Work at Heights Course Perth | RIIWHS204E Training by Safety Heights
Updated: Sep 26
Work at Heights Course Perth | RIIWHS204E Training by Safety Heights
If you need a nationally recognised Working at Heights ticket in Perth, this page has everything you need to know before you book — what the course covers, how long it takes, what you'll walk away with, and how to enrol.
Safety Heights and Rescue Training (RTO 52610), based in Naval Base, Perth, delivers RIIWHS204E Work Safely at Heights as a one-day face-to-face course for workers across Perth, the Southwest, the Goldfields, and the Murchison region.
Course Details
Group bookings and on-site delivery across WA are available. Call 08 9437 9108 or visit rescue-training.com.au to check upcoming dates.
What Is RIIWHS204E?
RIIWHS204E Work Safely at Heights is the nationally recognised unit of competency from the RII Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package. It is the standard unit accepted by WA construction, mining, and industrial sites as evidence that a worker is competent to work at height under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) and the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022.
Completing this course gives you a Statement of Attainment under the Australian Qualifications Framework, which is recognised by employers and principal contractors across every Australian state and territory.
Is a Work at Heights Ticket Required in WA?
Yes. Under the WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA), a PCBU must ensure workers are competent to perform height work safely. There is no fixed height threshold in WA — the duty applies any time a fall from one level to another could cause injury. A current RIIWHS204E is the clearest, most auditable evidence of meeting that duty.
On most WA construction, mining, and industrial sites, a current Working at Heights certificate is a non-negotiable site access credential. Many principal contractors enforce a two-year refresh cycle regardless of any legislated minimum. If your ticket is approaching two years old, a refresher (Verification of Competency) is the recommended next step.
What Does the Course Cover?
The RIIWHS204E course at Safety Heights covers six core areas, with approximately 70% of the day spent on practical, hands-on activities.
1. Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
Before harnesses come out, trainees learn to systematically identify height hazards and apply the Hierarchy of Controls — starting with elimination of the need to work at height, before reaching for fall-arrest equipment. This is what WorkSafe WA inspectors want to see workers applying, not just able to recite.
2. Fall Protection Equipment: Fitting, Inspection and Use
Trainees work hands-on with full-body harnesses, energy-absorbing lanyards, and retractable devices. You'll learn to:
Pre-use inspect equipment against AS/NZS 1891 standards
Correctly fit a harness to your body, not just clip it on
Identify worn, damaged, or non-compliant equipment
Distinguish between fall restraint (preventing the fall) and fall arrest (stopping it once it starts)
3. Anchor Points and Fall Arrest Systems
Covers the installation, inspection, and use of anchor points and static line systems in accordance with AS/NZS 1891.4. Includes ground clearance calculations, the pendulum effect, and how anchor placement affects fall distance and swing risk.
4. Elevated Work Platforms, Ladders and Edge Protection
Safe use of EWPs, extension ladders, stepladders, and temporary edge protection systems — the equipment most Perth construction and maintenance workers use daily.
5. Safe Work Procedures and Permit-to-Work
How to read, contribute to, and follow a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) for height work, including pre-task planning, permit-to-work processes, and supervisory responsibilities.
6. Emergency Response and Suspension Trauma
One of the most critical — and most overlooked — sections. Suspension trauma can incapacitate a worker held in a harness after a fall within minutes. Trainees learn:
How to recognise suspension trauma symptoms
The two-minute rescue benchmark
How to execute a controlled lowering or assisted rescue
Practical emergency drills
Who Needs This Course?
RIIWHS204E is required for any worker whose role involves height exposure where a fall could cause injury. This includes:
Construction workers — formwork, roofing, steel fixing, scaffolding
Electricians and cable pullers — overhead infrastructure, rooftop work, cable trays
Telecom and tower technicians — antenna installations, pit access above ground level
Mining and resources workers — elevated plant access, maintenance platforms
Shutdown and outage maintenance crews — industrial facilities across WA
Civil construction workers — bridges, retaining structures, elevated civil works
Supervisors and site managers benefit from completing RIIWHS204E even if they do not personally work at height, as their due diligence duties under Section 27 of the WHS Act 2020 (WA) include verifying worker competency.
Full Course or Refresher?
Full course (RIIWHS204E): Required if you have never held a Working at Heights certification, or if your ticket is significantly out of date (generally beyond five years with no intervening Verification of Competency).
Refresher / Verification of Competency (VOC): Available as a half-day session for workers who currently hold RIIWHS204E and have been actively working at heights. Approximately 80% practical. You must provide evidence of prior certification and relevant recent experience.
Most WA sites enforce a two-year currency standard. If you're at or past two years, a VOC keeps your record current without repeating the full course.
Bundle: Work at Heights + Confined Space + Gas Testing
Many Perth workers — particularly those heading to mining, shutdown, or utilities work — need multiple tickets before site access is granted. Safety Heights offers a combined RIIWHS204E + RIIWHS202E (Confined Space Entry) + MSMWHS217 (Gas Test Atmospheres) package in a single training day.
This is the most efficient way to cover all three competencies at once. See the Confined Space and Working at Heights Training Perth page for full details on the combined course.
Workers with existing tickets who need a currency renewal can book the Confined Space Refresher Perth — CSE + WAH + GTA Combo, which covers all three units as a refresher in a single face-to-face session.
How Long Is a Work at Heights Ticket Valid?
Your Statement of Attainment for RIIWHS204E has no printed expiry date under WA legislation. However:
The Working at Heights Association of Australia (WAHA) recommends re-certification every two years
Most WA construction, mining, and industrial sites enforce a two-year site access standard
Under the WHS Act 2020 (WA), PCBUs must demonstrate ongoing worker competency — not just a one-time certificate
For more detail on how this applies in practice, see our full guide: Does Working at Heights Training Expire in WA?
Construction Training Fund (CTF) Subsidies
Eligible WA construction workers may be able to access CTF subsidies, which can significantly reduce the cost of this course. Check your eligibility at ctf.wa.gov.au before enrolling.
About Safety Heights and Rescue Training
Safety Heights and Rescue Training (RTO 52610) is based at Naval Base, Perth — close to the Kwinana Industrial Strip, Perth ports, and major FIFO departure points. Trainers bring operational backgrounds from rescue and high-risk industrial work in WA, not just a training environment.
We also deliver shutdown emergency response services and on-site training for teams across Perth metro, the Southwest, the Goldfields, and the Murchison region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is RIIWHS204E the same as RIIWHS204D?
RIIWHS204D is the superseded version. RIIWHS204E has been the current unit since September 2020. Most sites will require the current version — check your site's induction requirements before booking if you hold the older unit.
Does online training satisfy RIIWHS204E?
No. RIIWHS204E requires demonstrated practical competency — physically fitting a harness, inspecting equipment, and performing emergency response procedures under an assessor's observation. An online-only course does not meet the assessment requirements for this unit.
Can you deliver training at our site?
Yes. Safety Heights delivers on-site training for teams across Perth metro, the Southwest, the Goldfields, and the Murchison. Contact us to discuss dates, logistics, and group rates.
What is the group booking rate?
Group rates are available. Contact us directly on 08 9437 9108 or email chris@rescue-training.com.au to discuss your team's requirements.
Book Your Work at Heights Course in Perth
Safety Heights and Rescue Training (RTO 52610) Unit 3, 1216 Rockingham Road, Naval Base WA 6165
Call: 08 9437 9108 Email: chris@rescue-training.com.au Web: rescue-training.com.au
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