Unpacking the latest in height safety

The introduction of the Industrial Manslaughter Bill in NSW this year means that a more proactive approach to workplace safety is needed.

Working at heights remains a leading cause of occupational injury in Australia and among the leading causes of worker deaths. In 2022, falls from height accounted for 9% of workplace fatalities and for 3.5% of injuries. In South Australia, in 2023 alone, the number of serious injuries caused by falls from heights increased by 36%, according to Safe Work SA.

“There’s no room for complacency, lack of awareness or non-compliance with the regulations and guidelines as these are simply not accepted under the new legislation,” said Stephen Blackie, Portfolio Manager of the Workplace Health & Safety Show.

Unexpected risks can carry serious consequences

While the majority of falls from height occur in the construction sector, they remain a risk across a wide range of industries.

“What many don’t realise is that workers can sustain serious injuries from falls of just one metre, or even as a result of falls from ground-level to below-ground spaces,” Blackie said. “The injuries sustained in falls are often more grievous or complicated than those sustained in other incidents.”

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), falls are the leading cause of injury hospitalisation and death in Australia. They’re responsible for 43% of injury hospitalisations and 42% of injury deaths.

“Falls from ladders and flatbed trucks are just as risky as falls from construction site scaffolding or roofs,” Blackie said.

Embracing technology tools to boost safety

New technologies are among the innovations enabling improved safety at heights. These include:

• Robots that can be deployed to carry out specific tasks at height, enabling human workers to keep their feet on the ground.
• Drones that can be used to carry out site surveys or inspections, providing teams with visual data for analysis and planning.
• AI tools that can interpret data to help assess, interpret and predict or report on risks. This enables more proactive safety planning, management and response.
• Wearable tech (sensors) that detect worker movements or location in real time, as well as a host of other potential risk factors (eg, environmental conditions) and alert teams. These sensors can also collect data for reporting and for proactive management of safety.
• Smart equipment, such as telescopic booms that won’t start up until the operators have correctly hooked into an integrated safety lanyard system.
• Equipment sensors that sound an alarm and halt operations if the equipment is not safe to use. For example, if a platform is overloaded, tilted or on uneven terrain.
• Virtual reality or augmented reality tools, for safety training.
• Computer vision solutions that can detect whether fall protection systems and PPE are being utilised correctly.
   

To help companies navigate the regulatory changes, height safety tech innovations and the complexities of heights safety, Workplace Health & Safety Show Sydney features a line-up of interactive conference sessions and summits. This includes a dedicated Construction Health and Safety Summit, where industry experts will unpack the safety challenges facing the sector — including heights safety — and provide audiences with practical insights and tips for improved outcomes.

More details about the show agenda, free registration and the exhibition are available here: https://whsshow.com.au/whats-on-sydney.

Image credit: iStock.com/Kittikorn