We are pleased to announce that the Working At Height Association is returning as a Partner for Workplace Health & Safety Show — Australia’s leading event for champions of safety at work.

The WAHA continues to support businesses across Australia with essential guidance and expertise in height safety.

This year’s event will deliver even more value, with:
✅ New summits tackling emerging safety challenges
✅ New exhibitors showcasing the latest height safety solutions
✅ New insights to help you navigate complex regulations and improve your safety culture

📅 21–22 May 2025
📍 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
🎟 WAHA guests can access complimentary tickets for a limited time — register now before standard pricing applies

👉 https://bit.ly/WAHAWHSS

Standards Australia has introduced AS 5532:2025 – ‘Manufacturing requirements for single-point anchor device used for harness-based work at height’. This new edition is intended to supersede AS/NZS 5532:2013, and a draft is available for public comment.

The standard specifies manufacturing performance requirements, test methods, marking and product instruction requirements for single-point anchor devices for industrial fall-protection systems. It covers anchor devices for use with equipment that conforms to the AS(AS/NZS) 1891 series and the AS/NZS 4488 series.

KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AS/NZ 5532:2013 AND AS 5532:2025

The key changes to this edition of the standard, as defined by Standards Australia, include:

• clarified anchor design requirements;
• modified test apparatus requirements, general test requirements, and test procedures;
• clarified instructions and marking requirements;
• Appendix A (formerly “Additional usage recommendations”) is now “Additional design recommendations for anchors”;
• Removal of Appendix B (“Additional design recommendations”).

Those who wish to review the draft and provide feedback to Standards Australia, either individually or on behalf of their Member Company, can do so until 1st May 2025.  

To review the document, you must first register an account with Standards Australia. The draft can be accessed for comment using the link below:

https://comment.standards.org.au/Drafts/0a083b3d-40a0-4d1f-8db6-62baaa60e60e

A demolition company has been convicted and fined a total of $40,000 after a worker fell through a skylight and fractured his spine at a residential site in Mornington.

Source: WorkSafe Victoria

City Way Demolition Pty Ltd was sentenced ex parte in the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on Monday after being found guilty of failing to ensure the workplace was safe and without risks to health, and failing, without reasonable excuse, to provide WorkSafe with required information and documents.

The company was also ordered to pay $7,135 in costs.

The court heard that in October 2022, three City Way workers commenced demolition works at the single storey dwelling, including the manual removal of roof tiles by hand.

Witnesses observed at least two people working on the roof, which was more than two metres in height, with no fall protection in place.

During the works, one of the workers fell through a fibreglass sheet on the garage roof, sustaining vertebrae fractures that have left him unable to return to work.

A WorkSafe investigation found it was reasonably practicable for City Way to have reduced or eliminated health and safety risks by using a passive fall prevention device, a work positioning system, or a fall arrest system.

The court heard that following the incident, the company failed to comply with a WorkSafe notice requesting information and documents by the end of March 2023.

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said working at height was too well-known a risk for these types of incidents to continue occurring.

“Despite there being clear regulations, extensive guidance, and far too many examples of preventable injuries and deaths, the company chose to bypass fall safety measures altogether,” Mr Jenkin said.

“The blatant disregard for safety – by not having any fall protection in place and then refusing to cooperate with WorkSafe’s investigation – is very disappointing.”

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.

A residential construction company has been convicted and fined a total of $80,000 after repeatedly failing to manage the risk of falls from height at two Doncaster building sites.

Source: SafeWork Victoria

Schintta Building Group Pty Ltd was sentenced ex parte in the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 13 February after being found guilty of five charges of failing to provide a safe workplace.

The company was fined $30,000 for three charges relating to safety failures at a site in McKenzie Street and a further $50,000 for two charges after it continued to put workers at risk at an Elizabeth Street townhouse development.

The company was also ordered to pay costs of $5068.

The court heard in October 2022, WorkSafe inspectors visiting the two-storey townhouse development on McKenzie Street observed, in addition to general housekeeping issues, subcontractors working more than three metres off the ground from a scaffold that was missing planks and guardrails.

Platforms across internal stair voids were found to be constructed of framing timber and particle board that could collapse under the weight of workers, while access to the second storey was via an unsecured ladder.

Workers also had to travel between the development’s split-level slabs by climbing up and jumping down a height of about 1.5 metres, or via a makeshift ramp made of a plank of timber only about 25 centimetres wide.

In May 2023, WorkSafe inspectors visited the company’s Elizabeth Street site where four double-storey townhouses were under construction and found similar issues regarding poor housekeeping and failure to manage the risk of falls.

Workers were observed about six metres off the ground working from a scaffold that was missing guardrails, planks and a scaffold tag, while the lap boards were unsecured and there were gaps greater than 225 millimetres between the scaffold and the townhouses.

Each townhouse had open, unprotected stair voids and access to the second storeys was via an unsecured A-frame extendable ladder that did not have a 900 millimetre overhang.

The court found Schintta Building Group should have reduced the risk of falls at both sites by providing a solid construction when working at heights, providing a passive fall protection device such as perimeter guardrails, or using a fall arrest system such as harnesses; and by installing a stair void fall protection system and a secured ladder.

