Findings Report: Work at Heights in Construction 2023/24
Project Timeframe: 01/05/2023 - 1/05/2024
Sites: 1,469
Summary and overview
Falls from heights (FFH) is called out as a key harm in the SafeWork NSW 2023/24 regulatory priorities, and is the number one cause of traumatic fatalities in the NSW building and construction industry.
Most serious and fatal falls are from roofs, ladders, scaffolds, building edges and through voids, with most of these being from a height of 4 metres or less – that’s about a single storey.
Starting in May 2023, SafeWork NSW undertook a year-long blitz on working at heights safety in construction, that included an awareness-raising campaign and dedicated pro-active inspector site visits.
The overarching objective of this initiative was to reduce the number of falls from heights incidents resulting in serious injuries or fatalities, by raising awareness about the risks and best-practice, and by securing worksite compliance and safety.
Awareness-raising
SafeWork’s awareness-raising campaign focussed on the potential adverse medical and life changing outcome of a fall from a height from a single storey roof. Two campaign bursts were used during the inspector visit timeframe – from March to May 2023, and from September to October 2023.
These campaign bursts were run on FaceBook, Instagram and Spotify, and through direct email distribution lists and newsletters. The campaign also featured adverts in the top “other” languages spoken in the construction industry including Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic and Vietnamese.
Evaluation of the campaign indicates a total campaign reach of 11.3 million for these two bursts, and an engagement metric of 64.8k, which means the messaging was effective in reaching our target audience.
Inspector pro-active site visits
Types of sites
Inspectors visited 1,469 sites including:
- House Construction - 951
- Commercial - 258
- Infrastructure - 120
- Mid-high rise - 117
- Demolition - 23
Notices and fines
Inspectors continue their zero-tolerance approach to workers being placed at risk from working at heights, issuing 3,109 compliance notices, including more than $1.17 million in on-the-spot fines for serious safety risks.
Inspector observations
Inspectors also completed a checklist to record their on-site observations, to highlight the safety and compliance rates for work on roofs, ladders, scaffold, and near voids and edges.
The below sections outline the percentage of sites that had safety measures in place, or not in place, with inspectors only completing each section where it was relevant to the site they visited.
ROOFS
Is there fall protection in place for roof work?
- Yes 62%
- No 38%
What is the highest order of control fall protection in place for roof work?
- Best controls: Scaffold 38%, Roof Rails 20%, EWPs 2%.
- Lower order controls: Fall arrest or travel/fall restraint 8% - whilst 25% had no safety controls in place..
If roof rails or scaffold are not in place, ask "why the PC has not implemented that control"?
- 29% Didn't know/had no excuse,
- 14% time and money,
- 11% Roof design/or access, and
- 11% because of the stage of the work
Are adequate controls in place to prevent a fall through brittle/fragile roof materials?
- Yes 82%
- No 18%
If a fall restraint system is being used – does the system prevent workers from reaching a position where they can fall?
- Yes 59%
- No 41%
If a fall arrest system is being used, does it protect the worker from hitting the ground if the fall arrest system was deployed?
- Yes 61%
- No 39%
If harnesses are being used, are they connected to an anchor point?
- Yes 60%
- No 40%
If the worker is NOT connected to the harness system that is in place on the roof, please record his/her reason for not being connected.
30% no reason/didn't think it was necessary, 12% time/money, 10% equipment not used/available, 10% in place but not safe 10%.
If harnesses in use, do they have an adequate anchor plan for the works being undertaken?
- Yes 42%
- No 58%
Has the harness, lanyard and rope access system been inspected for defects?
- Yes 78%
- No 22%
LADDERS
Are ladders used only for appropriate activities e.g. short term work, access/egress?
- Yes 91%
- No 9%
Are the ladders on site in good condition and rated for industrial use (120 kg)?
- Yes 96%
- No 4%
When using A-frames, do workers ensure the ladders are stable when set up?
- Yes 92%
- No 8%
Are the A-frame ladders an adequate height for the job they are doing? E.g. high enough so the user doesn’t need to stand on the top two rungs.
- Yes 87%
- No 13%
When using an extension ladder, is it set up correctly? E.g. 1:4 width to height ratio, secured at top and bottom, extends 1 metre from landing space
- Yes 71%
- No 29%
Have safer alternatives to ladders been used where possible?
