In Agriculture and Farming, Anchor Points and Lifelines are a common way to work at height - and a common source of falls when they are misused. This guide explains how Agriculture and Farming teams in Ireland use Anchor Points and Lifelines safely, and why a Working at Heights Course ties it all together.
Anchor Points and Lifelines in Agriculture and Farming: where the risk lies
A farmer replacing storm-damaged roof sheeting on an exposed shed, often alone, with no one to raise the alarm after a fall. Anchor Points and Lifelines are suited to providing a secure attachment for restraint or arrest systems on roofs, structures and access routes, but in a Agriculture and Farming setting the margin for error is small.
Pre-use checks for Anchor Points and Lifelines
Before any Agriculture and Farming worker uses Anchor Points and Lifelines, confirm that:
- Fall-clearance below the anchor is sufficient
- Fixings and structure are sound
- The anchor is certified and rated for the load
- The system is in date for inspection
The relevant standard here is EN 795 (anchor devices), installed and certified by a competent person and inspected regularly.
Common Anchor Points and Lifelines faults to never ignore
- Using unrated structure as an anchor
- Incompatible connectors
- Insufficient fall clearance
- Corroded or loose fixings
Agriculture has one of Ireland's worst fatal-fall records. Fragile-roof awareness and never working alone at height are the key messages.
The Working at Heights Course makes compliance simple
You do not need a classroom or a lost work day to fix this. Our Working at Heights Course is delivered fully online, takes about 45 minutes, and issues a downloadable certificate the same day. It is CPD certified, RoSPA approved and QQI aligned, and it is written specifically for Agriculture and Farming teams using Anchor Points and Lifelines.
The Working at Heights Training covers the avoid-prevent-minimise hierarchy, ladder and stepladder safety, MEWPs and scaffolds, harnesses and anchor points, and how to carry out a proper risk assessment. Every learner finishes with a recognised Working at Heights Certificate that stands up to HSA inspection and supports your insurance position.
Training that goes beyond the tick-box
Supervision is the quiet control that holds everything together. Even a perfectly trained worker drifts under time pressure, so someone on site needs the knowledge and the authority to stop unsafe work involving Anchor Points and Lifelines in Agriculture and Farming before it becomes an incident. That only happens when supervisors are trained too.
Weather turns a routine job into a dangerous one faster than anything else in Ireland. Wind, rain, frost and poor light all raise the risk of Anchor Points and Lifelines in Agriculture and Farming, and the right call is often to stop and reassess rather than push on. Knowing where that line sits is part of being properly trained.
Frequently asked questions
Do Agriculture and Farming workers need training to use Anchor Points and Lifelines?
Yes. Safe use of Anchor Points and Lifelines is part of working at height. A Working at Heights Course covers selection, inspection and safe use for Agriculture and Farming tasks.
How often should Anchor Points and Lifelines be inspected?
Before every use by the operator, plus formal recorded inspections to the relevant standard. Keep the logs for HSA inspection.
Is online training enough for Agriculture and Farming height work?
Our online Working at Heights Training covers the legal and safe-system knowledge; equipment-specific practical tickets (such as IPAF or PASMA) are added where the task requires them.
Get certified today
Do not wait for an HSA inspection or a near miss to act. Agriculture and Farming teams can complete the Working at Heights Course online in 45 minutes and download a certificate the same day. For 10 or more learners, see our team training rates, or contact our team for a tailored quote.
Start the online Working at Heights Training now and put a recognised certificate in every worker's file before the next job at height begins.
