IPAF-approved harness training for working in MEWPs — Harness Awareness, Harness User and Harness Inspector courses. Learn to choose, fit, use and inspect a full-body harness safely, with an IPAF qualification valid 5 years. At our Croydon centre or on site across London and the South East.
IPAF harness training covers the safe choice, fitting, use and inspection of a full-body harness when working in a MEWP. With more than 20 years of training experience, Access Towers helps over 350 trainees each month gain work-at-height qualifications across London and the South East. As an approved IPAF training centre registered for Harness Use and Inspection, our helpful bookings team make it easy to arrange your training, whether you are booking for yourself, your team or someone else.
IPAF offers three harness courses to meet the needs of different candidates, and we deliver all three. The Harness Awareness (HA) course is theory-based training and testing for anyone who works with or around harnesses but does not personally need to wear one. It typically suits managers, planners, safety professionals and supervisors, and it can be taken as a short module.
The Harness User (HU) course is a practical assessment for those who actually use or wear a harness in a MEWP. It covers choosing the right equipment, correct fitting and adjustment of a full-body harness and lanyard, attaching to the correct anchor point in the platform, and adjusting the lanyard to provide effective restraint. The HA course must be completed first, and it can be incorporated into a MEWP operator course.
The Harness Inspector (HI) course is for those responsible for inspecting their company's personal fall-protection equipment and maintaining inspection records. It requires the HA and HU courses to have been passed first.
All courses are delivered at our Croydon centre or on site at your premises. On successful completion, delegates receive an IPAF qualification, valid for five years and recognised worldwide. It confirms their competence in the safe choice, use and, where taken, inspection of harnesses for use in a MEWP. Moreover, this course is approved for CITB Employer Network Funding for registered companies, and group discounts are available.
Harness training is often combined with operator training, so many customers book it alongside IPAF 3b or IPAF 1b. Alternatively, browse the full range of IPAF training courses. For general harness use at height, covering Awareness, User, Inspection and Leading Edge, see our Safety Harness Training course instead.

Pick a course type below to see the next available dates and book online. Harness Awareness and Harness User can often be completed consecutively in a single visit — call us if you are unsure which level you need.
How it works: You can do up to all 3 IPAF Harness qualifications, with Awareness being the starting prerequisite, completed easily online. After that, you can then attend your date below to do IPAF Harness User or IPAF Harness User & Inspector!
Training three or more people? We'll bring the course to your site or offices on a date that suits you — no travel, no downtime, and a better price per person than booking individual places.
Requires a minimum of 4 attendees
Harness Awareness (HA) — theory training and test for those who work around harnesses but don't wear one (managers, planners, supervisors). Harness User (HU) — practical training and assessment for those who wear a harness in a MEWP. Harness Inspector (HI) — for those who inspect harness equipment and keep records. Each suits a different candidate.
If you don't personally wear a harness but work around them, take HA. If you use or wear a harness in a MEWP, take HA then HU (they can be taken together). If you're responsible for inspecting your company's harness equipment and records, take HA and HU first, then HI. We'll advise if you're unsure — call 0208 665 1181.
Yes. HA is the foundation for all. HU requires HA first. HI requires both HA and HU to have been passed beforehand. HA and HU can often be completed consecutively in a single visit.
An IPAF qualification, valid for five years and recognised worldwide, confirming your competence in the safe use (and, for HI, inspection) of harnesses in a MEWP.
This IPAF Harness course is specifically for harness use in MEWPs (boom-type powered access) and carries an IPAF qualification. Our separate Safety Harness Training covers harness use for working at height more broadly, across Awareness, User, Inspection and Leading Edge modules. Many customers take whichever matches their work — we'll advise if you're unsure.
Yes — this course is approved for CITB Employer Network Funding. If you're a CITB-registered company we can process your funding claim. Mention this when booking.
Book your place online, or call our team for honest advice and the next available dates. Group discounts and onsite training available.