Working at Heights (General)
General working at heights activities including ladder work, roof access, elevated work platforms, scaffold access, and any work where there is a risk of falling more than 2 metres. Pre-filled hazards, controls, and risk ratings.
A working-at-heights document is the cross-trade fallback for jobs where no trade-specific SWMS covers the climb — the air-con tech on a flat roof, the maintenance crew on a warehouse mezzanine, the painter on a residential boundary fence. Where a trade-specific document exists, prefer it; this is the sheet for the tasks in between. The discipline that holds it together is the hierarchy of control under the Model Code of Practice for Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces — eliminate the height work, then physical fall prevention (perimeter scaffold, edge protection to AS/NZS 4994.1:2023, platform), then fall arrest using a full-body harness to AS/NZS 1891.1:2020 with a single-point anchor to AS/NZS 5532. Fall arrest is the last line, not the default.
Two pieces of the working-at-heights routine get under-prepared on most sites. The first is the rescue plan. A worker hanging in a harness post-arrest enters orthostatic shock within ten to thirty minutes, and a rescue retrieval kit, trauma-relief straps, and a trained second person who knows how to reach the suspended worker convert a saved fall into a saved life. Most sites have the harness program; most don't have the rescue procedure. The second is fragile-surface awareness — skylights, deteriorated fibre-cement sheeting, and corroded roof decks all kill workers who assumed the surface would hold. Safety mesh under any opening is the engineering control, and the homeowner walking past the open skylight cavity is a separate exclusion-zone problem.
RIIWHS204E covers the basic Working at Heights ticket and harness-wearer training; an EWP HRWL is required for boom heights above 11 metres, with the Yellow Card industry familiarisation covering most operators below that. Cert III in the relevant trade and a current first aid finish the operator side. The intent of this generic document is hierarchy enforcement — every project that uses it should demonstrate why a higher-tier control wasn't reasonably practicable before falling back to the next one.
What's In Your SWMS
7 Hazards & Controls
Death, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple fractures, permanent disability
Where possible, complete work at ground level or use long-reach tools
Use EWP or scaffold instead of ladder where height exceeds 4m or task duration exceeds 30 minutes
Establish exclusion zones below work area to protect others from falling objects and fallen workers
- Install edge protection guardrails (top rail 900-1100mm, mid rail, toe board) as per AS/NZS 4994.1:2023
- Use EWP with guardrails for mobile elevated work
- Install roof safety mesh (AS/NZS 4389:2015) or rated covers over fragile surfaces, openings, and skylights
- Use scaffold with full platforms and guardrails (per AS 4576:2020 / AS/NZS 1576 series) for extended duration work
- Complete site-specific risk assessment before commencing work
- Ensure all workers hold current Working at Heights training (RIIWHS204E)
- Implement permit-to-work system for high-risk elevated work
- Conduct pre-start briefing covering fall hazards and rescue procedures
- Monitor weather conditions - cease work if wind exceeds 40km/h or surfaces are wet/icy
Full body harness (AS/NZS 1891.1:2020) with energy absorbing lanyard connected to single-point anchor (AS 5532:2025) when edge protection not practicable
15-Step Work Procedure
Equipment & PPE
Equipment (8)
- Industrial ladder (fibreglass or aluminium)
Industrial rated 120kg+, inspect before each use, AS 1892.1:2018 compliant
- Full body harness with lanyard
AS/NZS 1891.1:2020 compliant. Inspect before each use; 6-monthly formal inspection by a competent person per AS/NZS 1891.4:2025.
- Anchor points or temporary anchor devices
Single-point anchor devices to AS 5532:2025 (supersedes AS/NZS 5532:2013); rated to manufacturer specification — typical residential/commercial single-point anchors are 15kN rated.
- Temporary edge protection guardrails
Top rail 900-1100mm, mid rail, toe board as per AS/NZS 4994.1:2023
- Barricades and warning signage
To establish exclusion zones below elevated work areas
- Rescue equipment (rescue pole, rescue plan)
Required when harness work is performed - suspension trauma risk
- Two-way radio or mobile phone
For emergency communication when working alone or in remote areas
- First aid kit
Accessible at ground level near work area
PPE (8)
- Safety helmet (hard hat)AS/NZS 1801:2024
Type 1 minimum, chin strap required for heights work
- Safety boots with ankle supportAS 2210.3:2019
Non-slip sole, steel cap, ankle support for ladder/scaffold work
- Full body harnessAS/NZS 1891.1:2020
Required when fall prevention devices not practicable
- Energy absorbing lanyard or self-retracting lifelineAS/NZS 1891.1:2020
Max 2m length; energy absorber limits arrest force to 6kN per AS/NZS 1891 (designed against a notional 100 kg person, deceleration limited to ~6 g)
- High-visibility vest or clothingAS 4602.1:2024
Class D/N for day use, Class N if working near traffic
- Work glovesAS/NZS 2161.1:2016
Grip gloves for climbing, cut-resistant for handling materials
- Safety glasses or gogglesAS/NZS 1337.1:2010
Clear lens for general use, tinted for outdoor work
- Sun protection (sunscreen, long sleeves, wide-brim hard hat attachment)
SPF 50+ sunscreen, reapply every 2 hours for outdoor elevated work
Training & Emergency
Competency Requirements
- Construction Induction Card (White Card)training
Required for all workers on construction sites
- Working at Heights Training (RIIWHS204E or equivalent)training
Required for all work at heights with risk of falling 2m or more
- Site-Specific Inductiontraining
Required before commencing work on any site
- EWP High Risk Work Licence
Required if operating boom lift over 11m (WP class). Scissor lift under 11m requires training only.
