Working at heights
Most serious and fatal falls are from less than 4 metres up. WHS laws say you must protect workers from falling from one level to another – regardless of the height. You also need a safe work method statement (SWMS) for work above 2 metres. Fines may apply.
Resources
Do work safety right, at any height
- See the Working safely at heights in construction campaign page for basic safety when working on roofs, ladders and scaffold.
Codes of practice
These codes of practice provide practical guidance on how to comply with work health and safety laws, and detail effective ways to identify and manage risks.
- Managing the risk of falls in housing construction (PDF, 2296.79 KB)
- Managing the risk of falls at workplaces (PDF, 2326.56 KB)
Topics
Ladders
- Toolbox talk: Using ladders. The toolbox talk is also available in the following languages:
- Display the Work safely at any height (PDF, 2419.61 KB) poster in your workplace to promote ladder safety.
- Video: Safe use of ladders
Go to the ladders page in the A-Z hazards library
Scaffolding
- Toolbox talk: Using scaffolds (PDF, 690.33 KB). The toolbox talk is also available in the following languages:
- Download the scaffold safety checklist for site supervisors (PDF, 567.71 KB) to conduct basic checks on scaffold, voids/edges, formwork, ladders and mobile scaffs.
Go to the scaffolding page in the A-Z hazards library
Working safely on roofs
- See our temporary edge protection (roof rails) fact sheet (PDF, 2885.66 KB) if you work on roofs. The fact sheet is also available in the following languages:
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- Working at heights in construction safety checklist (PDF, 208.69 KB)
Voids
Incident animations
- Fall through void profiles an incident where a worker was seriously injured after falling through an unprotected stairwell void at a residential construction site.
- Owner builder – fall through void is based on an actual incident involving a worker falling through a void on a residential construction site.
Videos
- How to prevent falls on a construction site using temporary stairs
- How to prevent falls on a construction site using void covers
- Moving materials safely on a construction site
- How to safely install timber wall frames and guard rails on a construction site
- Webinar: working safely at heights in construction