IPAF Harness Training Courses

High Access Awareness (HA), Harness Use (HU), and Harness Inspection (HI)

Aims

To equip delegates with the essential knowledge and practical skills for safe working at height.
To promote the correct use, fitting, and inspection of safety harnesses and lanyards.
To help employers meet legal obligations under Work at Height, PPE, and health and safety regulations.

Objectives

By the end of these courses, delegates will be able to:

Understand the risks associated with working at height and how to mitigate them.
Select and correctly fit a full-body harness and lanyard.
Identify different types of fall protection equipment and their appropriate use.
Carry out thorough inspections of harnesses and lanyards in line with manufacturer and HSE guidelines.
Recognise when harness equipment should be removed from service or replaced.

Course Content Overview

IPAF HA (High Access Awareness)

Introduction to working at height principles
Overview of fall protection requirements
Risk assessment and planning for safe access
Introduction to harness systems
Emergency procedures and rescue planning

IPAF HU (Harness Use) Practical session only.

Correct fitting, adjustment, and use of harnesses
Anchor points and lanyard connections in different MEWP types
Pre-use checks and safety considerations during operation

IPAF HI (Harness Inspection)

Legal and regulatory framework for PPE inspection (PUWER, LOLER)
Detailed inspection procedures for harnesses and lanyards
Common signs of wear, damage, and expiry
Inspection frequency and documentation requirements
Recording and reporting faults and defects
Storage and maintenance best practices

Who Should Attend?

MEWP operators (HA & HU only)
Site supervisors and safety managers
Engineers or personnel responsible for equipment inspection
Anyone working at height using fall protection systems

Course duration:

HA & HU half-day on-site training

HA HU HI 1 day on-site training (NB: HI cannot be completed without successful completion of HA & HU)

Certification

Successful candidates will receive an IPAF Harness certificate of training, valid for 5 years, and recorded on the IPAF digital PAL Card (EPAL) system where applicable.