When is a heights permit required?

A working at heights permit is typically required whenever there is a risk of a person falling from one level to another that could cause injury. Under Australian WHS Regulations, working at heights is classified as high-risk construction work (HRCW) and requires a SWMS. Many organisations also require a separate heights permit as an additional control measure. Common triggers include work on roofs, scaffolds, elevated work platforms, ladders above 2 metres, near open edges or penetrations, and any work where fall protection is required. Check your site safety management plan and principal contractor requirements.

What fall protection is required for working at heights?

Australian WHS Regulations require the duty holder to eliminate the risk of a fall where reasonably practicable, or minimise it using the hierarchy of controls. This includes (in order of preference): elimination (do the work on the ground), passive fall prevention (guardrails, edge protection, covers), work positioning systems (travel restraint), fall arrest systems (harness + lanyard + anchor point), and administrative controls (safety nets, exclusion zones, warning signs). A rescue plan must be in place before any work at height using a fall arrest system. All fall protection equipment must be inspected, maintained and used by competent persons.

Is the template free to use without MapTrack?

Yes. You can download and use the working at heights permit and checklist for free. Open the file and use your browser's Print → Save as PDF to keep a copy. No MapTrack account required. If you later want digital permits and compliance forms tied to locations and assets with scheduled reminders and audit trails, we'd be happy to show you MapTrack.

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Free working at heights permit + checklist

Q: What is a working at heights permit?

A working at heights permit is a formal document that authorises specific workers to carry out work at height after confirming that all safety controls are in place. It records the task, location, duration, personnel, and a checklist of safety requirements including edge protection, fall arrest systems, anchor points, rescue plan and exclusion zones. The permit must be issued by a competent person and accepted by the workers before work begins. It is closed out when the work is completed and the area is made safe.

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A working at heights permit is a formal document used to authorise work at height after confirming all safety controls - edge protection, fall arrest, anchor points, rescue plan and exclusion zones - are in place. This page explains what to include, how to use the template, and offers a free PDF-ready permit you can download and use straight away. No sign-up required.

Last updated: 2026-02-21 · MapTrack

Jarrod Milford

Commercial Director

Updated 21 February 2026

How to use: Complete permit and work details → verify personnel competency → work through pre-work checklist → issue and accept permit → close out when complete → save as PDF.

✓ PDF-ready. Open and print to PDF
✓ Covers fall arrest, anchor points, rescue plan, exclusion zones and wind conditions
✓ Free to use with or without MapTrack

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What is a working at heights permit?

A working at heights permit is a formal authorisation document used to confirm that all safety controls are in place before workers carry out tasks at height. It records the scope of work, location, duration, personnel (with verified competency and tickets), and a pre-work checklist covering edge protection, fall arrest systems, anchor points, rescue plan, exclusion zones, weather conditions and worker briefings. The permit is issued by a competent person, accepted by the workers, and closed out when the work is completed and the area is made safe. Under Australian WHS Regulations, working at heights is high-risk construction work requiring a SWMS - the heights permit provides an additional layer of control and documentation.

Benefits of using a working at heights permit

Systematic safety verification: confirm every control is in place before work begins, reducing the risk of falls.
Regulatory compliance: demonstrate due diligence under WHS Regulations and meet principal contractor requirements.
Clear accountability: the permit records who issued it, who accepted it, and who is authorised to work at height.
Rescue readiness: the checklist prompts verification that a rescue plan and equipment are in place before work starts.
Audit trail: a completed and closed-out permit provides documented evidence for safety audits and incident investigations.
Controlled close-out: the permit is formally cancelled when work is complete, ensuring the area is made safe.

Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack

When you move from paper or static PDFs to digital forms in MapTrack, you get:

Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
Automatically get alerts when faults are identified.
Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
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Ability to share forms digitally.
Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
Electronic signatures.
Edit forms later without reprinting.
Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).

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What to include in a working at heights permit

Our free working at heights permit includes:

Permit details: permit number, date, valid from/to times, site or location, project name.
Work description: task description, specific location or level, height of work, estimated duration.
Personnel: names of workers, confirmation that competency and tickets have been verified.
Pre-work checklist (P/F/N/A): risk assessment completed, SWMS reviewed and signed, edge protection in place, penetrations covered or barricaded, anchor points rated and inspected, fall arrest system inspected (harness, lanyard, SRL), rescue plan in place, rescue equipment available, exclusion zone established and barricaded, signage in place, wind conditions acceptable (<40 km/h), lighting adequate, workers briefed on rescue procedure, emergency contacts displayed.
Overall result: Permit Approved / Not Approved.
Permit authorisation: issued by (permit issuer signature) and accepted by (worker/supervisor signature).
Permit close-out: work completed, area made safe, permit cancelled with sign-off.

How to use the working at heights permit

Complete the permit details - permit number, date, validity period, site and project.
Describe the work - task, specific location, height, and estimated duration.
List all personnel who will work at height and verify their competency (e.g. working at heights training, EWP licence).
Work through the pre-work checklist. Mark Pass, Fail or N/A for each item. Do not issue the permit if any critical item fails.
The permit issuer signs to authorise the work. The workers or their supervisor sign to accept the permit.
When the work is complete, close out the permit - confirm all personnel have exited, the area is made safe, and sign off.

In MapTrack, you can digitise height permits with electronic signatures, attach them to specific locations, and keep a complete audit trail for every permit issued. Book a demo to see how.

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When to issue a working at heights permit

A new working at heights permit should be issued for each separate task or work area where there is a risk of a fall. The permit is valid only for the duration, location and scope of work described. A new permit is required when the task changes, when conditions change (e.g. weather deteriorates), when personnel change, or at the start of each new shift. The permit should be closed out as soon as the work is completed and the area is made safe. Never allow work at height to proceed on an expired or closed permit.

Frequently asked questions

What is a working at heights permit?: A working at heights permit is a formal document that authorises specific workers to carry out work at height after confirming that all safety controls are in place. It records the task, location, duration, personnel, and a checklist of safety requirements including edge protection, fall arrest systems, anchor points, rescue plan and exclusion zones. The permit must be issued by a competent person and accepted by the workers before work begins. It is closed out when the work is completed and the area is made safe.
When is a heights permit required?: A working at heights permit is typically required whenever there is a risk of a person falling from one level to another that could cause injury. Under Australian WHS Regulations, working at heights is classified as high-risk construction work (HRCW) and requires a SWMS. Many organisations also require a separate heights permit as an additional control measure. Common triggers include work on roofs, scaffolds, elevated work platforms, ladders above 2 metres, near open edges or penetrations, and any work where fall protection is required. Check your site safety management plan and principal contractor requirements.
What fall protection is required for working at heights?: Australian WHS Regulations require the duty holder to eliminate the risk of a fall where reasonably practicable, or minimise it using the hierarchy of controls. This includes (in order of preference): elimination (do the work on the ground), passive fall prevention (guardrails, edge protection, covers), work positioning systems (travel restraint), fall arrest systems (harness + lanyard + anchor point), and administrative controls (safety nets, exclusion zones, warning signs). A rescue plan must be in place before any work at height using a fall arrest system. All fall protection equipment must be inspected, maintained and used by competent persons.
Is the template free to use without MapTrack?: Yes. You can download and use the working at heights permit and checklist for free. Open the file and use your browser's Print → Save as PDF to keep a copy. No MapTrack account required. If you later want digital permits and compliance forms tied to locations and assets with scheduled reminders and audit trails, we'd be happy to show you MapTrack.

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Digitise your working at heights permits in MapTrack. Issue, accept and close out permits on mobile - evidence is stored against the location, and you have a complete audit trail.

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