Working at heights

Falls from heights are a primary cause of traumatic injuries and fatalities at NSW workplaces, with most occurring in the construction industry.

Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) must protect workers from the risk of falling from one level to another – no matter the height. PCBUs and others face on-the-spot fines for not protecting workers against the risk of falls.

Controlling the risk

Work health and safety laws require a PCBU to use the hierarchy of control to manage risks. This means, eliminating the risk where possible. If you can’t eliminate the risk, reduce it through substitution, isolation and engineering controls, before finally considering administrative controls.

WHS laws state you must:

1. Work on the ground or on a solid construction

  • If you don’t have to work at heights, don’t. Working from the ground or solid construction is always the safest option.
  • A solid construction is a structurally sound area with a flat and stable surface:
    • capable of supporting the weight of people and materials
    • with fall protection around its perimeter and any other fall hazards
    • with a safe means of entry and exit.

2. Provide protection against risk of falls

If you can’t work from the ground or solid construction, you must provide adequate protection against the risk of falls. This includes implementing the following hierarchy of control measures:

a. Use a fall-prevention device

Where reasonably practicable, you must use a fall-prevention device. Examples include scaffolds, elevating work platforms, mast climbing work platforms, work boxes, building maintenance units, perimeter guardrails, and secure fences/barriers/covers.

b. Use a work-positioning system

A work-positioning system can only be considered where it is not reasonably practicable to use a fall-prevention device.

A work positioning system is a harness-based system that either prevents a fall hazard being reached (e.g. total restraint system) or enables a person to work supported in tension (e.g. industrial rope access systems).

c. Use a fall-arrest system

A fall-arrest system can only be used when it is not reasonably practicable to use either a fall-prevention device or a work positioning system.

Fall-arrest systems do not prevent a fall, however, if installed and used properly, they reduce the impact of the fall. Examples include industrial safety nets, catch platforms, and harness-based fall-arrest systems.

If you use a fall arrest system you must have emergency and rescue procedures in place and test them to ensure they are effective.

d. Use other controls

Residual falls risks that aren’t controlled though higher order measures can be minimised using administrative controls. Examples include safe work procedures, safe sequencing of work, safe use of ladders, permit systems, “no go” areas, signs etc.

A combination of the above fall protection and administrative controls may be required if a single control is not sufficient to provide adequate protection against the risk. Many of these controls rely heavily on user competency to be effective. Workers must be trained and have the appropriate skills to carry out their particular task safely.

Additional requirements for construction work

A safe work method statement (SWMS) is required for construction work where a person could fall more than two metres.

A SWMS must be site-specific and made available to workers, supervisors and any other persons at the workplace, so they can understand the hazards, risks and safety controls that must be used.

You can also check off your safety with the Working at heights in construction safety checklist (PDF, 208.69 KB)

Ladders

Each year there are hundreds of serious incidents where workers have fallen from ladders. Many of these incidents involve a ladder being used incorrectly or inappropriately.

A-frame style step ladders

Many workers fall from A-frame style step ladders because they were working from the top two steps, or over-reaching.

A diagram of a person using a ladder safely. Don't stand on the top two steps. Helper holds ladder from side. Use waist to balance against the ladder. Inspect rungs and rails for damage. Set ladder on flat surface.
A frame ladder safety diagram

Here are some tips.

  • don’t stand on the top two steps
  • have two feet and one other point of contact on the ladder e.g. hand, waist, torso
  • ensure the ladder is rated for industrial use and is in good condition
  • ensure all four feet of the ladder are on the ground
  • don’t overreach.
                                                                    
                                                                        

Extension ladders

Many falls from extension ladders are because the ladder slipped outwards or sideways.

A diagram of a person safely using an extension ladder.
Extension ladder safety diagram

Here are some tips.

  • secure the ladder at the top and bottom, wherever possible
  • ensure the ladder extends at least one metre past the landing
  • ensure the ladder is rated for industrial use and is maintained in safe working condition
  • when ascending or descending, face the ladder, have both hands free to grip the ladder, and have at least one hand and one foot in contact with the ladder at all times
  • when working on the ladder, have both feet and one other point of contact on the ladder e.g. hand, waist or torso.
Roofs

Falls can happen off the edge of a roof, or through fragile roof materials such as skylights or plastic roof sheeting.

Temporary roof edge protection installed on a single-level residential building.
Temporary roof edge protection is a higher order control than harnesses, but more practical as the lines don't get in the way.

Use:

  • for edges: temporary edge protection such as roof guard rails or scaffold
  • for fragile roofing: skylight covers, crawl boards, or physically marked exclusion zones.

Temporary edge protection, skylight covers and crawl boards can be re-used on many jobs and are quick and easy to install.

                                                                     
Worker on top of a corrugated iron roof with skylight covers
Skylight covers and crawl boards

Roof safety resources

                                                                                                                                                                                                            
Scaffolds

Many scaffold falls occur because the scaffold had inadequate or missing components, such as missing rails or planks, or because it was built with non-compliant gaps.

Only licenced scaffolders can erect, alter or dismantle a scaffold where the risk of a person or object falling is more than 4 metres.

Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) are responsible for ensuring a scaffold is safe, with no falls risks, for the duration of the build.

