Managing the risk of falls at workplaces

Under the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WHS Regulations), duty holders are required to manage the risk of falls at workplaces, as prescribed by the following regulations:

Regulation 78 Management of risk of fall
Regulations 79 Specific requirements to minimise risk of fall
Regulation 79A Duties of certain persons as to holes or openings in floors
Regulation 80 Emergency and rescue procedures

Transitional arrangements

The work health and safety laws came into effect on 31 March 2022. Transitional arrangements apply to high risk construction work and the mining industry.

A safe work method statement (SWMS) prepared under the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 (OSH Regulations) is considered a SWMS under the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WHS General Regulations) until either the SWMS is required to be reviewed, or the close of 30 March 2023, whichever occurs first [WHS General Regulations r. 708].
Until the close of 30 September 2025, regulation 3.55 of the OSH Regulations must be used instead of regulation 79 of the WHS General Regulations. Regulation 3.55 of the OSH Regulations specifies the control measures that should be applied when there is a risk of a fall of two metres or more from the edge of specific structures, such as scaffolds, or three metres or more from any other edge. Duty holders should still comply with regulations 78 and 79A of the WHS General Regulations during this period, but risk controls cannot override the control measures in regulation 3.55 of the OSH Regulations [WHS General Regulations rr. 714, 722]. The transitional period will be followed by a six-month Statement of Regulatory Intent to assist transition to the new laws.
Note: These transitional arrangements only apply to high risk construction work in general industry.

Falls between levels

A PCBU must manage the risks of falls from one level to another. If it is reasonably practicable, work must be done on the ground or a solid construction. Where this is not reasonably practicable, fall hazards must be controlled through adequate risk control measures.

PCBUs must prevent falls between levels by providing:

a safe system of work, which includes:
- temporary work platforms
- information, training and instruction
- procedures such as work sequences, ladder use and permit systems
a safe way to access and exit any area that has a risk of falls
a fall prevention device (e.g. a secure fence, edge protection, working platforms and covers) where reasonably practicable. If a fall prevention device is not reasonably practicable, a work positioning system must be provided. Where neither of these are reasonably practicable, a fall arrest system must be provided.

Additional hazards that apply specifically to the mining industry include:

uneven surfaces due to broken ground and mine workings
lack of visibility underground.

A combination of controls can be used to minimise risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

Transitional arrangements

Falls between levels

Further information

WorkSafe

Safe Work Australia

Acknowledgement of Country

Managing the risk of falls at workplaces

Transitional arrangements

Falls between levels

Further information

WorkSafe

Safe Work Australia

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Acknowledgement of Country