Month: September 2024

The Working at Height Association (WAHA) is very happy to announce our new partnership with the Water Industry Operations Association of Australia (WIOA), the national body representing the operations sector within the water industry..

The WAHA and the WIOA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under which both organisations have agreed to support activities and education opportunities which enhance safety in the workplace and empower workers to make better decisions whilst working at height.

Both WAHA and WIOA have agreed to lend their respective expertise in the professional development of the industry and to provide guidance to each other in the design of content and technical material affecting those key stakeholders. 

WAHA CEO Scott Barber said;

‘the opportunity to collaborate with professional organisations ensures that the WAHA mission is relevant to those affected by working in falls environments and that our activities align with the broader objectives of education and empowerment. Ultimately, we are here to ensure people go home safely to their families at the end of the day, and working with respected and established bodies like the WIOA helps us both connect with those stakeholders around safety, and make those who in the water sector a safer one in which to work.’

WIOA CEO, Dean Barnett, mentioned the value in collaboration, with an example being our joint focus on the option for AI enhanced training for working at height. 

“Our ambition to work collaboratively aligns with the water industry risk when working at height with above and below ground assets.”

As not-for-profit professional bodies, WAHA and the WIOA have long histories of supporting safety in the workplace and the promotion of higher levels of competency in high-risk work environments.

Learn more about the WIOA here.

Each year, Safe Work Australia produces national work health and safety statistics, providing important evidence on the state of work health and safety in Australia.

Key Work Health and Safety Statistics, Australia 2024 provides an overview of the latest national data on work-related fatalities and workers’ compensation claims. This includes trends, gender and age comparisons, and industry and occupation breakdowns.

Understanding the causes of injury and the industries most affected can help reduce work-related fatalities, injuries and disease. Work-related fatalities, injuries and illnesses have a devastating impact on workers, their families and the community.

Tragically, 200 workers died in 2023 – of which 29 were killed due to a fall from height.

The mechanism of incident refers to the overall action, exposure or event that describes the circumstances that resulted in a worker fatality.

The number of deaths due to Falls from a height increased in 2023 and was the second highest contributor of worker fatalities overall. 29 worker fatalities (15%) were attributable to the mechanism of incident Falls from a height in 2023. This is 32% higher than the 5-year average of 22 worker fatalities per year (2019 to 2023). 45% (13) of Falls from a height worker deaths in 2023 occurred within the Construction industry. This was followed by worker deaths in the Arts and recreation services, Mining, and Transport, postal and warehousing industries, with 10% (3) worker fatalities occurring in each of those industries in 2023. Nearly 80% of workers who died due to Falls from a height were Labourers (41%, 12), Technician and trades workers (21%, 6) or Machinery operator and drivers (17%, 5) in 2023.

For the last 6 years straight, falls from height remains one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities in Australia. 

2017-18
28 falls from height (15%)
15 being hit by falling objects (8%)

2018-19
18 falls from height (13%)
15 being hit by falling objects (10%)

2019-20
21 falls from height (11%)
21 being hit by falling objects (11%)

2020-21
22 falls from height (11%)
17 being hit by falling objects (9%)

2021-22
19 falls from height (11%)
16 being hit by falling objects (9%)

2022-23
17 falls from height (9%)
17 being hit by falling objects (9%)

2023-24
29 falls from height (15%)
12 being hit by falling objects (6%)

In 2023, 62% of worker fatalities occurred in 3 industries. Transport, postal and warehousing fatalities accounted for 26% (51 fatalities), followed by fatalities in the Construction industry (23%; 45 fatalities) and Agriculture, forestry and fishing industry (14%; 27 fatalities). There were also some differences from the long-term average:

• the number of fatalities in the Construction industry in 2023 (45) was 36% higher than the 5-year average for this industry (33), and
• the number of fatalities in the Agriculture, forestry and fishing industry in 2023 (27) was 25% lower than the 5-year average (36).

Over the 10 years to 2022-23p, the proportion of claims for Mental health conditions has increased from 6.4% in 2012-
13 to 10.5% in 2022‑23p. Over this period the number of serious claims for Mental health conditions has increased by 7,200 (97.3%).

• This represents the second largest growth in the number of serious claims for a nature of injury/illness major group observed over the period (just behind the growth of 8,000 Infectious diseases serious claims, driven by COVID-19).

