Apr 11th 2023 |
SafeWork SA urges discussion on working at height safety procedures
SafeWork SA urges discussion on working at height safety procedures as part of this year's 'April No-Falls' safety campaign, which kicked off on 1 April. The regulator reminds employers to discuss with workers about the safety measures they can take to reduce the risk of falls when working at height across every industry.
Falls from height remain the second highest cause of workplace deaths in Australia, making this awareness campaign a critical part of the safety calendar for construction and related industries.
Why SafeWork SA Is Urging Employers to Act Now
SafeWork SA Acting Executive Director Glenn Farrell said he was pleased to see the number of serious incidents going down, though the risk to health and safety from working at height continues to demand attention across industry.
"Every April our inspectors and educators spread the 'no-falls' message," he said.
Employers in high-risk sectors such as construction, manufacturing and building maintenance should treat this campaign as a prompt to revisit their approach to fall risk management, review the plant and equipment used on site, and confirm that hazards are identified before work begins.
Upcoming Webinar on Fall Prevention
Farrell confirmed SafeWork SA will host a webinar on 26 April to discuss fall prevention strategies in the residential building sector, an industry where fall-related hazards are common due to varied site conditions and frequent use of plant and mobile equipment at height.
The webinar session aims to give industry professionals practical guidance on reducing risk, understanding common hazards, and applying safety procedures consistently across residential building sites.
Key Considerations for Managing Fall Risk
Businesses working at height should consider the following when reviewing their safety procedures:
- Identifying hazards associated with working at height before tasks begin
- Ensuring plant and equipment used for height access is properly maintained and inspected
- Reviewing risk assessments regularly as site conditions or industry requirements change
- Providing workers with clear guidance on safety procedures relevant to their role
- Monitoring health outcomes and reporting near-misses to reduce future risk
For businesses seeking to formalise these procedures, SafetyDocs offers a Working at Height Safety Package designed to help industry teams document risk controls and comply with height safety obligations. Related resources include the Working at Height SWMS Pack, which supports businesses across multiple sectors in managing hazards specific to elevated work.
Businesses working with plant near roofing or asbestos-containing materials should also review the Asbestos Safety - Working in Roofs Safe Work Method Statement, while those undertaking specialised tasks such as window tinting can refer to the Window Tinting SWMS Safety Procedures for additional guidance.
Additional Support for Industry
SafeWork SA continues to support industry through education, inspection and awareness campaigns aimed at reducing risk across high-hazard work environments. Additional information about the 'April No-Falls' campaign is available on the SafeWork SA website.
For broader workplace health guidance, readers may also find value in related coverage such as SafeWork urges businesses to prioritise workplace safety this summer and SafeWork urges farmers to prioritise safety when working around farm vehicles following three fatalities this year, both of which highlight how different sectors approach risk reduction across varied plant and equipment settings.
Industry stakeholders managing field-based plant may also benefit from SafeWork South Australia urges farm workers to put safety first when working with portable field bins, alongside broader digital tools available through Safety Software solutions supporting compliance across industry.
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