From a course to a prevention programme
Resolution 4272 was issued in December 2021 and published in 2022. It covers safety and training requirements for work at height. It repealed Resolution 1409 of 2012 and other earlier provisions; using old forms without reviewing them may leave important duties unaddressed.
The regulatory definition concerns exposure to a fall greater than two metres, measured from the plane of the worker’s feet to the nearest lower horizontal level. Protection is also required below that height where identified dangerous conditions could aggravate a fall.
Identify tasks and responsibilities
Employers need a programme identifying tasks, locations and risks, including consideration of eliminating work at height before relying on individual protection. Procedures, control measures, resources and emergency preparation must be incorporated into the arrangements.
Roles are not interchangeable: programme administrator, coordinator, qualified person and authorised worker have distinct functions and requirements. Naming someone as coordinator does not itself establish that the person has the required competence or effective authority to fulfil the role.
Training and specific authorisation
The resolution distinguishes training levels and includes refresher training requirements. A certificate does not replace assessment of actual conditions or remove the need to update competence in the specified circumstances. Employers should verify provider requirements and whether the course matches the intended role.
Before roof work, for example, access, additional hazards, compatible equipment and emergency response need coordination. A permit should reflect that preparation and the required checks, rather than becoming a signature obtained after work has already started.
Keep supporting evidence connected
Task inventories, training records, equipment inspections and permits should describe the same operation. A change of location, equipment or conditions may make an earlier authorisation insufficient for the revised work.
Application requires competent personnel and reference to the complete text, including exceptions and technical provisions. This explanation is not an access, anchor-selection or rescue procedure: those decisions require job-specific planning and suitable practical training. The programme should be checked against conditions on site, not only against the existence of documents.
