⚠️ Legal requirement — any worker in a fall risk position must hold a valid certificate. Book Fall Arrest Level 1 →
SAQA 229998 · NQF Level 1 · SSETA Accredited

South Africa FALL
ARREST
TRAINING

The essential qualification for every worker in a fall risk position. Learn to correctly use harnesses, lanyards, anchor points and lifelines — and walk away with an IWH-recognised certificate on the same day.

SSETA
SSETA Accredited
IWH
IWH Recognised
OHS
OHS Act Compliant
Course fee
R 850 excl. VAT
Per person · Group discounts available
Duration
1 Day
Certificate
Same day
Valid for
3 Years
NQF Level
Level 1
Book now → WhatsApp quote
🔒 No payment required to enquire
SAQA Unit Standard229998
NQF LevelLevel 1
Credits2 Credits
AccreditationSSETA / QCTO
Professional BodyIWH-PB
DesignationFall Arrest Operator
1 Day
Course duration
R850
From per person
3yr
Certificate validity
Same
Day certificate issued
⚠️
OHS Act requirement: Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993, Construction Regulation 10, every worker in a fall risk position must be trained and in possession of a valid Fall Arrest certificate. Failure to comply exposes employers to fines of up to R50,000, site shutdowns, and criminal liability in the event of an incident.

Equipment you'll be trained on

This course covers the full range of personal fall arrest equipment. You'll learn to inspect, fit, and use each component correctly before you leave the training venue.

🦺
Full-body harness
Correct donning procedure, fit checks, D-ring positioning, and pre-use inspection criteria.
Anchor points
Identifying safe vs. unsafe anchorage, load ratings, and structural attachment requirements.
🔗
Lanyards & energy absorbers
Shock-absorbing lanyards, twin-leg lanyards, inspection criteria, and working load limits.
🎯
Self-retracting lifelines (SRLs)
How SRLs work, arrest distance, inspection, and correct deployment for horizontal and vertical travel.
📏
Horizontal lifelines
Basic installation principles, span loading, and how to work safely along a horizontal line.
🪢
Rope grabs & vertical lifelines
Rope grab operation, correct installation on kernmantle ropes, and travel direction requirements.

Is this course for you?

Fall Arrest Level 1 is required for any worker whose tasks place them in a fall risk position — across all industries and sectors.

🔧
Construction workers & site supervisors
📡
Telecom tower & antenna technicians
Eskom & electrical line workers
🏗️
Scaffolding & rigging teams
🌞
Solar & rooftop installation crews
🏢
Facility management & maintenance
⛏️
Mining & open-cast workers
🪟
Window cleaning & glazing professionals

What you'll learn

  • 01OHS Act & fall protection legislation — your rights, your employer's duties, and Construction Regulation 10 explained.
  • 02Fall hazard identification & risk assessment — how to spot fall hazards before starting any task at height.
  • 03Harness selection, fitting & adjustment — correct donning, fit-check procedures, D-ring positioning and rejection criteria.
  • 04Anchorage & anchor point selection — identifying structural anchor points, load ratings, and what makes an anchor unsafe.
  • 05Lanyards, SRLs & connectors — types, inspection, shock-absorption ratings and correct connection to the harness and anchor.
  • 06Fall factors & free-fall clearance — calculating minimum free space below the worker to prevent ground contact.
  • 07Horizontal & vertical lifeline systems — installation principles, span loading and safe travel techniques.
  • 08Equipment care & storage — correct cleaning, storage conditions and removal-from-service criteria after a fall event.
  • 09Practical competency assessment — hands-on evaluation of harness fitting, anchor rigging, and lifeline use on site or at our facility.
Entry requirements
Certified copy of South African ID or valid passport (driver's licence not accepted)
Valid medical fitness certificate from a registered healthcare provider confirming fitness for work in a fall risk position
Basic literacy and numeracy in English (special needs accommodated on request)

What's included
Full training manual and course reference materials
Theory and practical assessments
IWH Certificate of Competency — issued same day on passing
Digital certificate available immediately for employer submission
Statement of SAQA credits (229998 — 2 Credits, NQF Level 1)
Certificate valid 3 years from date of issue

Your upgrade path

Level 1 is your starting point. Each course builds on the last, unlocking more responsibility and higher-paying roles on site.

