Working at Height — learn the risk, then check the work.
Falls from height are consistently one of the leading causes of fatal incidents in high-consequence industries. VIRSAT trains workers to recognize an unsafe setup before they climb, and gives supervisors a way to verify fall protection was actually in place.
Working at height training covers recognizing an unsafe setup — missing fall protection, barriers, or dropped-object controls — before a worker climbs. HeadSafe then verifies fall protection and access equipment in the field, hands-free, so the check happens every time, not just at induction.
The pattern behind the incidents
Working at Height is one of the nine IOGP Life-Saving Rules, introduced after a large-scale review of historic fatal incidents across oil & gas, construction, and manufacturing. Falls from height feature consistently among the top causes of fatal incidents industry-wide, which is why the Life-Saving Rules treat it as a standalone category.
Learn it once. Check it every time.
Working at Height gets the full two-phase treatment — a training module that builds recognition and judgment, and a HeadSafe check that verifies the entry procedure in the field.
Covered in the basic workplace HSE training
Working at height isn't taught as a standalone course — a worker at height is often also handling a lifting operation or working near energized equipment. So VIRSAT's basic training covers all nine fatal-risk topics together, working at height included, in one module.
- —Awareness level: a fast, gamified format for broad workforce reach
- —Professional level: a full virtual reality operational environment
- —Builds hazard recognition and intervention skill, not quiz recall
- —Audio-led — no reading required, runs in any supported language
Working at Height — HeadSafe verification
A hands-free AR checklist for fall protection and access equipment, built on an industry standard start-work checklist — used by whoever is preparing the permit, starting the work, or auditing it in the field.
- —Same hazard categories as the training, with field-level granularity
- —Voice-controlled — no gloves off, no paperwork
- —Results log automatically against the permit record
Explanatory animations
Contextual help
AI assistant on your manuals
Live expert support
The real Start-Work Check, item by item.
This is the actual checklist HeadSafe walks a worker or Start-Work Verifier through before working at height begins — confirmed hands-free, with a signature captured at the end.
Hazards are identified, controlled, and it's safe to start.
▸Fall protection equipment is certified, inspected, rated, and fit for the task.
▸The fall protection harness is adjusted to fit.
▸Approved anchor point(s) are in place for 100% tie-off.
▸The fall path is clear, in case a fall occurs.
▸Tools and materials used at height are secured.
▸Barriers and drop/exclusion zones are in place.
▸The rescue plan is in place and ready to be used.
▸100% tie-off is maintained at all times while working at height — at least one anchor point engaged continuously. If anything changes after the check is confirmed, work stops and the worker seeks help before continuing.
Classroom or e-learning vs. VIRSAT's VR module
The gap is largest on procedures with a strict, ordered sequence — exactly what this topic is.
| Question a buyer asks | Classroom / e-learning | VIRSAT VR module |
|---|---|---|
| Does the worker perform the access setup sequence, or just watch it? | Watches | Performs |
| Are sequence errors caught during training? | Rarely | Every time |
| Does it link to real-world field verification? | No | Yes — Working at Height |
| Can it run without a VR headset? | N/A | Yes — PC/desktop available |
What this is — and isn't
Does this replace hands-on physical training for this topic?
No. VIRSAT trains hazard recognition, pre-work checking, and intervention — it doesn't simulate hands-on physical tasks or rescue drills. If your program requires physical, hands-on training, this sits alongside it, not instead of it.
Do we need the training and HeadSafe, or can we buy just one?
Either. Most customers run both as a single package, but the training module and the HeadSafe check for this topic are also available separately if that's all you need.
We don't formally use the IOGP Life-Saving Rules — does this still apply?
Yes. The same content is available framed as general workplace HSE training rather than under the Life-Saving Rules name, for organizations that haven't adopted that framework.
What hardware does HeadSafe run on?
Primarily the RealWear Arc 3 — explosion-proof and IP54-rated, built for hazardous-area work. Specifications for other headset brands are available on request.