Amendments to WHS regulations in SA aim to lower ‘work at height’ threshold

South Australia's WHS regulations will lower the work at height threshold to two metres

Answer first: from 1 July 2026, construction work carried out where a person could drop two metres or more will be classed as high risk construction work in South Australia — down from the current three-metre trigger.

SafeWork SA has released new fact sheets that explain the revised WHS laws in plain language, helping workers and employers prepare well before the new height limit begins.

Quick summary of the changes

• New height threshold: two metres, reduced from three metres.
• Commencement: 1 July 2026, allowing a lengthy transition period.
• Legal instrument: the WHS Regulations 2012 (SA).
• Practical effect: more jobs will be treated as hazardous construction work needing a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) before anyone starts.
• Intended outcome: lowering height threshold will raise safety standards across building and maintenance projects.

Why the height limit is being lowered

Injuries can be severe even at modest heights, which is why the regulator aims to reduce risk earlier in the planning cycle. Under South Australia's Work Health and Safety framework, high risk construction work triggers mandatory documentation, supervision and verification duties.

SafeWork SA says a transition date of 1 July 2026 gives industry sufficient time to understand the revised regulation before enforcement begins. That lead time also allows businesses to update templates, induction material and job planning tools.

What the two-metre trigger means for duty holders

A principal contractor must ensure a compliant SWMS is prepared, shared and reviewed before hazardous work at height commences. Each contractor engaged on a project should confirm that documentation reflects the lowered threshold rather than the outdated three-metre figure.

Effective risk control measures still follow the standard order of priority: eliminate the need to work up high, then apply engineering controls such as scaffold, guardrail systems or work platforms, before relying on administrative measures and personal equipment.

• Review and reissue every SWMS covering elevated tasks, including our mobile scaffold SWMS template.
• Update your WHS policy document so commitments align with current legal duties.
• Brief every supervisor and contractor on the new two-metre trigger during toolbox talks.
• Confirm training records, equipment inspections and emergency planning remain current.

Unsure which tasks now require formal documentation? Our SWMS product guide outlines when a written method is legally required and what each document should cover.

The cost of height-related incidents

ReturnToWorkSA figures reveal that since the 2016/17 financial year, height-related injuries within construction have accounted for roughly 1,585 workers' compensation claims. Combined costs of those claims surpass $64 million — a compelling business case for early intervention.

How this fits national reform

South Australia's approach mirrors broader harmonisation efforts, including updates to the model WHS regulations published by Safe Work Australia and enhanced incident notification requirements approved by ministers. Enforcement trends elsewhere, such as the first prosecutions under WA's new WHS regulations, show regulators moving quickly once reforms take effect.

For official guidance, fact sheets and further detail, visit the SafeWork SA website at safework.sa.gov.au, or consult Safe Work Australia for national codes of practice.