Course Objectives

The objective of the Fall Protection Plan Developer course is to develop the knowledge, practical understanding and legal competence required to plan, implement and manage safe systems of work for activities performed at height. The course aims to equip learners with the ability to identify fall hazards, assess associated risks and apply appropriate control measures in accordance with South African legislative requirements and recognised best practice.

By the end of this course, learners will be able to explain the legal framework governing work at height, including the duties imposed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993) and the Construction Regulations, 2014 (Regulation 10). Learners will understand what constitutes work at height, why falls occur, and how human, environmental and equipment factors contribute to fall-related incidents.

Learners will be able to apply the hierarchy of controls to eliminate or reduce fall risks through the correct selection and implementation of fall prevention, fall restraint and fall arrest systems. The course further aims to develop the learner’s ability to understand fall dynamics, clearance requirements, anchor point positioning and the limitations of fall arrest systems, enabling informed planning decisions.

A key objective of the course is to enable learners to competently develop, document and implement a site-specific Fall Protection Plan. This includes conducting hazard identification and risk assessments, defining safe work procedures, selecting suitable equipment, ensuring worker competence and medical fitness, and establishing supervision and monitoring arrangements.

The course also aims to ensure learners understand the critical importance of rescue planning. Learners will be able to identify the risks associated with suspension trauma, develop practical rescue and emergency procedures, and integrate these procedures into the Fall Protection Plan in line with legal requirements.

Overall, the course objectives are focused on developing competent Fall Protection Plan Developers who are capable of designing practical, legally compliant and effective fall protection systems that reduce the likelihood of falls, protect workers from serious injury, and support ongoing compliance and continuous improvement within their organisations.

Course Topics

Introduction to work at height and the scope of fall-related hazards across different work environments. This includes a clear understanding of what constitutes work at height and why falls continue to be a leading cause of serious injury and fatalities.

Causes of falls and contributing factors, including human behaviour, environmental conditions and equipment-related issues. Emphasis is placed on risk perception, fatigue, unsafe practices, changing site conditions and equipment deterioration.

Overview of fall protection principles and the hierarchy of controls, with detailed coverage of fall prevention, fall restraint and fall arrest systems, and an understanding of why prevention and restraint are preferred over arrest systems.

Fall protection systems and equipment, including anchors, lifelines, connectors, harness types and specifications. The limitations, compatibility requirements and correct application of fall protection equipment are addressed.

Inspection, care, maintenance and rejection criteria for fall protection equipment, including the importance of routine inspections and record keeping to ensure ongoing safety and compliance.

Legal requirements for work at height in South Africa, including the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993), the Construction Regulations, 2014 (Regulation 10), applicable General Safety Regulations and relevant SANS standards.

Roles, responsibilities and competence requirements of employers, contractors, supervisors, Fall Protection Plan Developers and workers involved in work at height activities.

Understanding fall dynamics, including fall factors, free fall distance, clearance calculations, swing fall risks and the forces generated during a fall arrest.

Hazard identification and risk assessment for work at height, including the identification of structural, environmental, human and mechanical hazards and the integration of control measures into the Fall Protection Plan.

Development of a compliant Fall Protection Plan, including mandatory components, documentation standards, planning of work at height, and integration of safe work procedures.

Medical fitness and training requirements for persons working at height, including the importance of health surveillance and competence verification.

Emergency procedures and rescue planning for work at height, including suspension trauma, rescue equipment requirements, site-specific rescue plans and emergency communication protocols.

Monitoring, supervision and permit-to-work systems for work at height, including daily checks, supervisory inspections and enforcement of the Fall Protection Plan.

Record keeping, review and continuous improvement, including audits, incident investigation, corrective actions and updating of Fall Protection Plans as conditions change.

Practical case studies involving fall incidents, analysis of root causes, lessons learned and preventative strategies to improve fall protection planning and implementation.

Course Methodology

The Fall Protection Plan Developer course is delivered using a blended learning methodology that combines structured theoretical instruction with practical application to ensure meaningful competence development. The methodology is designed to support adult learners by integrating legal knowledge, technical understanding and real-world application relevant to work at height activities.

The course content is presented through structured learning modules that include written learning material, visual resources and guided explanations to support different learning styles. Key concepts are reinforced through diagrams, images and instructional videos that illustrate fall hazards, fall protection systems, equipment use and rescue planning in practical workplace contexts.

Legislative and compliance requirements are addressed through guided interpretation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993), the Construction Regulations, 2014 (Regulation 10), and applicable standards. Learners are encouraged to apply these legal requirements to real work scenarios rather than memorising legislative text.

Interactive knowledge checks and scenario-based questions are used throughout the course to promote critical thinking and to assess the learner’s ability to apply principles of fall protection planning. Case studies based on real-world incidents are incorporated to illustrate common failures in planning, supervision and system design, and to reinforce preventative strategies.

Practical application is emphasised through activities that require learners to identify hazards, assess risks, select appropriate control measures and develop elements of a compliant Fall Protection Plan. These activities are designed to reflect workplace conditions and support the transfer of learning to the learner’s own work environment.

Assessment is conducted through a combination of auto-marked knowledge assessments and manually evaluated written responses to ensure both understanding and application of learning outcomes. Successful completion of the course confirms that the learner has demonstrated the competence required to contribute to or develop Fall Protection Plans in accordance with legal and operational requirements.

This methodology ensures that learning is structured, progressive and outcome-based, supporting the development of competent Fall Protection Plan Developers capable of implementing practical, legally compliant and effective fall protection systems.