Guide to safely working at heights in Australia

It’s a frightening fact that almost every day, on worksites around Australia, someone is injured while working at heights.

According to Safe Work Australia data, falling from a height is a significant cause of death and serious injury in Australian workplaces, making up 15 per cent of all worker fatalities (29 killed in 2023), and five per cent of serious workers’ compensation claims (7204 in 2022–23).

It is, the experts agree, all too common.

“Falls can happen to anyone, of any age or ability, at any time,” Dr Mya Cubitt, emergency physician at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, says. “And they can be life changing.”

The most common injuries are broken bones and head injuries, Dr Cubitt says, but more serious cases could result in brain damage, life-changing disability or lead to a fatality.

All it takes is a misstep, a slip or a moment’s distraction and disaster can follow. However, falls and slips can be eliminated or minimised if you take the time to use the right safety and control measures.

Tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety hardhat or helmet and non-slip footwear, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.

Prepare a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)

Any time someone is working more than two metres from the ground, it’s considered a high-risk activity and the first step they should take isn’t up a ladder, it’s to complete a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS).

“If work is being carried out that involves a risk of falling more than two metres, a SWMS must be prepared by the employer,” says Corey Grandin, Director of Industries and High Risk Work at Safe Work Australia.

Once a SWMS is done, be sure to review any necessary control measures regularly as “workplaces and their risks can change over time,” Corey says.

Ladder safety and what to watch out for when working at heights

“Falls from ladders regularly result in serious injuries and fatalities, even working at relatively low heights,” Corey says. Some of the main risks to watch out for include:

• Fragile roofing materials
• Unprotected edges
• Unprotected skylights or other roof voids
• Trenches or service pits
• Falling objects
• Unstable scaffolds or lifting equipment, such as elevating work platforms (EWPs)
• Poor weather conditions

Ladders should always be used for their intended purpose, and ensuring the ladder’s stability, especially on uneven surfaces, is crucial to prevent incidents. “Ladders should be used for access,” Corey says. “But workers shouldn’t do their work from a ladder.”

How to protect you and your team when working at heights

Staying safe when working at heights is everyone’s responsibility. Workers should be alert to risks by keeping an eye on their mates, and with their employers making sure they do the right thing.

“If you are an employer, you must ensure work is carried out on the ground or a solid construction, where possible,” Corey says. “If that’s not possible, you must provide and maintain a safe system of work that provides adequate protection from falls. This includes providing fall prevention devices, such as barriers, edge protection, scaffolding or EWPs, or if that’s not possible, a work positioning system, for example, an industrial rope access system.” Where needed, a fall arrest system, such as a safety net or catch platform should be in place.

Safe Work Australia has also published a range of guidance material on working at heights and managing the risk of falls.

Speak up: report unsafe work conditions

If you think you’ve seen something dangerous at work, speak up. “Workers have the right to report unsafe work, and to stop work in certain circumstances if it poses WHS (Work, Health and Safety) risks,” Corey says.

“If a worker feels their workplace is not complying with the WHS laws in their jurisdiction, they can report their concerns to:

• Their employer (that’s the PCBU, or official ‘person conducting a business or undertaking’)
• Their health and safety representative
• Their union
• The person listed as the contact in the SWMS.

If all else fails, contact details for your local WHS representative can be found on Safe Work Australia’s website.

Working at heights courses and training

For workers who are going to be working at heights on a regular basis – scaffolders, painters or those in the construction industry, for example – courses and training are highly recommended, with the resulting Work at Heights Safely licence (Unit of Competency RIIWHS204E) often required as a condition of employment.

Multiple agencies offer the appropriate training and, aside from the simple safety aspect, it’s a good way to open a worker to more job opportunities.

Stay alert

Remember, when working at heights, all it takes is a split-second mistake to change everything.

Even if you’ve done a similar job before – something as simple as climbing a ladder to pass a tool to a workmate – take the time to do it properly.

“No one thinks they are going to seriously injure themselves until they do,” Dr Cubitt sums up.

“No matter how big or small the job, it’s important to ensure safety measures are in place.”

Need info on protecting your hearing?

Check out our story on how to protect your hearing on site.