Any activity performed more than two meters above the lower level, with a risk of falling, is work at height - and in offshore, naval, and port structures, that covers a good part of the routine: hull inspection, crane maintenance, structure painting, scaffolding assembly. Falls remain among the leading causes of fatal workplace accidents in Brazil, which makes NR-35 one of the most widely applied standards - and also one of the most neglected when haste wins over planning.
After more than a decade performing work at height on platforms, port structures, and naval units, we put together this guide on what actually guarantees a safe operation under NR-35 - and the mistakes that show up most often when the procedure is treated as a formality.
WHAT NR-35 REQUIRES BEFORE ANY WORK AT HEIGHT
The standard starts from a simple principle: work at height can only begin after a Risk Analysis specific to that activity, identifying the site\'s hazards, the necessary control measures, and emergency procedures. For routine activities, the risk analysis can be covered within a Work Permit - but in either format, the document needs to reflect the real risk of that specific job, not a generic template reused without review.
Beyond the risk analysis, the standard requires planning the activity, covering everything from the anchoring system to the positioning of whoever will supervise the operation from the ground.
6 ELEMENTS OF SAFE WORK AT HEIGHT
Operations that happen repeatedly without an accident follow the same fundamentals:
Planning and Risk Analysis
A specific assessment of the activity and the site before any access, never a generic template reapplied without review.
Assessed Anchoring System
An anchor point with verified load capacity - never a structure used "because it\'s there," with no technical assessment.
Specific, Inspected PPE
A full-body harness, lanyard, and fall arrester suited to the activity, inspected before every use.
Assessed Weather Conditions
Wind, rain, and visibility monitored - the activity must be suspended when conditions fall outside the defined safe range.
Rescue Plan at Height
A procedure and trained team to quickly rescue someone suspended - suspension trauma can become fatal within minutes.
Training and Fitness for Work
Formal NR-35 training with a defined hour count, periodic refreshers, and an occupational health clearance specific to height.
SUSPENSION TRAUMA: WHY THE RESCUE PLAN CAN\'T WAIT
When a person remains suspended and motionless in a harness after a fall, the very equipment that saved them can compromise blood circulation in the legs - a condition known as suspension trauma or harness-induced hemodynamic distress. Within minutes, this can progress to loss of consciousness and life-threatening risk. That is exactly why rescue needs to be fast and planned in advance - waiting for external help to arrive, with no local plan ready to act, is usually too late.
COMMON MISTAKES IN WORK AT HEIGHT
- Reusing a generic risk analysis - every site and activity has its own hazards that a standard template doesn\'t capture
- Using an unassessed anchor point - a structure may look sturdy without having verified load capacity to absorb a fall
- Ignoring weather conditions - strong wind or rain change the activity\'s risk within minutes, even if it started under safe conditions
- Not having a specific rescue plan - relying only on external help costs precious time in a suspension-trauma emergency
- Skipping the PPE inspection before use - a damaged lanyard or fall arrester can fail at exactly the moment it\'s needed most
WORK AT HEIGHT AND ROPE ACCESS
Rope access is one of the most widely used techniques for work at height on hard-to-reach structures, with its own certification standard (IRATA) layered on top of NR-35\'s requirements. We detail when this technique makes more sense than traditional scaffolding in the guide below.
CONCLUSION
Safe work at height doesn\'t depend on luck or informal experience - it depends on a specific risk analysis, an assessed anchor point, inspected PPE, and a rescue plan ready before the first climb. NR-35 exists because, in this type of activity, the gap between a well-followed procedure and a serious accident is usually a matter of minutes, not luck.
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard applies to any activity performed more than 2 meters above the lower level, with a risk of falling - regardless of how long the activity lasts or how often it happens.
Yes, either directly or through a work permit that covers that analysis. The document needs to reflect the real hazards of that specific site and activity - reusing a generic analysis from another operation doesn't meet the standard.
It is the compromised blood circulation in the legs of a person who remains suspended and motionless in a harness after a fall, which can progress to loss of consciousness within minutes - which is why rescue needs to be fast and planned in advance.
Workers trained through a formal NR-35 course, with a defined hour count, periodic refreshers, and an occupational health clearance certifying specific fitness for that activity.
It needs to have its load capacity technically assessed to withstand the impact of a possible fall, not just look sturdy visually - using an unassessed structure is one of the most common and most dangerous mistakes.