Institute for Working at Height

The Institute for Work at Height was formed in January 2009 being a merger of the Specialised Access Engineering Manufacturers Association (SAEMA) and the Rope Access And Fall Arrest Association (RAFAA) desirous of creating safety awareness and in turn "professionalism in the overall Work At Height Industry".

The Institute

• Provides a unified voice for suppliers and users of all types of work at height equipment and services.
• Sets and maintains Industry standards.
• Develops guidelines and frameworks for skills development within the Industry.
• Impresses on clients the professionalism, integrity and credibility of IWH members by adherence to a Code of Ethical Practice.
• Represents Industry views to Government Departments and the Private Sector.
• Provides information on all related work at height matters.
• Provides a regular forum for members to meet and discuss matters of mutual interest.

About the Institute for Work at Height

The merger of SAEMA and RAFAA in January 2009 came about as both Associations recognised they had common areas of objectives and activities including:

• Work at Height – being the common factor; the two existing Associations between them cover the full spectrum of this field of activity.

• Legislation in terms of the Occupational Health & Safety Act, including the Construction Regulations of the Act affecting the work at height industry.

• Registered  Schedule 1 Employer bodies of the Services SETA.

• Professional Body status given by the Services SETA – this being responsible for the certification and licensing of individuals.

• The development of unit standards, skills programmes, and recognition of prior learning programmes, using the same outsourced expertise.

• Interaction with the Department of Labour.

• A new body would attract many new members in the various categories of membership, resulting in far greater financial stability.

• Industry promotion for work at height, including  The Institutes mouthpiece being the journal published by Primedia  - "Specialised Access”"

• Outsourcing of administration services to the same Secretariat.

Mission Statement

The Mission of the IWH is to ensure that members provide reliable equipment and services for safe and efficient work at height.

This can be achieved by the following broad objectives:-

• providing a unified voice for the Industry.

• setting and maintaining industry standards.

• promoting the awareness of the Industry.
• developing guidelines and frameworks for skills development of industry players and the education of end-users