Working from heights: don't fall short on safety

Falls from height are a major concern for the Construction and Public Works Industry. Each year thousands of workers fall from heights, resulting in major injuries and fatalities. Between 2014 – 2017 more than 12,000 workers were injured after falling from a height, 25 died and 240 were permanently disabled, according to Safe Work NSW.

Ladders, incomplete scaffolds, falling off a truck, a roof edge or falling through fragile roof sheeting are the major causes of injuries. When working from height there is a two-step process under the harmonised WHS legislation when working at heights.

A Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) needs to ensure these two major steps are followed to keep their workers safe on site. This involves assessing the possibility of a fall from height and how to best manage it. Second, whether the job is considered High Risk Construction Work and preparing a safe work method statement.

Falls from height are a major cause for concern and should be treated with the utmost care and consideration before work commences and during. Regularly revising key safety information relating to falls from heights as well as additional key safety issues is paramount.

To assist, Pro-Visual Publishing in conjunction with the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) and the NSCA Foundation have released the National Guide to Public Works & Services Safety 2020/21.

The Guide is a 1m x 1m safety poster and provides further information on working from heights as well as other critical safety issues in the Public Works and Services Industry. With Augmented Reality (AR) capabilities, the Guide can become digitally interactive. By downloading the free Pro-Vis AR app, workers can use their smart device to scan any AR capable content to access to web links and PDF files.

For further information, or to obtain additional copies of the Guide, please call (02) 8272 2611, email marketing@provisual.com.au or visit www.provisual.com.au

For media enquiries or images please contact Deanna Davenport at Pro-Visual Publishing on (02) 8272 2611 or ddavenport@provisual.com.au.

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