Course and certificate
Working at Height Awareness
For anyone in the UK whose work takes them up a ladder, onto a roof, a loading bay, a mezzanine or a platform, from cleaners, shop and warehouse staff to maintenance workers, drivers and the building trades. Eight short lessons in plain English explain the Work at Height Regulations 2005, the avoid, prevent, minimise order, ladders and stepladders, scaffolds, towers and platforms at awareness level, roofs, edges and fragile surfaces, falling objects, fall protection, inspection and rescue, and reporting under RIDDOR, followed by a 25-question test.
- Jurisdiction
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Languages
- English, Български, Español, Italiano, Polski, Português, Română, Українська
- Lessons
- 8
- Time needed
- About 45 minutes for the lessons and the test
- Assessment
- 25 questions, pass mark 80%
- Refresher
- Recommended after 3 years
- Content updated
- 28 October 2026
- Certificate fee
- £12.00, payable after passing
01Who this course is for
- Cleaners, caretakers and facilities staff who use ladders and steps
- Warehouse, logistics and delivery workers who use loading bays and vehicles
- Shop, retail and hospitality staff who reach high shelves or stock
- Maintenance, installation and building-trade workers
- Anyone starting a job in the UK where a fall from height is possible
- Supervisors and managers who plan or oversee work at height
02Syllabus
- 01What work at height is, and the law behind it
- 02Avoid, prevent, minimise: planning the work
- 03Ladders and stepladders
- 04Scaffolds, mobile towers and platforms: awareness only
- 05Roofs, edges, openings and fragile surfaces
- 06Falling objects and danger areas
- 07Fall protection, inspection and rescue
- 08Your duties, your employer's duties and reporting
03Assessment
25 multiple-choice questions drawn from the whole course. The pass mark is 80%. The test is free and can be retaken as often as needed; wrong answers point to the lesson to read again.
04The certificate
- With your name, your score and the date you passed.
- A unique number, recorded in our register.
- Your employer or an inspector scans it to see that it is genuine.
- Download it, print it or show it on your phone.
05Sources
The course follows the published guidance below. We are not affiliated with the bodies that publish it.
- HSE INDG401
- HSE INDG455
- Work at Height Regulations 2005, regulation 4
- RIDDOR 2013
- Work at Height Regulations 2005, regulation 14
- Work at Height Regulations 2005, regulation 6
06Questions
Is working at height training a legal requirement?
Employers must provide the information, instruction, training and supervision that workers need to stay safe (Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 2), and must train people when they start and when new risks appear (Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, regulation 13). The Work at Height Regulations 2005 also require that nobody plans, supervises or does work at height unless competent, or being trained under supervision. The law does not name a particular course or certificate.
Is this certificate accredited?
No. It is a certificate of completion: it shows you finished this general working at height awareness course and passed its test. It is not a regulated or accredited qualification, and your employer decides whether this training meets their needs. It is not a licence to use any equipment, and it is not IPAF, PASMA or any other scheme's training.
Does this course replace the training my employer must give me?
No. It teaches the general rules and good habits that apply in any UK workplace. Your employer must still assess the work at height in your own job, choose and inspect the equipment, give you practical training on the ladders, towers, platforms or harnesses you will actually use, plan how you would be rescued, and supervise you. A lesson on a website cannot teach you to use equipment; practical training at work does.
Is a ladder allowed at work?
Yes. Ladders are not banned. HSE says they can be a sensible choice for low-risk work of short duration, or where site features make other equipment impractical. Your employer decides whether a ladder is suitable for a task, and you should be trained and have a safe way to use it.
How long does it take?
Most people finish the lessons and the 25-question test in about an hour. You can stop and come back at any time on the same device.
What if I fail the test?
Nothing is charged. You see which lessons to read again and can retake the test as often as you need.
When do I pay, and how much?
Only after you pass: £12 for the certificate. The course and the test are free.
How does my employer check the certificate?
Every certificate has a number and a QR code. Scanning it, or entering the number on our check page, shows your name, the course and the date you passed.
How long is the certificate valid?
The law sets no expiry date for awareness training. The certificate shows a renewal date three years after you pass, as a reminder to refresh your knowledge. Your employer decides when you need refresher training, for example when your work, equipment or risks change.
The certificate confirms that you completed this course and passed its test. It is not a regulated or accredited qualification; your employer decides whether this training meets their requirements.