Working at Heights
Working at heights refers to any task where a person could fall a distance likely to cause injury, requiring risk controls such as guardrails, harnesses, scaffolding and documented safe work procedures.
Working at heights refers to any work performed in a location where a person could fall a distance likely to cause injury. In Australia, this generally means any task carried out 2 metres or more above ground level, though the risk applies at any height where a fall hazard exists. It includes work on roofs, scaffolds, ladders, elevated work platforms (EWPs), and open edges. Controls follow the hierarchy: eliminate the need for height work first, then use passive fall prevention, work positioning, and finally fall arrest systems.
Why it matters
Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities and serious injuries in Australia. WHS regulations require a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) for any high-risk construction work involving heights, and PCBUs must ensure that fall prevention controls are in place. Failure to manage height risks exposes workers to serious harm and organisations to prosecution, penalties, and stop-work orders.
How MapTrack helps
MapTrack manages working-at-heights permits, harness inspection records, and EWP pre-start checklists in one system, with automated reminders for equipment recertification and expiry dates.
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Frequently asked questions
What height triggers working-at-heights requirements in Australia?
Australian WHS regulations generally classify work at 2 metres or more above ground level as high-risk construction work, which requires a SWMS and specific fall prevention controls. However, the duty to manage fall risks applies at any height where a person could be injured by a fall. Factors such as the surface below, the duration of the task, and environmental conditions (wind, rain) all influence the level of control required.
What is the hierarchy of controls for working at heights?
The preferred hierarchy is: eliminate the need to work at height (e.g. assemble at ground level), use passive fall prevention systems (guardrails, barriers), use work positioning systems (travel restraint), use fall arrest systems (harnesses with shock absorbers), and finally use administrative controls (permits, training, exclusion zones). Higher-order controls are always preferred over lower-order ones.
What records should be kept for working-at-heights activities?
Organisations should retain SWMS documents, completed permits, inspection records for harnesses and lanyards, EWP pre-start checklists, training and competency records for all workers performing height tasks, and rescue plans. These records demonstrate due diligence and are essential during incident investigations or regulator audits.
Related terms
Permit to work software
Permit to work software is a digital system for managing high-risk work permits such as hot work, confined space entry, working at heights, electrical isolation and excavation. It replaces paper-based permit books with electronic permits that are created, approved, issued and closed out within a single auditable platform.
Risk Assessment
A risk assessment is a systematic process of identifying hazards, evaluating the likelihood and severity of harm, and determining appropriate control measures to reduce risk to an acceptable level. It follows the hierarchy of controls (elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE) and produces a documented record of identified risks and the measures taken to manage them.
Pre-Start Inspection
A pre-start inspection is a systematic check performed on plant, equipment, or vehicles before each use or shift to identify defects, damage, or unsafe conditions. It typically follows a standardised checklist covering safety-critical items such as brakes, steering, lights, tyres, guards, fluid levels, and warning devices. Pre-start inspections are a legal requirement under workplace health and safety regulations in Australia and are similarly required in other jurisdictions, including OSHA equipment inspection requirements in the United States and PUWER requirements in the United Kingdom.
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