In Marine and Ports, Podium Steps 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 Podium Steps safely, and why a Working at Heights Course ties it all together.
Podium Steps 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. Podium Steps are suited to low-level indoor work where a guarded, stable platform beats a stepladder, but in a Marine and Ports setting the margin for error is small.
Pre-use checks for Podium Steps
Before any Marine and Ports worker uses Podium Steps, confirm that:
- The unit is stable and square
- The gate self-closes and latches
- Guardrails are intact
- Castors are locked in use
The relevant standard here is EN 131-7 (mobile platforms); a guarded, stable alternative to stepladders.
Common Podium Steps faults to never ignore
- Overloading
- Gate left open
- Overreaching beyond the guardrail
- Unlocked castors
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 Podium Steps.
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 Podium Steps in Marine and Ports before it becomes an incident. That only happens when supervisors are trained too.
The most expensive mistake employers make with Podium Steps in Marine and Ports is treating training as a box-ticking exercise. The Health and Safety Authority does not just want a certificate on file; it wants evidence that the worker understood the avoid-prevent-minimise hierarchy and applied it on the day. A genuine Working at Heights Course builds that understanding, which is exactly why our online programme uses real scenarios rather than slides.
Frequently asked questions
Do Marine and Ports workers need training to use Podium Steps?
Yes. Safe use of Podium Steps 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 Podium Steps 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.
More on staying safe at height
Documentation is what turns good practice into proven compliance for podium steps in marine and ports. Keep your risk assessment, your method statement, your equipment inspection logs and your training records together, and an HSA visit becomes a short, calm conversation rather than a drawn-out investigation.
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.