Mental health conditions are one of the costliest forms of workplace injury. They lead to significantly more time off work and higher compensation paid when compared to physical injuries and diseases.

• The median time lost from Mental health condition serious claims in 2021-22 (37.0 working weeks) was more than 5 times the median time lost across all serious claims (7.2).
• The median compensation paid for Mental health condition serious claims in 2021‑22 ($65,400) was more than 4 times the median compensation paid across all serious claims ($14,400).

Source: WorkSafe Victoria

A solar installer has been convicted and fined $40,000 after a worker was injured when they fell about 10 metres through an asbestos roof in Victoria’s south-west.

Sams Solar Pty Ltd was sentenced in the Portland Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 10 September after pleading guilty to a single charge of failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace.

The company was also ordered to pay $6,026 in costs.

Sams Solar was contracted to remove asbestos sheeting then install a new roof and solar system at a Portland self-storage warehouse in April 2023.

The court heard the company engaged sub-contractors to carry out the asbestos removal at the three-storey building and provided equipment to complete the work.

Workers were provided with a harness and lifted on to the roof by a boom lift before attaching to an anchor point using ropes, rather than retractable or inertia lanyards, and traversing the roof via unsecured lengths of timber.

One of the worker’s harness ropes became tangled and as he unclipped to fix it, the brittle roof surface below the timber he was walking on cracked and he fell through it.

The worker was airlifted to hospital suffering a fractured wrist and severe bruising to his body.

It was reasonably practicable for Sams Solar to ensure the asbestos removal work was performed from underneath the roof using a scissor lift. If the work was to be done from the rooftop, the company should have ensured there was safety mesh or a catch platform installed under the asbestos sheeting and that temporary access walkways were at least 450mm wide and secured to the top of the roof.

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said a worker had been left with painful injuries in an incident that could have easily ended in tragedy.

“Falls from height remain one of the biggest killers on Victorian worksites and it is frustrating to see employers continue to put workers in situations where they are at serious risk of harm,” Mr Jenkin said.

“As highlighted in this case, safety harnesses come with their own hazards and should only be considered in instances where greater risk control measures cannot be used.”

To prevent falls from height employers should implement the highest possible measures from the five levels in the hierarchy of controls:

• Level 1 Eliminate the risk by, where practicable, doing all or some of the work on the ground or from a solid construction.
• Level 2 Use a passive fall prevention device such as scaffolds, perimeter screens, guardrails, safety mesh or elevating work platforms.
• Level 3 Use a positioning system, such as a travel-restraint system, to ensure employees work within a safe area.
• Level 4 Use a fall arrest system, such as a harness, catch platform or safety nets, to limit the risk of injuries in the event of a fall.
• Level 5 Use a fixed or portable ladder, or implement administrative controls.

When undertaking High Risk Construction Work (HRCW), duty holders must:

• Ensure HRCW is not performed unless a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is prepared.
• Ensure that once a SWMS has been developed, all HRCW work is undertaken in accordance with that SWMS.
• Stop work immediately, or as soon as it is safe to do so, once they become aware a SWMS is not being followed.
• Review the SWMS whenever there is a change in the work being undertaken or if there is an indication that control measures are not adequate.
• A copy of the SWMS must be retained for the duration of any HRCW.

Article By Association Secretary and Strategic Programs Manager, Deborah Chick.

Working at heights presents unique challenges, particularly in safety management, making regular equipment inspection vital to ensuring a safe and compliant work environment. Without proper oversight of equipment like harnesses, ropes, carabiners, and anchor points, workers are exposed to increased risks of accidents and injuries. Organizations like the Working at Heights Association (WAHA) emphasize the importance of strict equipment inspection protocols to uphold safety standards.

In this article, we explore the critical aspects of equipment inspection, focusing on best practices and guidelines that align with industry standards. You can learn more about these standards and regulations by exploring WAHA’s website.

Why is Equipment Inspection Important?

In any work environment that involves heights, faulty or worn-out equipment can lead to severe consequences, including falls and other potentially fatal incidents. Inspections ensure that all equipment used in working at heights is safe, reliable, and compliant with the relevant standards. Regular equipment checks not only protect workers but also help organizations avoid legal repercussions from non-compliance with safety regulations.

