Oposiciones →
Module 1 of 7 · 15 min

What work at height is and what comes first

Free work at height course: read the module, review with the questions and move on to the next one. At the end, a test and a PDF certificate.

Module 1 of 7 · Course contents

When temporary work at height cannot be done safely and in acceptable ergonomic conditions from a suitable surface, the employer must choose the most appropriate equipment (Royal Decree 2177/2004, annex II, 4.1.1).

The rules for choosing

  • Collective protection before personal protection: guardrails, platforms or nets before a harness.
  • The choice cannot be subordinated to economic criteria.
  • The means of access is chosen according to how often people go up, how high and for how long, and it must allow evacuation in case of danger.

The principles of the Prevention Act

Avoiding risks, tackling them at source and putting collective protection before personal protection are principles of preventive action (Law 31/1995, article 15.1).

In practiceTo clean gutters for two days, a mobile elevating platform with a guardrail is better than a ladder and harness, even if the ladder «works out cheaper».

Source: Real Decreto 2177/2004, trabajos temporales en altura (temporary work at height, in Spanish), annex II, point 4.1.1 · Ley 31/1995, de Prevención de Riesgos Laborales (Occupational Risk Prevention Act, in Spanish), article 15.1

Quick review

Check that you've understood. These are questions from the final test: tap an answer to see whether it's right and why.

When choosing equipment for work at height, what has priority?

Can a ladder be chosen instead of a platform just because it is cheaper?

Which principle of the Prevention Act applies when choosing between a guardrail and a harness?

Module practice test

5 new questions, different from the final test. Tap an answer to see whether it is right, why, and which rule it comes from.

1. When must special equipment be chosen for work at height?

2. What does the choice of means of access depend on?

3. What must the chosen means of access always allow?

4. What is the first principle of preventive action?

5. What should the size of equipment for work at height be like?

Course contents