Two pieces of paper decide whether a fall claim is paid: the risk assessment and the training record. Without them, your insurer has grounds to repudiate. With them, the claim is paid and the case is closed. Here is how Irish work-at-height insurance actually works.
The two policies you need
- Employers liability: covers your own employees if they are injured at work. Mandatory for any Irish business with employees.
- Public liability: covers third parties (members of the public, customers, visitors) if injured by your activities or property. Strongly recommended for any trade business.
For Working at Heights work, both policies look at the same evidence: was the worker trained, was the task assessed, was the equipment inspected.
What Irish insurers ask
Standard renewal questions across the Irish insurance market in 2026:
- Do all your workers hold a valid Working at Heights Certificate?
- Is the certificate from a CPD or RoSPA accredited provider?
- What is the maximum height your workers operate at?
- Do you use ladders, scaffolds, MEWPs, harnesses?
- Are equipment inspection logs maintained?
- Are risk assessments site-specific and signed?
- Have there been any claims in the last 5 years?
"No" or "I don't know" to any of the first six lifts your premium 30-60%. "Yes" with documentation lowers it.
The training cost vs insurance saving
| Crew size | Annual training cost | Typical insurance saving |
|---|---|---|
| 5 workers | ~150 euro / year (online cert + refresher) | 500-1,500 euro / year on EL premium |
| 10 workers | ~280 euro / year | 1,000-3,000 euro / year |
| 25 workers | ~600 euro / year | 3,000-8,000 euro / year |
The Working at Heights Course pays for itself purely on insurance, before you count fewer incidents and faster claim resolution.
Claim repudiation - the worst case
If a claim arises and the insurer finds:
- Worker had no Working at Heights Certificate
- Risk assessment was missing or generic
- Equipment was uninspected
- HSA had previously issued an Improvement Notice on the same matter
...the insurer can repudiate the claim. The employer becomes personally liable. Irish High Court awards in workplace fall cases are typically 80,000-500,000 euro for serious injuries, into the millions for catastrophic outcomes. This is what bankrupts small businesses.
The pre-renewal audit
Before your next renewal, gather:
- Working at Heights Certificate copies for every worker (sign-off in expiry order)
- Risk assessment template and 3 example completed assessments
- Equipment inspection log (ladders, harnesses, anchors)
- Training matrix showing who holds what cert and when it expires
- Incident log (last 5 years - even near-misses)
Send this to your broker before renewal. Most Irish brokers will negotiate the premium based on documented evidence.
Adding new workers mid-policy
New start tomorrow morning? Send them the Working at Heights Course online link tonight - 45 minutes, instant download, ready for the morning. Your broker treats them as covered as soon as the certificate is on file.
Working at Heights Certificate as evidence
The PDF certificate from a CPD / RoSPA accredited course shows:
- Worker name
- Date of training
- Validity period (3 years)
- Provider accreditation
- Verification code (insurers can confirm authenticity online)
This is what brokers and insurers want to see in your renewal pack.
FAQs
If a worker is self-employed, do I still need to ask for their cert?
Yes. Most public liability policies require the principal contractor to verify sub-contractor training. Document the cert copy on file.
Does the cert cover all activities or only specific ones?
The general Working at Heights Course covers the full range of activities listed in your risk assessment. Equipment-specific tickets (IPAF, PASMA) are recommended on top.
What if my insurer changes the renewal questions next year?
The trend is consistent - more documentation requested, not less. Build the file now and update annually.
Lock in the saving on your next renewal. Start the Working at Heights Course online for the whole team, 45 minutes per learner, instant Working at Heights Certificate. Team rates for crews of 5+.
