Working at heights

Working at heights means working where falling would mean someone or something would fall from one level to another. This isn’t just when working on a building, it can also be when working on the ground near a deep excavation.

Working at heights is an integral part of work for most building and construction industry workers.

Construction work carried out where there is a risk of a person falling more than two (2) metres is high risk construction work and requires a safe work method statement (SWMS). A SWMS is based on a site specific risk assessment and includes the measures used to eliminate workplace hazard or risks or, where this can’t be done, minimising these risks as far as is reasonably practicable. A SWMS must be developed in consultation with the workers who are carrying out the high risk construction work (and their representatives) before the commencement of any of the work.

Where working at heights is necessary, and including work below two (2) metres, all reasonably practicable steps must be taken to:

  • identify hazards
  • assess the risks and
  • determine the most appropriate controls to be used to provide a safe working environment.

The Work Health and Safety (Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice) Approval 2020 and Work Health and Safety (Managing the Risk of Falls in Housing Construction Code of Practice) Approval 2020 sets out a range of measures to manage risks and prevent falls when working at heights.

Identifying hazards

The following situations are particularly hazardous when working at heights:

  • working near:
    • unprotected open edges of floors or roof
    • unguarded holes, penetrations and voids
    • unguarded excavations, trenches, shafts, lift wells
  • working from:
    • unstable structures (for example, incomplete scaffolding)
    • unprotected formwork decks
    • unsecured ladders, and
  • working on, or near fragile, brittle surfaces (for example, cement sheet roofs, fibreglass roofs, skylight).

Hazards must be assessed by considering the likelihood of a fall occurring and the severity of any injury that may result. This can include examining the:

  • height at which the work is to be undertaken
  • surface underneath the work area
  • potential for slipping on work surfaces
  • slope of surfaces
  • stability of the structures on which the work will be undertaken
  • stability of the ground that work structures are resting on, and
  • protection that is present to protect anyone or anything from falling from open edges where there is a change of level.

The hierarchy of controls

A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must implement appropriate safe systems of work in accordance with the hierarchy of controls to eliminate or minimise the risks to health and safety.

Eliminate the hazard

Working on the ground is the most effective method of protecting workers from fall hazards. This might include:

  • prefabrication of roofs, wall frames and trusses at ground level
  • using tilt-up concrete construction
  • reducing shelving heights to allow access to items from ground level, and
  • using tools with extendable handles such as paint rollers.

Substitute with a safer surface

Working from a solid construction (a level surface that is structurally capable of supporting workers, material and any other loads) is an effective way of managing the risks of falls. This might include:

  • temporary work platforms such as properly erected scaffolds or elevated work platforms
  • solidly constructed stairs with fixed handrails
  • even and accessible work surfaces and slopes, and
  • safe entry and exit points.

Isolate the hazard

You can use physical barriers to protect workers from falls. This might include:

  • perimeter guard railing, generally consisting of a top-rail at least 900mm above the working surface, a mid-rail and a toe board, or
  • ensuring that openings such as holes in floors are fenced off with secure barriers or covered over with safety mesh or timber sheeting.

Engineering controls

Engineering controls use physical means to help to minimise the risk of falls and might include:

  • 'work positioning' systems that position and safely support a worker at the location where the task is to be performed (for example travel restraint systems, industrial rope access systems and drainers' hoists)
  • a fall arrest system, to prevent or reduce the severity of injury if a fall does occur, including catch platforms, industrial safety nets, a lifeline, harness and rope grabs, and
  • portable ladders.

As a general rule, fall protection must be provided all workers when the risk of a fall from height cannot be eliminated and it is likely that an injury could occur as a result of the fall. However, if the type of work makes it difficult for a worker to be fully aware of the location of the platform edge fall protection should be provided regardless of height, for example, welding, oxy acetylene cutting and other work involving restricted vision.

Administrative controls

Administrative controls should only be used to support higher level control measures. They require a high level of training and supervision to be effective. Administrative controls might include:

  • warning signs
  • 'no-go zones' (only allowing trained people in certain areas)
  • organising and sequencing work so as to not interfere with other jobs, or
  • safe work instructions and procedures.

Personal protective equipment

Individual fall arrest systems are designed to arrest a falling person safely and their correct use relies on many factors, including the availability of properly engineered anchorage points.

Fall arrest systems and travel restraint systems should only be used when other means of providing fall protection, such as scaffolds, guardrails and elevating work platforms, have been considered and are not practicable.

Before using an individual fall arrest system or travel restraint system you should be trained in its use. Competency based training must be delivered by a registered training organisation in accordance with AS/NZS 1891.4:2009.

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