NPORS Safe Working at Height (N404)
Course Overview
The NPORS Safe Working at Height (N404) course is a half-day training programme designed to provide candidates with the essential knowledge and practical skills needed to work safely at height. It is suitable for people working in construction, maintenance, utilities, roofing, facilities management, and similar sectors where there is a risk of falling from an elevated position or into an opening.
During the NPORS Safe Working at Height course, delegates learn how to identify hazards, conduct risk assessments, select appropriate equipment, and use fall protection systems in line with the Work at Height Regulations 2005, industry guidance, and best practice, so they can carry out tasks at height more safely and with greater confidence.
Who is this course for?
This NPORS Safe Working at Height course is intended for personnel who work above or below ground level where there is a risk of falling. It is ideal for:
- Operatives who regularly work at height on ladders, scaffolds, rooftops, or elevated platforms.
- Construction and maintenance staff working on buildings, infrastructure, or industrial facilities.
- Utilities workers who need to access elevated positions as part of their duties.
- Supervisors who need a working understanding of safe working at height procedures.
- Anyone who needs to comply with the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
No previous formal working at height training is required. A basic awareness of health and safety is helpful but not essential, as key principles are introduced and reinforced during the course.
What you will learn
By the end of the NPORS Safe Working at Height course, delegates will:
- Have a basic understanding of the industry, the dangers of working in the industry, and their responsibilities when working at height.
- Be able to define work at height, identify the hazards of work above ground level, and outline the general requirements needed to control them.
- Be able to identify common causes of accidents in work at height.
- Have an appreciation of how to plan and organise work at height safely.
- Be able to set up exclusion zones and explain actions required for emergency situations, including identifying any overhead hazards.
- Identify and maintain PPE that is appropriate for safe working at height.
- Demonstrate safe working at height and explain key safety issues that could arise.
- Understand the Work at Height Regulations 2005, risk assessments, the hierarchy of control measures and environmental considerations such as weather conditions.
Practical exercises mirror typical site conditions where possible, giving delegates the chance to put the theory into practice under the guidance of an experienced instructor.
Assessment and certification
This course is assessed through a combination of classroom-based theory and hands-on demonstrations. Learners are evaluated via a written theory quiz and practical observation to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to work safely at height.
Delegates who meet the required standard in both parts of the assessment successfully complete the course and receive the NPORS Safe Working at Height (N404) certification, which is valid for 3 years.
Entry requirements and additional information
To attend this course, candidates must be at least 18 years of age, in good physical health, and capable of meeting the demands of practical training. An adequate level of spoken and written English is required so that delegates can fully engage with the course content and assessments. There are no formal qualification requirements, although any previous exposure to working at height will be beneficial.
This course can also be offered as a COTS-accredited in-house course. In-house training can be delivered either at the COTS Training centre or at customer premises and is not tied to an external awarding body syllabus, which gives COTS greater flexibility to tailor the content, examples, and emphasis to the customer’s specific work at height tasks, equipment, and procedures.
PPE requirements
For the practical session, delegates must wear suitable personal protective equipment. This includes:
- Safety footwear
- Suitable work clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt and trousers
- Hard hat
- High-visibility vest or jacket
- Any additional PPE required by the site risk assessment or company rules
Equipment for practical training will be provided or specified by COTS. Any extra or site-specific PPE requirements will be confirmed before the course date.
Why choose COTS Training for NPORS Safe Working at Height training?
Choosing COTS for NPORS Safe Working at Height training means delegates are taught by instructors who understand both the NPORS scheme and the realities of working at height on busy sites. Training is delivered in a clear and supportive way, with time set aside for questions, discussion and hands-on practice.
By the end of the course, our aim is that every delegate has the confidence to identify hazards, carry out basic risk assessments, select appropriate equipment, and work safely at height, applying best practice and current regulations whenever they work in elevated positions.
NPORS Safe Working at Height (N404) Course FAQs
01
What is the NPORS Safe Working at Height course?
The NPORS Safe Working at Height course is a half-day accredited training programme that teaches delegates how to identify hazards, assess risks, and work safely at height in compliance with the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It covers both the theory of fall protection and practical demonstrations of safe working practices.
02
Who should attend this NPORS Safe Working at Height training?
This course is suitable for anyone who works at height or needs to oversee work at height activities, including construction operatives, maintenance staff, roofers, utilities workers, and supervisors responsible for planning and managing work at height tasks.
03
What does the NPORS Safe Working at Height course cover?
The NPORS Safe Working at Height course covers hazard identification, risk assessment, the Work at Height Regulations 2005, accident causation, planning and organisation of work at height, selecting appropriate equipment, the hierarchy of control measures, setting up exclusion zones, emergency considerations, environmental factors, and practical demonstrations of safe working practices.
04
What are the entry requirements for this NPORS Safe Working at Height course?
Delegates must be at least 18 years of age, medically fit to work at height and able to understand spoken and written English so they can follow instructions and complete the assessments. No previous formal qualifications are required, though basic health and safety awareness is beneficial.
05
Where can I complete this NPORS Safe Working at Height training?
The NPORS Safe Working at Height course is delivered at the COTS Training Centre in Llandarcy or at your own premises (should you have the appropriate facilities). COTS also offers a COTS-accredited in-house version of the safe working at height course that can be run either at our centre or at your site, and is not tied to an external awarding body syllabus, allowing the content and examples to be tailored more closely to your work at height tasks, equipment and procedures.
06
Do I need an NVQ to get an NPORS card for working at height?
To apply for a traditional NPORS operator card, you do not need an NVQ. However, if you require an NPORS CSCS card showing the HS&E Tested logo, you must have passed the relevant CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test within the two years before application. For a Blue Competent Operator Card, which is typically valid for five years, you will need to complete a relevant NVQ within two years of obtaining the Red Trained Operator Card.
Approved Centre
Course Title
NPORS Safe Working at Height (N404)
Location
COTS Llandarcy / Client Site
Duration
0.5 Day
Max delegates
Up to 10
Length of certification
3 Years