You are here
Level 1 · Entry
Fall Arrest Operator
SAQA 229998 · NQF L1 · 2 Credits
R850 excl. VAT · 1 day
Level 2 · Rescue
Fall Arrest Rescue Technician
SAQA 229995 · NQF L2 · 3 Credits
R1,300 excl. VAT · 2 days
Level 4 · Management
Fall Protection Planner
SAQA 229994 · NQF L4 · 3 Credits
R3,500 excl. VAT · 3 days

✦ Bundle Level 1 + Level 2 together for R2,000 — save R350 per person.

What our students say

Fall Arrest Level 1 students from construction, mining, telecoms and solar sectors across South Africa.

★★★★★

"Did the full day course in Johannesburg. Trainer was excellent — very practical, not just theory. Had my IWH certificate before I left the venue. Employer accepted it on the spot."

SM
Sipho Mhlongo
Scaffolder · Germiston
★★★★★

"Altra Med came to our site in Durban for a group of 8 technicians. Everything was set up and done professionally. The guys really understood the harness and anchor work by the end."

PD
Pieter du Plessis
Operations Manager · Durban Telecoms
★★★★★

"Needed urgent recertification — my certificate had expired and I had a new project starting Monday. Called on Thursday, done and certified by Friday afternoon. Lifesavers."

LN
Lungelo Ntuli
Solar Installer · Cape Town

Accredited & employer-recognised

Our Fall Arrest Level 1 certificate is accepted by all major construction, mining, telecoms and facilities employers across South Africa. Aligned to SAQA 229998, quality-assured by SSETA, and registered with the IWH Professional Body.

SSETA
SAQA
IWH-PB
OHS Act 85/1993
NQF Level 1

FAQ

Fall Arrest training teaches workers in a fall risk position to correctly select, inspect, fit, and use personal fall arrest systems — harnesses, lanyards, anchor points, and lifelines — to prevent serious injury or death from a fall. It is a legal requirement under OHS Act 85 of 1993, Construction Regulation 10. Workers without a valid certificate are not permitted to work in a fall risk position on any site.

Fall Arrest Level 1 is aligned to SAQA Unit Standard 229998: "Explain and perform fall arrest techniques when working at height." It is registered at NQF Level 1, carries 2 Credits, and is quality-assured by SSETA. Successful learners are designated Fall Arrest Operators by the IWH Professional Body.

The certificate is valid for 3 years from the date of issue. After expiry, a 1-day refresher course is required to recertify — you do not need to redo the full course. Contact us to set a reminder and we'll notify you before your certificate expires.

Yes. We offer on-site Fall Arrest training at your facility anywhere in South Africa. We bring the trainer, all fall arrest equipment, and course materials. Groups of 5 or more qualify for group discounts. On-site training reduces lost time and is particularly cost-effective for larger teams. Contact us on +27 83 442 5052 or [email protected] for a quote.

You need a valid medical fitness certificate from a registered healthcare provider (general practitioner or occupational health nurse) confirming that you are medically fit to work in a fall risk position. The certificate must not be expired. If you don't have one, we can refer you to occupational health clinics near our training venues.

Yes. Fall Arrest Level 1 (SAQA 229998) is the foundation for all higher-level fall protection qualifications. The Fall Arrest Rescue Level 2 (SAQA 229995) builds rescue skills on top of Level 1. The Fall Protection Planner course (SAQA 229994, NQF Level 4) is aimed at supervisors and safety officers and also requires prior Level 1 competency.

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