A group of apartment buildings covered in scaffolding with stair access to each level. A fence surrounds the construction site in the foreground, and the sky above is clear and blue
Scaffold on building

Make sure:

  • the scaffold is inspected before accepting written confirmation (e.g. handover certificate), to be assured the scaffold is complete, safe and compliant
  • the scaffold is inspected at least every 30 days by a competent person
  • there is a plan or clear understanding of how/when the scaffold will be modified as the construction project progresses, so that the scaffold remains safe and compliant throughout the build
  • workers do not access incomplete sections of the scaffold
  • unlicenced workers do not alter the scaffold
  • the scaffold is checked every day, before use, to ensure it is adequate for the work that is planned, and there is no risk of falls, falling objects or scaffold collapse.

Scaffold resources

See more scaffolding information

Trucks and trailers

Many falls from trucks occur when the operator is alighting to or from the cabin, or when loading and unloading the vehicle or trailer.

Photo of worker using a mobile truck access platform
Man accessing load on truck

To reduce the risk of injury or death as a result of falling from a height:

  • always use three points of contact, face the cabin and use the appropriate grab handles, when getting in and out of the vehicle
  • reduce the need to work at heights by pre-configuring loads to facilitate the unloading process, taking into account the equipment to be used
  • perform work at ground level and take a ‘working from the ground’ approach when loading and unloading vehicles
  • use work platforms, guardrail systems or edge protection, including barriers and handrails, where working from the ground is not possible
  • only use work positioning systems (such as travel restraints) where other controls are not reasonably practicable
  • use load restraints that can be operated from the ground
  • consider the environmental conditions (e.g. severe weather, slippery loads) and their effect on the task you are carrying out.
Mezzanines

Many falls from mezzanines occur because they didn’t have edge protection, there is inadequate access/egress, or if the mezzanine was not designed to be walked on.

Interior of an empty warehouse featuring a mezzanine level. The roof includes a skylight allowing natural light into the space.
Mezzanines

If you have a mezzanine, ensure that:

  • it is engineered and constructed for the loads handled and stored on it, including any load handling equipment
  • there is a structurally-sound and safe means to access the mezzanine
  • ladders should not be used if people are required to carry items when accessing and egressing from the mezzanine
  • there are structurally-sound safety barriers in place to stop people falling off the edge of the mezzanine. If this is a handrail, use mid rails and toe-boards to prevent items from falling
  • gaps in guard rails used for loading/unloading items on the mezzanine are guarded by gates or removable handrails that can be safely removed and replaced, without putting workers at risk of falls.
Formwork

Many falls from formwork occur when there is inadequate edge protection, or inadequate fall protection for penetrations.

A group of workers wearing white helmets and high-visibility vests working on a construction site. They are performing formwork around metal frames, with white pipes protruding vertically from the ground.
Workers on formwork

Ensure:

For formwork erection and dismantling that there is -

  • adequate consultation and communication with principal contractors, site supervisors and formworkers
  • adequate planning prior to formwork activities commencing and that the safe systems of work align with the design/plan
  • safe work methods, including working from the ground where possible
  • exclusion zones to prevent unauthorised access during erection and dismantling.

For those working on formwork there is -

  • edge protection and covers to prevent falls over edges or through penetrations
  • adequate access and egress to the decks
  • workers are adequately trained, instructed and supervised on site safety and safe work systems.

Formwork resources

Checklist: Formwork safety (PDF, 171 KB)

See more formwork information

Silos

Many falls from silos occur when inspecting and handling the contained product or maintaining the silo.

A small silo and two tanks on a farm, with green rolling hills in the background.

To reduce the risk of falls from silos:

  • Work from the ground whenever possible by installing and using ground level working devices such as:
    • augers and or conveyors to lift the product from the ground or truck level up into the silo
    • extension rods and cables to open and close hatches from the ground
    • drone technology to conduct high level visual inspections
    • sight glasses showing the amount of product in the silo that can be seen from the ground
    • access doors and hatches that can be opened and closed from ground level
    • fumigation systems that distribute the gas to the head space from ground level.
  • If work cannot be performed from the ground, the risk of falls can be reduced by:
    • using fixed encaged ladders, having platforms with guard rails fitted to the top of the silo or using an elevated work platform
    • ensuring fixed ladders and elevated areas are inaccessible to unauthorised persons including children
    • if a fall prevention device cannot be used, a work positioning or fall arrest system such as harnesses with life lines and secure anchor points should be used.
Excavations

Many falls into excavations occur when working near the excavation or attempting to enter or egress the excavation.

Control measures to reduce the risk of falls into excavations include:

  • creating physical edge protection by utilising the trench’s support system itself, for example stacking additional trench box extensions or using trench sheets longer than the trench depth
  • installing guard rails or covers on trench shields
  • inserting guard rails and toe-boards into the ground immediately next to the supported excavation side
  • installing landing platforms or scaffold towers inside deep excavations
  • securing ladders to trench shields
  • installing effective barriers or barricades
  • providing clearly defined pedestrian detours
  • providing alternative access and egress points to the excavation for emergency use, and
  • backfilling the excavation as work progresses.

Legal obligations

There are specific laws about working safely at heights: See clauses 78 – 80 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017.

There are also general work health and safety laws that will apply to you in any situation, including when working at heights.

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