Working at Heights Training
Gravity does not give warnings. Build the hands-on discipline to inspect gear, manage fall hazards, and execute rescues in line with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and AS/NZS 1891.
Aligned with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and AS/NZS 1891, IMPAC's Working at Heights pathway equips workers — from specialist riggers to occasional roof users — with the hands-on skills to inspect gear, assess fall hazards, install temporary safety systems, and execute emergency rescues. Falls from low heights kill just as readily as falls from twenty metres; we train for both.
IMPAC Training
Category overview
A fall from two metres is just as lethal as a fall from twenty if you land wrong. When workers treat elevated environments casually — assuming a structural beam can take a shock load, throwing on a harness without checking the stitching, or stepping onto a ladder without a pre-use inspection — they are gambling with their lives. The "I'm just going up for a second" mentality is exactly what leads to catastrophic, life-altering injuries.
Across our Working at Heights pathway we challenge that complacency. Whether you are a specialist rigger installing temporary proprietary systems, a safety inspector logging equipment tolerances, or a facilities manager who only goes onto the roof once a month, we provide the exact technical skills you need to operate safely.
We bypass dry, theoretical lectures. Our industry-experienced trainers demand rigorous physical execution: hands-on gear checking, learning the practical difference between fall arrest and fall restraint, and physically practicing secure access and exit techniques. Personnel leave with their NZQA Unit Standards validated and the discipline required to protect themselves and their crew every time their feet leave the ground.
Key Focus Areas
What this training covers
Equipment inspection and harness fitting
An uninspected harness is just a heavy, uncomfortable vest. Learn to ruthlessly identify microscopic wear, UV degradation, and chemical burns, and execute flawless harness fitting so the gear actually holds when it matters most.
Hazard assessment and rescue planning
Arresting a fall is only half the battle; suspension trauma kills. Build the capability to accurately assess site hazards, apply the correct hierarchy of controls, and write actionable emergency rescue plans before the work begins.
Temporary safety systems and anchor points
Take control of your own lifelines. Master the installation, validation, and disestablishment of horizontal and vertical temporary proprietary systems in strict accordance with AS/NZS 1891.
Ladder awareness and low-level heights
Dismantle the "it's just a ladder" assumption. Identify positional hazards, establish three points of contact, and inspect everyday access equipment to prevent the most common and devastating site falls.
Available Courses
Our Working at Heights courses
Working with New Zealand's legal framework
Applicable Safety Regulations in New Zealand
Working at height demands absolute certainty about your legal and operational boundaries. Our training ensures your team understands and applies these critical frameworks:
- Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) — The definitive legislation outlining the absolute duties of PCBUs and workers to actively manage and mitigate fall hazards.
- AS/NZS 1891 Standards — The technical specifications governing the selection, use, and maintenance of industrial fall-arrest systems and devices.
- WorkSafe New Zealand Guidance — Practical regulatory expectations for managing fall hazards, scaffolding, edge protection, and rescue planning on site.
- Site Documentation & Inspection Logs — Legally defensible logbooks, equipment registers, and rescue plans that withstand both audit and incident scrutiny.
NZQA Unit Standards
Our height safety courses align with the nationally recognised benchmarks for height safety competence, ensuring your personnel have their practical skills formally validated.
- US 17600 — Use a safety harness system for personal fall prevention.
- US 23229 — Use safety harness equipment for working at height.
- US 25045 — Employ height safety equipment in the workplace.
- US 15757 — Use, install and disestablish proprietary fall-arrest systems.
Who Should Enrol
Industries and Roles
Construction and Specialist Trades
Roofers, scaffolders, and electricians who operate at height daily and require advanced hazard mitigation and temporary system rigging skills.
Facility Maintenance and General Industry
Cleaners, maintenance staff, and utilities workers — the "occasional users" who need to overcome muscle-memory gaps and safely operate height equipment in non-construction environments.
Safety Supervisors and Equipment Managers
Personnel responsible for overseeing high-risk permits, logging legally defensible equipment inspections, and managing site-wide emergency rescue protocols.
Refresher and Equipment Inspection Audiences
Experienced workers due for revalidation, plus equipment owners attending inspection seminars to keep harnesses, lanyards, and anchor systems audit-ready.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
