are competent to do so or, if being trained, are supervised by a competent person.

Two points follow from the wording:

• It covers more than the person on the ladder. The people who plan the job, supervise it and select or inspect the equipment are included.
• It allows for learning on the job. A trainee can work at height provided a competent person is supervising.

The regulation does not name a course, a certificate or a renewal interval.

What HSE says competence looks like

HSE's guidance says you should make sure people with sufficient skills, knowledge and experience are employed to perform the task. It also makes these practical points:

• Training often takes place on the job and does not always take place in a classroom.
• For low-risk ladder tasks, competence may mean instruction in safe use, such as how to tie a ladder properly.
• For technical work, trade association and industry schemes can help demonstrate competence.

So a roofer erecting edge protection and an office worker changing a bulb on a stepladder need very different training. The regulations expect the training to be proportionate to the risk.

Examples from HSE's construction guidance

HSE's construction FAQ on work at height gives some concrete expectations for scaffolding and towers:

• All those erecting scaffolding should be competent, and trainees must be supervised by a competent person.
• Each scaffold gang needs a qualified scaffolder suited to the type and complexity of the scaffold. Schemes such as CISRS or a manufacturer's scheme can provide that qualification.
• Anyone erecting a tower scaffold should have received training under an industry-recognised scheme, such as PASMA, or a recognised manufacturer or supplier scheme.
• Inspections must be carried out by a competent person whose combination of knowledge, training and experience suits the scaffold.

Quick reference: the main duties

The order of control: avoid, prevent, minimise

Training should be built around HSE's hierarchy. Employers should avoid work at height where reasonably practicable (doing as much as possible from the ground), prevent falls using a safe existing place of work or suitable equipment, and, where a risk of a fall remains, minimise the distance and consequences of a fall. HSE adds that collective protection, such as guard-rails, should be preferred to personal protection, such as harnesses. A worker who has only been shown how to put on a harness has not been trained in this approach.

Ladders and stepladders

Most workplaces use these more than any other access equipment. According to HSE, ladders can be used for work at height when a risk assessment shows that the risk is low and the duration short. HSE suggests considering other equipment if the task means staying up a leaning ladder or stepladder for more than 30 minutes at a time. The treads of a stepladder count as a working platform, and a ladder should only be used where it can be used safely, for example on firm, level ground. HSE says ad-hoc packing such as bricks or blocks should not be used to level a ladder.

What workers must do

Under Regulation 14, workers under the control of another person must report any activity or defect relating to work at height that they know is likely to endanger safety, and must use equipment provided in accordance with the training and instructions they have been given. That is why a documented briefing matters: it sets the standard against which equipment use is judged.

Does working at height training expire?

Neither Regulation 5 nor the HSE pages we reviewed set a refresher interval. The practical test is whether the person is still competent. Reasons to refresh include a long gap since they last did the task, new equipment, a change in site conditions, an incident or near miss, or a change in the risk assessment. Some industry schemes set their own validity periods, so check the scheme provider. For general guidance on renewal cycles, see our article on how often health and safety training needs renewing in the UK.

Keeping the evidence

There is no statutory training register for work at height, but you will want to show an inspector, an insurer or a client who was trained in what, who assessed their competence and when. A simple training matrix that records the task, the equipment, the person and the review date does the job. If you are building wider compliance learning for your team, the Learnsignal CPD hub is a good place to start.

Frequently asked questions

Is a working at height certificate a legal requirement?

No certificate is named in the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The legal requirement is competence. A certificate can be useful evidence, but HSE says training often happens on the job and not always in a classroom.

Is there a minimum height before the regulations apply?

HSE's definition refers to any place where a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury, so it is not tied to a set number of metres. Separate rules apply to specific cases, such as the 2 metre inspection trigger for construction working platforms.

Do self-employed people need training?

HSE says the regulations cover the self-employed as well as employers and anyone who controls work at height. A self-employed person should be competent for the work they do.

Can I use a stepladder without training?

For a low-risk, short-duration task, HSE says competence may be as simple as instruction on safe use. The risk assessment should decide, and the stepladder must be suitable, stable and used on suitable ground.

Who is responsible if I hire a contractor?

HSE says the regulations apply to those who control work at height, which can include building owners and facilities managers. Check the contractor's competence and agree who plans, supervises and provides rescue arrangements.

Next steps

List every task your people do above ground level, note what equipment they use, decide what instruction or training makes each person competent, and record it. Review that record whenever the task, equipment or site changes.

This article is general information based on HSE guidance and the Work at Height Regulations 2005 as at October 2026. It is not regulatory, legal or compliance advice. Check the legislation and HSE guidance for your own situation.