In Marine and Ports, 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 Marine and Ports 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 Marine and Ports: where the risk lies
A maintenance team accessing a quayside crane gantry in Cork or Arklow, where a fall could be to the deck or into the water. 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 Marine and Ports setting the margin for error is small.
Pre-use checks for Anchor Points and Lifelines
Before any Marine and Ports worker uses Anchor Points and Lifelines, confirm that:
- The anchor is certified and rated for the load
- Fixings and structure are sound
- The connector is compatible and locked
- 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
- Corroded or loose fixings
- Using unrated structure as an anchor
- Incompatible connectors
- Insufficient fall clearance
Port height work adds drowning risk to fall risk, so rescue planning must cover both.
The Working at Heights Course makes compliance simple
The practical fix is straightforward. 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 Marine and Ports 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
The rescue plan is the part most teams forget. If a worker doing Anchor Points and Lifelines in Marine and Ports falls and is left hanging in a harness, suspension trauma can become life-threatening within minutes. Calling the emergency services is not a rescue plan; having the equipment, the trained people and the method to recover them quickly is. Our Working at Heights Training makes that planning routine.
Insurers now ask directly whether your team holds current Working at Heights certification before they price a policy or settle a claim involving Anchor Points and Lifelines in Marine and Ports. A worker hurt at height with no Working at Heights Certificate turns a defensible incident into an indefensible one, and that follows your premium for years.
Frequently asked questions
Do Marine and Ports 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 Marine and Ports 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 Marine and Ports 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. Marine and Ports 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.