Some key reasons why equipment inspections are essential include:

• Preventing equipment failure: Regular checks identify wear and tear before it becomes a hazard.
• Ensuring compliance: Inspections are often required to comply with national and international safety standards.
• Minimizing liability: Ensuring all equipment is up to date reduces legal and financial risks.
• Worker confidence: Employees feel safer knowing the equipment they are using is regularly inspected and maintained.

Types of Equipment Requiring Inspection

When working at heights, there are several key pieces of equipment that must undergo regular inspections. Each type has specific wear indicators and usage thresholds, making it vital to be familiar with the warning signs for each.

1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
   Harnesses: Inspections should look for frayed webbing, damage to buckles, and signs of excessive wear. Ensure labels with weight limits and manufacturing dates are legible.
   Lanyards and Shock Absorbers: Check for cuts, burns, or chemical exposure, and test shock absorbers for signs of activation.
   Helmets: Helmets should be inspected for cracks, internal padding wear, and damage to chin straps.
2. Anchors and Connectors
   Anchor Points: Ensure that the fixed or portable anchor points used for rope access or fall arrest systems are securely installed, undamaged, and tested for required load capacity.
   Carabiners and Hooks: Examine for wear on gate mechanisms, corrosion, and deformation, ensuring they lock and unlock smoothly.
3. Ropes and Cables
   Lifelines and Safety Ropes: Inspect for abrasions, cuts, and signs of UV degradation. Ropes should be checked for any contamination from chemicals or moisture, which could compromise strength.
   Fall Arrest Blocks: Ensure the casing is intact, the retraction mechanism is functioning properly, and check for internal damage, particularly after a fall arrest.

Frequency of Inspections

According to guidelines provided by WAHA and other safety organizations, inspections must occur at regular intervals, varying based on usage frequency and environmental conditions.

Pre-Use Inspections – Workers shall perform an inspection of each item of personal and common use equipment before and after each use per ASNZS 1891.4 section 9.2. This simple step can detect obvious issues, such as broken or missing components. 

Formal Periodic Inspections – For high-use or critical equipment, formal inspections should be carried out at least every 6-12 months by a competent person. These inspections are more thorough, often involving disassembly and testing.

Post-Incident Inspections – Any equipment involved in a fall or other significant incident must be inspected before being put back into service. In some cases, the equipment may need to be retired if its integrity has been compromised.

How to Conduct an Effective Inspection

1. Create a Checklist – Use a standardised checklist to ensure all components are reviewed during inspections. WAHA provides templates for our Members that can be customized for specific equipment types.

2. Document the Inspection – Documentation is critical to tracking the lifecycle and maintenance history of each piece of equipment. Record the inspection date, the condition of the equipment, any issues found, and the actions taken.

3. Involve a Competent Person – A competent person should carry out inspections, which means a person who has, through a combination of training, qualification and experience, acquired knowledge and skills enabling that person to correctly perform a specified task.

4. Take Equipment Out of Service if Necessary – If any issues are identified that compromise safety, the equipment must be removed from service immediately and either repaired or replaced.

Regular equipment inspections are not just about ticking off a regulatory requirement—they are about ensuring the safety and wellbeing of every worker operating at heights. By adopting a proactive approach to equipment inspection and maintenance, you not only comply with WAHA and other industry regulations but also foster a culture of safety that can prevent life-threatening accidents.

For more information on best practices and inspection standards, you can subscribe to the Small Business Set of Australian Standards and review ASNZS 1891.4 Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices – Selection, Use & Maintenance, or review our Technical Bulletin on Equipment Inspection and Maintenance.

Rooftop solar installation work includes retailing, surveying, designing, installing, testing, commissioning, repairing, maintaining, decommissioning or removing rooftop solar systems on residential or commercial structures.

There are serious work health and safety risks associated with rooftop solar installation work, including working at heights, falling objects, heat stress and working with electricity.

Safe Work Australia has developed a new guide to help persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) and workers manage the risks to health and safety associated with rooftop solar installation work – from retail and planning to installation and testing.

Download our guide today to find out more about managing the risks behind rooftop solar installation work.

Source: WorkSafe WA

A construction company has been fined a total of $90,000 after a worker suffered serious injuries when he fell through a polycarbonate sheet on a patio roof.

