Anyone working at heights or in tight spaces (including in standby or support roles) is legally required to complete the following nationally recognised training:
Once you’ve completed these, you must also complete regular refresher training every 2-3 years.
Most employers schedule refresher training for both working at heights and confined spaces every 1-2 years, in line with Australian Standard AS2865 and industry recommendations for companies in construction, electrotechnology, engineering, mining and resources, civil construction, and logistics.
Many companies in these sectors employ workers who need both refresher training courses. Instead of booking both separately, you can combine them and complete both together (back-to-back) with Major Training, either at one of our locations in Queensland and NSW or privately at your site.
TL;DR – How to Read This Guide
- We start by covering the two refresher courses individually, explaining what each one involves and who it’s for.
- We then discuss what a combined refresher course looks like.
- Scroll to the end if you want to book a combined course.
- You can also book individual refresher courses using the links throughout this article.
Working at Heights Refresher Course
Employees are legally required to complete refresher training to continue working at heights. And employers are responsible for providing this to their workers.
A working at heights online refresher course only takes 1 day to complete and combines classroom-based theory assessments with practical simulated workshops. Upon successful completion of the course, you’ll get a nationally recognised statement (proof of competency) that allows workers to continue their duties legally and safely.
What does the course involve?
A working at heights refresher course recaps workers on the risks, correct processes, safety requirements, and legal regulations of working in high places, such as on ladders, scaffolding, roofs, buildings, and suspended platforms. It also helps improve emergency response and preparedness by reviewing emergency procedures and safety protocols.
Participants must complete both theory and practical training that reviews the following concepts:
- Regulations and Australian standards around working at heights
- Fall risk assessments and hazard mitigation
- Choosing the right equipment to work at heights
- Using anchor systems, harnesses, and fall restraint systems
- Correctly setting up and using work positioning systems and fall arrest systems
- Ladder safety training
- Conduct work safely at heights
- Cleaning and dismantling of the work area
Who is the course for?
Anyone who works at heights. This could include construction workers climbing up and down ladders on the Gold Coast, crane operators moving goods at the Port of Brisbane, electricians fixing roof lighting in the suburbs of Cairns, and engineers tinkering with high structures in the central Sunshine Coast.
There’s no specific profile, job role, or industry that requires refresher training for working at heights. If your job involves working in high places, you are legally required to undertake this training in Queensland.
How much does it cost?
Working at heights refresher training costs $175 per person. Funding is available for companies and employees in Queensland via a variety of programs. You can find more details in the Funding section further down this article.
Book Working at Heights Refresher Training
Confined Spaces Refresher Training
A confined space course covers safe and legal procedures when working in tight spaces. The refresher course is designed to help companies stay compliant and up-to-date with legal regulations and changes, as it recaps key components of confined space work. For compliance reasons, it’s recommended to complete confined space refresher training every 12-24 months.
What does the course involve?
A confined spaces refresher course recaps the knowledge and skills required to undertake work in tight spaces and areas where movement is limited. It’s less comprehensive than an initial training course (as it’s a refresher), but the course material covers these general concepts:
- Plan and prepare to work in confined spaces
- Test and monitor the atmosphere for hazards
- Safe communication in high-risk environments
- Obtain and comply with entry permits
- Confined space entry and exits with correct workplace procedures
- Work safely while in confined spaces
- Correct PPE and workplace equipment
- Inspect and service equipment
Who is the course for?
Anyone whose work involves entering tight spaces or areas where their movement is limited. This is most common in electrical work or in construction projects, where workers are often required to install, fix, demolish, wire, weld, or sustain items and appliances in tight areas.
How much does it cost?
Confined spaces refresher training costs $175 per person at Major Training. Workers and employers can get funding from a variety of programs to pay for this course – just make sure you show us proof of funding when you book the course.
Book Confined Spaces Refresher Training
Can You Book Both Courses At Once?
Yes! With Major Training, you can combine both refresher courses in one. This is perfect for employers and trade companies looking to give full refresher training to their workers (usually in the construction industry, but it’s also ideal for any company where employees regularly work at heights and in tight spaces, like electricians and engineers).
You can even combine multiple other refresher courses, such as hazard identification refresher training. The only entry requirement is that you must have completed a full course for each required unit before you can complete refresher training.
What to Expect with a Combined Working at Heights and Confined Space Refresher Course
Combining the two refresher courses will double the required training, but it’ll make things a lot easier, smoother, more flexible, and more efficient for you and your company. Most trade businesses in QLD require both refresher courses, so it makes sense to complete both in one go.
Here’s the process for booking a combined working at heights and confined space refresher course:
- Contact us to book a combined working at heights and confined spaces refresher online. We’ll discuss your training needs and refresher requirements, such as group bookings and space needs.
- Attend one of our training locations in QLD and NSW, or let our expert trainers come to you for private training at your job site.
- Complete one refresher training, then the other, across 2 days.
- All employees and participants must pass a brief assessment, after which they’ll be awarded a statement of attainment that proves their competency.
Both refresher units are recognised by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and meet strict compliance and safety requirements.
Funding Options for Refresher Training
You can get funding to pay for your refresher training. Funding options for workers and companies in Queensland include:
- State Funding – The government pays your course fees for you, such as through federal incentive programs, which encourage employers to upskill their workers.
- Industry Funding – Authorities and organisations that pay for trade courses. Examples include Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) and the Bert Training Fund (BTF).
- Self-Funding – You can also pay for your refresher training yourself using payment plans with no interest for up to 12 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth combining working at heights and confined space refresher training?
Absolutely. Most employers and workers who work at heights also work in tight spaces. This means they require BOTH confined spaces and working at heights training (and to refresh this knowledge every year or two). Combining both means you can get all your legally required refresher training done at the same time.
Can I complete working at heights refresher training online?
No, you are required to complete in-person training, even for a refresher course for working at heights. This is because registered trainers must be able to verify your competency and, crucially, they must be able to see that you understand what’s required when working at heights. It’s a type of work where the risk level is heightened, which is why you can’t simply complete an online course.
How long does it take to complete both refresher courses?
Each course takes up to 1 day to complete. We offer combined working at heights and confined space refresher training across 2 days, but we can also arrange for it to take just a single day if you’d prefer, as most people complete the training in just a few hours per unit. If you prefer the 2-day option, you can book these days consecutively or non-consecutively – it’s up to you.
Why combine confined spaces refresher training with a working at heights course?
These two refresher courses cover separate concepts and training, but they’re related. It’s often the case that a worker who’s required to climb a ladder or scaffolding is also required to squeeze into a gap or handle a task in a tight area. So it makes sense to combine the two courses and complete all refresher training in one go.
Book Your Refresher Training Today
Book your working at heights and confined space refresher online today with Major Training. We’re a registered training provider (RTO) servicing priority trades in Queensland and northern New South Wales.
Our purpose-built training locations offer simulated worksite environments to carry out refresher training, or we can come to your workplace and provide private training on-site.
Get in touch today to book your refresher training and ensure your company continues to run smoothly, efficiently, safely, and legally.
