Working at Heights: Fall Protection, Training, and Rescue Plan

Working at heights isn't just about working on roofs or many meters above the ground. What matters is whether a fall could result in injury. The surface, openings, edges, machinery, water, materials, and work methods can also make working at lower heights risky.

This guide explains when fall hazards must be addressed, why collective measures should be prioritized, and what training in working at heights should cover.

When must an employer consider fall protection?

Employers must identify hazards and assess risks before work begins. The Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority describes falls as one of the most common causes of injuries and fatalities in Norwegian workplaces. If the task can be performed from the ground, that is often the safest option.

Therefore, there is no single, simple rule stating that everything below a certain height is automatically safe. The consequences of a potential fall must be assessed in conjunction with the likelihood of it occurring.

Read the Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority's guidelines on working at heights.

Collective fall protection before personal fall protection equipment

Planning should begin with solutions that protect multiple people without requiring each individual to attach themselves. Examples include guardrails, scaffolding, stair towers, personnel lifts, and covering openings. Personal fall protection equipment must be used when collective solutions are not possible or do not provide adequate protection.

There is an important difference between a system that prevents the user from reaching the edge of a fall and a system that only stops the person after a fall has begun. When using a fall arrest system, factors such as fall clearance, pendulum motion, anchorage, and how the person can be rescued quickly must be considered.

What should the training include?

• Hazard assessment and selection of work methods
• the sequence, ranging from avoiding work at heights to collective and individual measures
• harness, lanyard, fall arrester, connectors, and anchor points
• clearance, pendulum swing, and sharp edges
• Pre-use inspection, labeling, storage, and disposal
• Rescue plan, emergency notification, and risk of suspension trauma

Theory alone is not enough

An online course can provide the theoretical knowledge and serve as proof of passing a test. The employee must also be able to use the specific equipment safely. The employer must therefore provide practical, equipment-specific training, on-site instructions, and relevant rescue drills.

Training should be repeated or updated whenever there are changes to the equipment, work methods, work site, or risks. A signed course roster alone is not sufficient if the employee does not possess the actual skills required for the task.

What should a contingency plan address?

• How is the incident reported, and who is leading the rescue effort?
• How do you reach a person who is suspended in fall protection equipment?
• What rescue equipment is available, and who can use it?
• How can rescue personnel be protected from new fall hazards?
• How do you provide first aid and report the incident to 113?

The plan must be realistic for the workplace. It is not sufficient to assume that emergency services will handle every aspect of the rescue.

Documentation Employers Should Collect

1. Risk assessment and chosen work method
2. Documentation of theory and knowledge tests
3. documentation of practical and equipment-specific training
4. local guidelines, emergency response plan, and drills conducted
5. inspection and maintenance of the equipment