MEWP vs Working at Height Training: Do You Need Both?
Yes, many people need both. Working at height training covers the hierarchy of control, harness and fall-arrest use and rescue planning under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, but it does not certify anyone to operate a MEWP. MEWP training certifies a person on a specific platform category, covering pre-use checks, controls, load charts and ground conditions. Employers sometimes assume a general working-at-height course covers everything needed to operate a scissor or boom lift, or conversely that an IPAF/NPORS MEWP ticket covers general fall-prevention awareness. Neither assumption is quite right — this page sets out the real scope of each.
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How to decide
- General working at height training covers the hierarchy of control, fall prevention/arrest principles, harness use, rescue planning and the Work at Height Regulations 2005 broadly.
- MEWP training is machine-specific: pre-use checks, controls, load charts, ground conditions, and the specific rescue plan for that platform type.
- An operator who only holds general WAH training is not certified to operate a MEWP — they need the specific category ticket.
- An operator who only holds a MEWP ticket may still benefit from broader WAH awareness training if their role also involves harness/fall-arrest work outside the platform.
Side by side
| Factor | Working at height (general) training | MEWP-specific operator training |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | General principles, hierarchy of control, harness/fall-arrest | Specific machine operation, controls, load charts |
| Certifies you to operate a MEWP? | No | Yes, for the specific category |
| Covers harness/fall-arrest use? | Yes | Only where relevant to the specific platform |
| Typical duration | 1 day | 1 day per category |
| Best paired with | Site-specific rescue planning | General WAH awareness for broader role scope |
MEWP Training
- Pre-use, machine familiarisation and emergency lowering
- Wind, ground and proximity hazard assessment
- Rescue planning and harness use where required
When each option wins
Working at height (general) training wins when…
Anyone whose role involves working at height by methods other than a MEWP — harness and fall-arrest work, working near edges, ladder use — needs general WAH training regardless of whether they also operate a MEWP.
MEWP-specific operator training wins when…
Anyone who will actually drive and operate a scissor or boom lift needs the specific MEWP category ticket — general WAH awareness alone does not cover machine controls, load charts or platform-specific rescue planning.
Cost & time
Both are typically 1-day courses. Many operators genuinely need both — the WAH course for broader hierarchy-of-control and harness competence, and the MEWP ticket for the specific machine they'll operate — and we can often schedule them back-to-back for one site visit.
Compliance
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 underpin both, but PUWER 1998 specifically requires machine-specific competence for MEWP operation. Holding one without the other leaves a genuine, auditable gap depending on the operator's actual duties.
Our recommendation
Map what the operator actually does: if MEWP operation is part of their role, book the category ticket. If their role also includes harness or fall-arrest work beyond the platform, add general WAH training too — most sites benefit from both being current.
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Related answers
FAQ
Does a MEWP ticket cover harness use?
Only where harness/lanyard use is part of the platform-specific procedure — it's not the same as general fall-arrest training.
Can I book both courses together?
Yes, and it's often efficient to schedule both in the same site visit if your team needs both.
Is general WAH training a legal requirement?
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require competence appropriate to the work — formal WAH training is the standard way employers evidence that.
Does a working at height course let me use a scissor lift?
No. General working at height training does not certify you to operate a MEWP; you need the specific category ticket.
How long is each course?
General working at height training is typically 1 day, and MEWP training is typically 1 day per category.