Planning, Work and Rescue with Personal Fall Protection Systems

About the course

Planning, Work and Rescue with Personal Fall Protection Systems is a two-day course for people whose role requires them to understand how work involving a risk of falling should be risk assessed and carried out when personal fall protection systems are used. The course connects the work task, systematic occupational health and safety management, selection of control measures, use of personal fall protection and rescue preparedness.

The course is based on the work process: work task → INVESTIGATE → ASSESS RISK → TAKE ACTION → CHECK

Personal fall protection is not the starting point. Participants train to understand the work task and risks, select suitable control measures and then - when personal fall protection is required - select and use the correct system. Rescue preparedness is integrated into the planning from the outset.

Quality assurance

The training concept has been developed by Hewall Safety since 2008 and is quality assured within Hewall Safety’s management system, in line with the principles of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, and is based on defined learning objectives, controlled training material and theoretical and practical assessment according to defined criteria. The content is based on applicable work environment legislation, relevant regulations, standards and current manufacturer instructions.

Learning objectives

After successfully completing the course, the participant shall, within the scope of the course, be able to:

• explain fundamental rules, responsibilities and risks associated with work where there is a risk of falling,
• apply INVESTIGATE → ASSESS RISK → TAKE ACTION → CHECK to a given work task,
• identify hazards, assess risks, select suitable control measures and select an appropriate personal fall protection system based on the risk assessment,
• inspect, fit, assemble and use the personal fall protection systems included in the course,
• assess rescue preparedness and carry out the rescue activities included in the course,
• determine when work must not begin or must be stopped,
• reassess the risk assessment when conditions change.

Target group

The course is intended for people whose role requires them to understand how work involving a risk of falling should be risk assessed and carried out when personal fall protection systems are used.

• workers who use personal fall protection systems,
• people involved in planning, risk assessment or work supervision,
• managers and employers who need to understand the requirements, responsibilities and conditions for the work,
• people who will assist with or carry out rescue.

Participants may have different roles, responsibilities and levels of authority. The course therefore provides a shared understanding of how systematic occupational health and safety management, work with personal fall protection systems and rescue preparedness are connected within the scope of the course.

Prerequisites

There are no formal prerequisites. Participants must be able to take part in the practical elements included in the course. Prior reading on personal fall protection equipment and personal fall protection systems is recommended.

Course delivery

The course is delivered over two days. Day 1 combines theory, current instructions for use, physical equipment and applied exercises. The entire second day is practical, with training and assessment in the use of personal fall protection systems and rescue.

During the course, participants work with systematic occupational health and safety management and risk assessment, selection of control measures, checks required by current instructions for use, selection and assembly of personal fall protection systems, risks and limitations, and rescue preparedness.

Day 1 includes an instructions-for-use exercise and a final exercise applying systematic occupational health and safety management to a given work task, followed by the theory test. Practical skills on Day 2 are developed through instruction, practice and feedback and are assessed against defined criteria.

From risk assessment to the right system

Personal fall protection is not the starting point. Participants first learn to understand the work task and risks, apply INVESTIGATE → ASSESS RISK → TAKE ACTION → CHECK and then - when personal fall protection is required - select the correct system function and suitable, compatible products.

Current manufacturer instructions are used throughout the course to verify matters such as intended use, limitations, inspection and compatibility.

Practical application and rescue

The entire second day is practical and takes place in realistic but controlled training environments. Participants receive instruction, practise, receive feedback and are assessed in the use of personal fall protection systems and rescue.

The course includes areas such as inspection and fitting, anchorage, harness and connection, work positioning, fall arrest systems, movement in different environments, and risks such as clearance, swing falls and falls over an edge.

Rescue preparedness is integrated into the planning process. Participants practise determining when rescue planning is needed and carry out self-evacuation and rescue scenarios where a casualty needs to be lowered, lifted or moved to a place of safety.

Personal fall protection systems covered

The training covers the application of the following system functions:

• Restraint systems
• Work positioning systems
• Fall arrest systems
• Rope access systems – introductory level
• Rescue systems

Product categories and standards covered

The training covers the selection, pre-use checks and safe use of the following product categories:

• Harnesses – EN 361, EN 358, EN 813
• Work positioning lanyards – EN 358
• Connectors – EN 362
• Lanyards – EN 354
• Energy absorbers – EN 355
• Retractable type fall arresters – EN 360
• Guided type fall arresters on a flexible anchor line – EN 353-2
• Guided type fall arresters on a rigid anchor line or rail – EN 353-1
• Low-stretch kernmantel ropes – EN 1891
• Rope adjustment devices for rope access – EN 12841
• Anchor devices – EN 795 Type A and Type B
• Descender devices for rescue – EN 341
• Rescue lifting devices – EN 1496

Permanent solutions covered at orientation level

• Permanent lifeline systems – EN 795 Type C
• Permanent rail systems – EN 795 Type D

Scope of competence

After a passing result, a course certificate valid for 3 years is issued. The certificate confirms that the participant has met the theoretical and practical requirements within the defined scope of the course.

The course does not provide general authorisation for all types of work at height or all types of personal fall protection equipment, and it does not qualify the participant as a competent person for periodic inspection.

The course does not include practical rope access, design, installation or approval of permanent anchor devices or permanent lifeline systems, or advanced technical rescue beyond the defined course activities. Permanent horizontal lifeline systems according to EN 795 Type C and Type D are covered at orientation level. The course does not replace the employer's responsibility for workplace-specific risk assessment, instructions, competence assessment, selection of work method or rescue preparedness.

Would you like to read more about the course content, assessment, scope of competence and limitations? Download the full course description.