Work at Heights

What is “Work at Heights”?

Work at heights means work in any place where,

if precautions were not taken, a person could
fall a distance liable to cause personal injury.

A person is working at heights if he/she:

• work above ground/floor level

•could fall from an edge, through an opening or fragile surface

•could fall from ground level into an opening in a floor or a hole

in the ground
What is “Work at Heights”?
Exceptions:
•Walking up and down a staircase in an office
•Working in an office on the upper floors of a temporary
accommodation building
•Sitting in a chair
 Safety
Precautions
when Working
at Heights
 Fall Hazards
A “Fall Hazard” is a situation where
a person is exposed to a risk of a fall
from one level to another that is Safe

reasonably likely to cause an injury.

Falls are one of the greatest hazards

on construction sites. Not safe
 Fall Hazards Statistics
Each year workers die from falls.
During the year 2006:
• Total deaths from falls: 809
• 39 more deaths from falls than in
2005
• Deaths in construction: 428
• More than 50% of deaths from falls
are in construction.
• Approximately 14% of all
occupational deaths are falls.
Examples of Fall Hazards:

• Building Structures
• Exterior Construction
Areas
• Scaffolds
• Stairs
• Ladders
 Do’s and Don’ts
 Do’s:
 Work on the ground as much as
possible
 make sure that the employees can
safely move to and from the area
where they are working at height
 ensure that the equipment that
you’re using for the job is strong,
stable and suitable enough to get
the job done
 ensure that you are protected from
falling objects
 make preparations for emergency
evacuations and rescues
 Don’ts:
 overload the ladders that they
are working on, with equipment
or materials
 try to reach too far when you’re
on a ladder or stepladder
 lean or place the ladder on or
fragile upper surfaces
 use ladders or stepladders to do
work that entail heavy or
strenuous tasks
 allow incompetent workers do
any work at height
Five Level Hierarchy of Controls
 What is a “Risk Assessment”?

A ”risk assessment” is a
process to identify potential
hazards and analyze what
could happen if a hazard
occurs.
A ”risk assessment” process
aims to remove fall hazards or
reduce the level of risk by
adding precautions to keep
the workers safe.
 What is a “Risk Assessment”?

The process is:

▪ Identify fall hazards

▪ Evaluate the risk associated with any
hazards
▪ Determine the appropriate ways to
eliminate or control the hazards

By controlling the risks, you have created a safer work environment for you and others.
 Legislation
The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Regulation) - Part 4.4 has specific
requirements regarding the management of fall hazards. These requirements must be
implemented by workplaces.
The Regulation does not differentiate between height distances (R78). Requirements
apply to all fall hazards from one level to another, regardless of the distance from the
ground, including the use of low level platforms and ladders.

The Regulation provides a five level hierarchy of control that stipulates the
options to manage fall hazards (R79).