- Scaffolding Licence (Basic, Intermediate, or Advanced)
Required if erecting scaffolds. Basic (SB) for scaffolds up to 4m, Intermediate (SI) up to 15m, Advanced (SA) unlimited.
- Height Safety Rescue Training
Recommended for at least one worker when harness-based fall arrest is used
- First Aid Certificate (HLTAID011 or equivalent)
Recommended for at least one worker on site
Emergency Procedures
FALL FROM HEIGHT - Call 000 immediately. Do not move injured person unless in immediate danger. Provide first aid, monitor breathing, keep warm.
SUSPENDED WORKER (harness arrest) - CRITICAL: Initiate rescue within 10 minutes to prevent suspension trauma. Activate rescue plan - use rescue pole or descent device to lower worker. Once rescued, lay worker flat with legs elevated. Call 000 even if worker appears uninjured.
FALL THROUGH ROOF - Call 000 immediately. Secure scene to prevent further falls. Access injured worker via safe route. Assume spinal injury - do not move unless breathing compromised.
LADDER FALL - Assess injured worker at ground level. Do not move if spinal injury suspected. Control bleeding, monitor for shock.
HEAT STRESS - Move worker to shade immediately. Remove excess clothing. Apply cool water to skin. Provide water if conscious. Call 000 if confused or unconscious.
Everything above, included in your SWMS document.
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High-Risk Construction Work Categories
Under Australian WHS Regulations (291 - High Risk Construction Work (falls from height)), this work is classified as high-risk due to:
- Work at height (>2m) with risk of fall (Primary hazard - all work involves risk of falling more than 2 metres)
- Use of powered mobile plant (Elevated Work Platforms (EWPs), scissor lifts, boom lifts if used)
- Temporary support for structural alterations (Scaffold erection and temporary edge protection systems)
Australian Standards Referenced
Who Needs This SWMS?
This template is designed for the following trades and roles performing working at heights (general) work.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is a SWMS required for working at heights?
A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is required for all construction work where there is a risk of falling more than 2 metres. This is classified as high-risk construction work under WHS Regulation 2017 Section 291. The SWMS must be prepared before work commences and workers must be consulted in its development.
What training is required for working at heights in Australia?
All workers performing work at heights with a risk of falling 2 metres or more must hold current Working at Heights training (unit RIIWHS204E or equivalent). Additionally, a White Card (Construction Induction) is required for all construction site work. EWP operators may need a High Risk Work Licence depending on the equipment type.
What is the hierarchy of controls for fall prevention?
The hierarchy from most to least effective is: 1) Elimination - do work at ground level, 2) Fall prevention devices - guardrails, scaffolds, EWPs, 3) Work positioning systems - rope access with positioning, 4) Fall arrest systems - harnesses, safety nets, 5) Administrative controls - permits, procedures, training. Higher order controls must be used where reasonably practicable.
When must a fall arrest harness be worn?
A full body harness must be worn when fall prevention devices (guardrails, EWP guardrails) are not reasonably practicable and there is a risk of falling 2 metres or more. The harness must comply with AS/NZS 1891.1:2020 and be connected to a single-point anchor compliant with AS 5532:2025 (which superseded AS/NZS 5532:2013 in September 2025) — typical residential/commercial single-point anchors are 15kN rated. A rescue plan must be in place before harness work commences.
What is suspension trauma and how is it prevented?
Suspension trauma (harness hang syndrome) is a life-threatening condition that can occur when a worker is suspended in a harness after a fall. Blood pools in the legs, reducing circulation. Death can occur within 15-30 minutes. Prevention includes using harnesses with suspension relief straps, having a rescue plan that allows rescue within 10-15 minutes, and never working alone when using fall arrest systems.
What are the ladder safety requirements in Australia?
Ladders must be industrial rated (120kg+), compliant with AS 1892.1:2018, and inspected before each use. Extension ladders must be set at a 4:1 angle (1m out for every 4m up) and extend 1m above the landing point. Maintain 3-point contact at all times, do not overreach, and secure the top of extension ladders to prevent movement.
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