The Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply wherever a fall could cause personal injury. There is no minimum height. Competence is the central requirement.
Courses that cover the Work at Height Regulations 2005
These 3 ProCompliance courses name the Work at Height Regulations 2005 as their governing framework. They are the training this law asks for. Each course page states its own accreditation.
Ladder Safety TrainingIOSH approvedCPD accreditedFalls from ladders remain a common cause of serious injury, usually because the wrong ladder was used or it was not secured.View infoFree trial: Ladder Safety Training
Read our guides: Working at height safely and Ladder safety.
What the Work at Height Regulations 2005 require
Employers must ensure that anyone engaged in work at height is competent, or, if being trained, “is being supervised by a competent person”.
Read the official text on legislation.gov.uk
What the Work at Height Regulations 2005 mean for training
The regulations require competence and name no certificate. Training is how most people build and evidence competence. Someone still in training must work under the supervision of a competent person.
Common questions
Is there a minimum height for the Work at Height Regulations?
No. The regulations apply to work at any height where a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury.
Do I need a certificate to work at height?
The regulations require competence and name no specific certificate. Regulation 5 requires those working at height to be competent. A competent person must supervise anyone still in training.
Do the Work at Height Regulations apply to contractors and the self employed?
Yes. Regulation 3 applies the employer duties to a self employed person. It also applies them to any other person, for work by someone under their control. In other words, a contractor who controls the work carries the duty, even where the workers are not theirs.
Is any work at height left outside the regulations?
A short list is. Regulation 3(4) lifts regulations 4 to 16 off the normal ship board work of a ship's crew. It also lifts them off dock operations and off fish loading, at the places the earlier regulations name. Finally, it lifts them off instruction or leadership in caving or climbing as sport. Otherwise the Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply.
This plain English summary is not legal advice. The wording above comes from the official text. This page links to that text, and you should rely on it instead. Some duties depend on your own risk assessment, so only that assessment can tell you what they mean.