Low height falls still carry high risk
Falls in residential construction remain one of the most common causes of injury in the ACT and can lead to serious harm or death.
Falls from single-storey construction are often not taken as seriously as they should be, which can lead to controls being overlooked or not used. Even falls from two metres or less can result in serious injury.
PCBUs must eliminate the risk of falls, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risk so far as is reasonably practicable. Work involving a fall risk of more than two metres requires a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS).
For work like single-storey construction, PCBUs must ensure the risk of a fall is effectively controlled. This includes selecting the most appropriate system for the task. Fall arrest systems are generally not suitable for low-height residential work, as there is often not enough clearance for the system to deploy before the worker hits the ground.
Fall restraint systems are designed to prevent a worker from reaching a fall edge and eliminate the risk of a fall. Workers must be trained to correctly fit, wear and use the equipment, and systems must be installed and used in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
For more information on managing fall risks in residential construction, see the links below:
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