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Working at Height

A person is considered to be working at height if there is a possibility of injury resulting from a fall, even where the work is carried out at or below ground level. In general, this includes work undertaken above 2 metres. 

All reasonable steps must be taken to eliminate or minimise work at height. Work at height must be properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out using suitable equipment. 

Requirements 

  • Work at height must not be undertaken where it is safe and practical to avoid it. 

  • Work at height must take account of any conditions that could endanger safety, including high winds or slippery ground. 

  • Those involved in work at height must be trained and competent. 

  • Equipment used for work at height must be appropriately inspected and free from safety defects. 

  • Those working at height must be protected by a guardrail or equipped with a fall arrest harness, except when using a ladder. 

  • Plans must be in place for emergency situations and the rescue of persons working at height. 

Collective and Personal Protection 

  • Measures that protect everyone exposed to a risk (collective protection) must always be considered before measures that protect only an individual (personal protection). 

  • Collective protection is equipment that does not require the person working at height to act in order to be effective, such as a temporary guardrail or a net. 

  • Personal protection is equipment that requires the individual to act in order to be effective, such as correctly wearing and attaching a safety harness and energy-absorbing lanyard to a suitable anchor point. 

Protection of Persons Below 

  • The risks from falling objects must be properly controlled. 

  • Work platforms must have a toe board to prevent items from falling. 

  • Access must be controlled to prevent other persons working or walking beneath work at height. 

  • Persons working in the vicinity of work at height must wear a safety helmet. 

  • Persons working at height on mobile elevated work platforms should wear a safety helmet with a chin strap.