Apollo Construction & Renovation Pty Ltd was charged with failing to ensure the regulator was notified of the incident, failing to ensure the site where the incident occurred was not disturbed and failing to ensure that a safe work method statement was prepared for the work.

Apollo was fined $60,000 on the first two charges and $30,000 on the third in the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday.

Apollo was engaged in 2021 by the owners of a home in Carine to renovate their patio. In July 2022, a director of Apollo and two labourers he had engaged were working on the patio.

One of these labourers was working alone on the roof of the patio when he fell onto a polycarbonate sheet, causing it to break.

He fell through the broken sheet and landed on the ground, a fall of almost four metres, and suffered serious injuries.

WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North said the case provided a reminder to report notifiable incidents, avoid disturbing the site of an incident and prepare a safe work method statement for high-risk construction work.

“The Work Health and Safety Act imposes a duty on a person conducting a business to report any notifiable incident to the regulator immediately after becoming aware of it,” Ms North said.

“WorkSafe was not made aware of this incident until nearly three weeks later when the injured person’s lawyer notified WorkSafe.

“It is also a duty of the person in control to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the incident site is not disturbed until an inspector either arrives at the scene or directs that the scene is released.

“The WHS Regulations require a safe work method statement detailing the measures to be taken to control risks to be prepared before high construction work commences – that includes work where a person could fall more than two metres. In this incident, the roof of the patio was higher than two metres.

“The incident is a timely reminder that it is the duty of anyone in charge of a workplace to conduct a thorough risk assessment before work begins and to put safe work procedures in place to reduce the risk of injury to workers and others.”

Source: WAHA Gold Member Kattsafe

The forgotten part of building design

Height access and fall protection systems are often an afterthought and only considered at the final stage of the design, when work has already been commenced or, worse still, once the building has been completed. This lack of planning is a mindset that Kattsafe is endeavouring to change within the industry.

The consequence of failing to correctly design a height safety system early can cause significant knock-on effects to your project:

• Substructures may not be sufficiently designed to support the new equipment, resulting in the requirement for new slabs to be poured.
• Schedules for works to implement these changes may cause major disruptions and time delays.
• If delayed even further, late installations can add additional time to already stretched completion timelines.

As any developer knows, changes at any stage to a project can see budgets blow out by thousands of dollars.

The game has changed in height safety. 

New expectations for safe working at heights are being enforced by the courts and we are all under the microscope.

The thought process in the past was that the responsibility of height access and fall protection systems belonged to either the Owner/Manager or the Contractor. The new reality is that if things go wrong and there is a fatality as a result of a fall from height then everybody from Architect to Builder, Building Owner/Manager to Contractor can all be found accountable. 

Australian work health and safety legislation requires that all design parties “consult, cooperate and coordinate their activities, so far as it is reasonably practicable, and they are not to transfer or delegate responsibilities to others, or assume that someone else is taking care of work health and safety requirements”.

One simple clause does not save you.

Provide compliant roof safety system to Australian Standards.

Having been designing height access and fall protection systems for many years and working alongside all sectors in the building industry, the team at Kattsafe can recall many instances where plans have been drawn up and Designers/Builders wrongly believe the above statement is all that is required to cover them legally.

In a court of law this line of defence is far from acceptable and several recent court rulings have proved this to be true.

It is not enough to install a couple of anchor points. A compliant height safety system design needs to consider many factors such as frequency of access, operator capability, ease of use and most importantly must be fit for purpose.

Getting in on the beginning of your project when designing height access and fall protection ensures a cohesive collaboration and will keep your project moving with no time or financial blow outs. 

Kattsafe’s goal is to bridge the gap in the industry to give Architects, Builders, Designers and Building Owners/Managers peace of mind that they have achieved all their expected responsibilities regarding safe working at heights and fulfilled their duty of care.

To learn more about Kattsafe, click here.

The Working at Height Association (WAHA) is thrilled to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Australian Institute of Health and Safety (AIHS). It is a significant milestone in the advancement of falls prevention and a major step towards safer workplaces.

WAHA and AIHS will collaborate to advance worker safety through education and awareness to develop best practice benchmarks across all industries. By connecting thought leaders and subject matter experts, this partnership will elevate the understanding of risk and the need for genuine competencies to facilitate positive change. The MOU is testament to the strength of the relationship between WAHA and AIHS, and the shared dedication to cooperation and innovation in safety.

