Working at Heights and Manual Handling are the two most-requested compliance tickets in Ireland - together they cover roughly 80 percent of HSA inspections in construction, warehouse, retail, healthcare and FM. Buying them as a pair saves time, money and the friction of two separate provider relationships. This is the practical guide for individual workers and for HR teams running combined training across an Irish workforce.
Why workers ask for both at the same time
The Irish workplace tasks that trigger Working at Heights duties almost always trigger Manual Handling duties too:
- Roofer carrying tiles up a roof ladder
- Warehouse picker lifting from a high rack via MEWP
- Retail stocker carrying boxes up a stepladder to top shelves
- Healthcare staff lifting equipment onto wall-mounted brackets
- FM technician transporting plant components onto a flat roof
- Solar PV installer moving panels from ground to roof
The HSA inspector who asks for the Working at Heights Certificate almost invariably asks for the Manual Handling Certificate next. Pair them up front and the conversation is over in seconds.
What each course covers
Working at Heights Course
45 minutes online, 35 euro, instant Working at Heights Certificate valid 3 years. Covers SHWW Act 2005, SI 299/2007 Part 4 Chapter 2, the hierarchy of control, equipment selection, fall protection systems, rescue planning. Full breakdown on the Working at Heights Course page.
Manual Handling Course
30 to 40 minutes online, around 30 euro, instant Manual Handling Certificate valid 3 years. Covers SI 299/2007 Part 2 Chapter 4, the principles of safe lifting, the LITE assessment (Load, Individual, Task, Environment), team lifting, mechanical aids and the prevention of musculoskeletal injuries.
Combined course total: time and cost
| Item | Working at Heights Course | Manual Handling Course | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | 45 minutes | 30 to 40 minutes | ~75 to 85 minutes |
| Price (individual) | 35 euro | ~30 euro | ~60 to 65 euro |
| Validity | 3 years | 3 years | Both 3 years |
| Certificate format | Instant PDF | Instant PDF | Two PDFs |
| Accreditation | CPD, RoSPA, HSA aligned | CPD, RoSPA, HSA aligned | Both accredited |
Done in a single sitting before lunch, both certificates downloaded by 11am.
Why HR teams buy them together
Combined enrolment for new hires removes two separate compliance touchpoints. The team dashboard at /team tracks both courses per worker, with one renewal calendar, one pricing tier and one payment relationship.
Bulk crew pricing for combined training
| Crew size | Combined per learner | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | ~65 euro | up to 260 euro |
| 5 to 9 | ~58 euro | 290 to 522 euro |
| 10 to 24 | ~52 euro | 520 to 1,248 euro |
| 25 to 49 | ~48 euro | 1,200 to 2,352 euro |
| 50 to 99 | ~42 euro | 2,100 to 4,158 euro |
| 100 plus | Quote | Custom |
Live tier pricing on the team training page, instant 30-second auto-quote.
Industries that buy the Working at Heights and Manual Handling combo
- Construction - main contractors and subbies on every site
- Warehouse and logistics - MEWP, racking, palletising
- Retail - stocking, displays, shop fit-outs
- Healthcare - clinical staff, EN, FM, porters
- Hospitality - kitchens, venues, FM teams
- Manufacturing - plant maintenance, line operators
- Agriculture and farming - barns, silos, equipment
- Education - caretakers and contractors
- Office environments - facility teams
Suggested onboarding order
- Manual Handling first - shorter, builds confidence with the online platform
- Working at Heights Course second - longer, builds on the same risk-assessment thinking
- Both certificates downloaded into the HRIS / employer dashboard
- Toolbox talk on day one to reinforce both topics on real tasks
Combined renewal cycle
Both certificates run on a 3-year cycle. Aligning them on the same renewal date simplifies HR scheduling - the dashboard sends a single 90 / 60 / 30 day reminder for both. Renewals also take 75 to 85 minutes combined, exactly the same as the original.
What about Fire Warden, First Aid Awareness, HACCP?
Each Irish workplace has its own compliance map. Common combinations layered on top of Working at Heights + Manual Handling:
- Fire Warden / Fire Safety - for FM, retail, hospitality, healthcare
- First Aid Awareness - for site supervisors, lone workers
- HACCP - for kitchen, food production, hospitality
- Asbestos Awareness - for construction, FM, demolition
Each is a separate accredited online course, each carries its own certificate, each is fully tax deductible.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do the Working at Heights Course and Manual Handling Course back to back?
Yes. Most learners complete both in a single 75 to 85 minute sitting and download both certificates the same morning.
Do I need both for an Irish construction site?
Almost always yes. Most main contractors require Safe Pass + Working at Heights + Manual Handling at minimum.
Are there discounts for buying the combo?
Volume tiers on the team plan apply across both courses combined, so a 10-person crew taking both pays the same per-course rate as 20 single-course enrolments.
Can the certificates be issued in a single PDF?
They are issued as two separate PDFs (different accreditation bodies). Many HR teams combine them into a single staff training pack.
Get both certified in 85 minutes. Start the Working at Heights Course online, then add Manual Handling for full HSA compliance for around 65 euro total.