- Yes 76%
- No 24%
SCAFFOLD
Evidence of scaffolder competency/high risk work licence (for scaffolds where the risk of falls or falling objects is more than 4m)?
- Yes 83%
- No 17%
Is the scaffold complete, with no missing ledgers, transoms, planks, toe boards or hop-ups?
- Yes 50%
- No 50%
Are there adequate ties installed?
- Yes 81%
- No 19%
Is there adequate bracing?
- Yes 88%
- No 12%
Is there safe access/egress to scaffold decks?
- Yes 75%
- No 25%
Are the gaps between working the deck and building edges less than 225mm (horizontal)?
- Yes 70%
- No 30%
Are the gaps between working the deck and building edges less than less than < 300mm (vertical)?
- Yes 72%
- No 28%
Is the scaffold appropriately supported on ground?
- Yes 91%
- No 9%
Has the PC communicated to workers and contractors that scaffold components must not be removed by unlicenced workers?
- Yes 82%
- No 18%
Has the scaffold ONLY been altered by licenced workers?
- Yes 70%
- No 30%
VOIDS AND EDGES
Are all voids covered, secured and marked, and/or physical barriers in place?
- Yes 61%
- No 39%
Are all edges (excluding roofs), such as balconies, slabs, floors adequately protected to prevent falls?
- Yes 46%
- No 54%
Is there safe access/egress in between building levels?
- Yes 73%
- No 27%
Are excavations and/or pits adequately protected to prevent falls?
- Yes 67%
- No 33%
DOCUMENTATION
Is there written confirmation the construction of the scaffold is complete? E.g. handover certificate
- Yes 73%
- No 23%
Are safe work method statements (SWMS) available for work at heights? e.g., work above 2m
- Yes 74%
- No 26%
If there is/are SWMS, are they being followed for work at heights?
- Yes 65%
- No 35%
CONSULTATION
Have workers been consulted on work at heights risks?
- Yes 83%
- No 17%
Conclusion
Whilst the awareness-raising campaign for work at heights safety succeeded in reaching NSW workers and businesses, it is clear from inspector on-site observations, that unsafe work at heights practices continue to occur at an unacceptable level on NSW building and construction sites.
When it comes to work on roofs, whilst 60% of sites had higher order controls in place, such as scaffold, roof guard rails or EWPs, it is clear that a significant number of those who chose to use a lower order control, such as a harness, were not using it in a manner that was safe or compliant. Additionally, a quarter of sites with work occurring on a roof had no fall protections in place at all.
The inspections revealed that ladders were generally compliant on-site, however, it is difficult for inspectors to observe ladder use as they are usually used for a short duration, and this level of high compliance does not reflect workers compensation claims that attribute a significant portion of falls injuries to ladders.
A compliant scaffold keeps workers safe when undertaking construction and/or finishing work to a building or structure. However, poorly installed or inadequately maintained scaffolds can pose serious falls or collapse risks. The inspections found that around a fifth of scaffolds had inadequate ties and/or bracing, and that around a third had unacceptable gaps between the scaffold and building edge. More concerning was that half of the scaffolds were observed with missing ledgers, transoms, planks, toe boards or hop-ups, and a third of the scaffolds were likely altered by workers who were not licenced scaffolders.
Edges (such as balconies, slabs, floors) were also observed as a significant area of concern for SafeWork NSW, with more than half being unprotected from falls. More than a third of voids and excavations were also unprotected.
Documentation, such as safe work method statements (SWMS) and scaffold handover certificates are a legislative requirement and are designed to provide assurance that work at heights risks have been adequately considered and addressed, and/or that a competent person has deemed the scaffold safe and compliant. Around a quarter of sites did not have these requirements in place, which is reflective of poor planning and the on-site observations of high non-compliance levels.
SafeWork NSW will continue to address work at heights risks, and work with industry to increase awareness, provide education, and secure the safety of workers on NSW construction sites, including through dedicated Scaff Safe 2024 awareness and compliance campaign commencing August 2024.
Useful resources
Work safely at heights in construction
Building and Construction Pocket Guide
Translated resources
Reducing falls from heights in the construction industry - June 2023 options paper (PDF, 1427.25 KB)
Codes of practice
Code of practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces (PDF, 2326.56 KB)
Code of practice: Managing the risk of falls in housing construction (PDF, 2296.79 KB)
Code of Practice – Construction Work (PDF, 1014.41 KB)