Through the partnership, WAHA and AIHS will exchange expertise, resources, and best practice in safe design; and develop projects to enhance the knowledge and skills of safety professionals.

Under the terms of the MOU, WAHA and AIHS will foster enhanced recognition of best practice and innovative approaches to risk management, facilitate comprehensive training programs, and champion best practices to improve safety and efficiency across all industry sectors. Through this alliance, both organisations reaffirm their unwavering commitment to excellence and their shared vision of advancing the mission for safer workplaces.

AIHS CEO, Julia Whitford, said;

This partnership represents our shared belief that progress in workplace health and safety comes from collaboration, and that we are stronger together. 

One life lost due a workplace fall is one too many, and we are proud of this new partnership which gives us the opportunity to drive change by sharing knowledge and resources. 

It is another great example of how the AIHS works with industry leaders to achieve the common goal of supporting safe and productive workplaces.

WAHA CEO, Scott Barber, explained;

This partnership reflects the passion of like-minded individuals driven by a shared goal of advancing safety, promoting thought leadership and safe design principles, and making a positive impact across all industries. Working in collaboration ensures these best practice principles are accessible, understood and in line with the changing needs of workplaces and the evolution of safe systems of work. 

We are focused on delivering a paradigm shift in the approach to safety, focusing on safe design, education and empowerment of all stakeholders to facilitate change in high-risk safety culture.

The signing of these two organisations heralds a new era of collaboration between industry associations, thought leaders, and facilitators to drive positive change. As WAHA and AIHS embark on this collaborative endeavour, they invite stakeholders, partners, and industry professionals to join them in shaping a safer, more innovative future in the management of safety in high-risk environments.

For more information about the AIHS, click here.

Source: SafeWork SA

An Adelaide construction company has been convicted and fined $14,000 for disregarding a SafeWork SA prohibition notice requiring it to address safety concerns at a house it was building.

Fortune Infrastructure, trading as Fortune Living, was sentenced in the South Australian Employment Tribunal on 16 August 2024 following a series of events in April and May 2022.

The case sends a strong message that SafeWork SA may prosecute companies if they fail to follow statutory notices.

Two SafeWork SA inspectors attended a site where a two-storey house was being constructed by Fortune Living on 7 April 2022 to conduct a workplace inspection.

The inspectors observed a worker on the roof installing a length of flashing near an unprotected edge on the western side of the upper level with no control measures in place to manage the risk of falls.

They also observed that the stair void protection system was missing a section and the ladder was unsecured.

Two prohibition notices were issued to stop any work activity on the upper level and roof of the building until safety measures regarding fall protection were put in place.

Prohibition notices require activities to cease until evidence is provided to a SafeWork SA inspector of the steps taken to ensure compliance with WHS laws. An inspector needs to be satisfied with the control measures before work can resume.

Contrary to the notices, the company allowed work on the upper level and roof level to be completed between 4 May and 18 May 2022. Fortune Living was prosecuted for contravening both of the notices.

Fortune Living was fined $14,000 in the South Australian Employment Tribunal.

In his sentencing remarks, Magistrate Lieschke said he accepted that Fortune Living is improving its safety management systems.

However, he said documented examples of how it has managed site safety since the offence “do not inspire confidence”.

“They are generic in nature, but still do not address any site-specific hazards,” Magistrate Lieschke said.

“Fortune’s explanation for the offence centres on the managing director’s omission to read the inspector’s response and his mistaken belief the prohibition notice was satisfied by sending a photo of the balcony rail.

“In my view, Fortune’s explanation is little better than a deliberate contravention of the prohibition due to the concerning ignorance and assumptions of its managing director. The outcomes for safety on this site were the same.”

Attribute to SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell: 

This offence is a serious breach of a statutory notice that was issued to prevent unsafe work from continuing.

Instead of following and respecting the prohibition on working at height, Fortune Living devised a work method that introduced another serious hazard of working near a poorly guarded balcony edge, without checking the Inspector was satisfied.

By its conduct Fortune Living placed an unknown number of workers at risk of serious injury.

Statutory notices are issued for a reason and SafeWork SA will not hesitate to prosecute if a business disregards them.