It was also reasonably practicable for the company to have maintained a system of work for traversing the split-level slabs at McKenzie Street that did not allow workers to walk across an unsecured plank and provided workers with a secured plank and/or level stairs that incorporated a secure handrail and appropriately-sized treads.

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said it was incredibly disappointing that workers had been repeatedly put in dangerous situations across both sites.

“Falls from height do not discriminate and sadly remain one of the biggest causes of death and serious injury in the Victorian construction industry, claiming 10 lives in the past three years alone,” Mr Jenkin said.

“The ways to properly manage the risk of falls are no secret and readily available so employers have absolutely no excuses if they leave their workers at risk.”

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.

Source: SafeWork NSW

Richard Crookes Constructions Pty Ltd was the principal contractor at a construction site in Belrose NSW. ​

On 29 April 2020 form workers attended the site and removed panels covering penetrations in preparation for installing columns at the construction site. The form workers then flipped the panels to cover the penetrations.

However, the flipped panels were not adequately secured to the formwork deck, and they were not marked to indicate their purpose as a penetration cover.  ​

A crane crew entered the site and was assisting with loading materials onto the formwork decks. A worker from the crane crew stepped on one of the flipped panels, the panel gave way, and he fell through the penetration.

He fell approximately 2.9 metres sustaining serious injuries.
​
Richard Crookes Constructions Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to an offence under section 32/19(1) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and was fined $150,000.

Richard Crookes Constructions Pty Ltd has the right to appeal this sentence.

A construction company has been convicted and fined $270,000 after a man fell more than four metres to his death in February 2022.

Source: SafeWork Victoria

Minoan Constructions Pty Ltd was sentenced in the Melbourne County Court on Friday after pleading guilty to a single charge of failing to ensure that a workplace under its management or control was safe and without risks to health.

The court heard the family-operated company was building 10 commercial units at a Cheltenham construction site.

The 69-year-old man was not employed or contracted by the company, but was a family member who helped lay flooring and install timber guard railing on the mezzanine levels of the units.

To access these areas, he and others used unsecured ladders resting against the steel frames of the mezzanine levels. They worked while standing on the ladders or near unprotected edges of the mezzanine floors.

As the man was climbing down an unsecured ladder, it began to move, causing him to fall more than four metres to the ground. He died at the scene.

The court heard that it was reasonably practicable for Minoan Constructions to have reduced the risk of falls by providing a temporary work platform, such as a mobile scaffold; installing engineered guard railing on the internal and external sides of each mezzanine level; or providing appropriate staircases to connect the ground floor to the mezzanine level.

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said health and safety should be a priority for everyone in the workplace, particularly when it came to well-understood dangers such as working at heights.

“When working with family members, there can be a dangerous tendency to relax safety standards. But fall risks don’t discriminate,” Mr Jenkin said.

“To see another life lost to such a well-documented and preventable risk – one that we have extensive safety information and resources for – is both painful and frustrating.”

“WorkSafe will continue to prosecute employers who fail to protect the health and safety of everybody at their workplace.”

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.

Falls from height continue to be a leading cause of workplace fatalities, particularly in high-risk industries such as construction, mining, and transport. Despite years of regulatory efforts and training programs, fall-related incidents remain alarmingly high. The Working at Height Association (WAHA) is taking decisive action to address this persistent issue with the launch of the WAHA Falls Prevention Program – an innovative initiative designed to bridge the gap between compliance and true competency.

Developed in collaboration with Area9 Lyceum, Programmed, and John Holland Group, and supported by leading industry associations, this program introduces AI-driven adaptive learning to height safety training. Unlike traditional training models, which often focus on compliance over competency, the WAHA Falls Prevention Program leverages real-time data and personalized learning paths to ensure workers develop, retain, and apply critical safety knowledge effectively.

Key Features of the Program:

✅ AI-Powered Adaptive Learning – A personalized training experience that adjusts in real time based on individual learning needs.
✅ Competency Verification – A structured approach to assessing and reinforcing height safety knowledge, ensuring workers are genuinely capable, not just compliant.
✅ Industry-Wide Collaboration – Developed with input from major safety stakeholders to align with real-world operational needs.
✅ Measurable Impact – Early results show a significant reduction in knowledge gaps, directly improving workplace safety outcomes.

This initiative is more than just another training program – it represents a paradigm shift in how we approach fall prevention through competency verification. By integrating technology, behavioural science, and industry expertise, we are setting a new standard for safety training that saves lives and fosters a proactive safety culture.

🚧 Join Us in Leading the Change! 🚧
WAHA invites organizations, safety professionals, and industry leaders to participate in this game-changing initiative. Let’s work together to reduce fall-related incidents, improve safety outcomes, and drive meaningful change across high-risk industries.

For more details, visit https://waha.org.au/product-category/fall-prevention-program/ or reach out to us to explore how your organization can be part of this safety revolution.

#WAHA #FallPrevention #WorkplaceSafety #RopeAccess #AdaptiveLearning #SafetyLeadership

Whether you’re a seasoned ladder user or just pulling that old ladder out of storage to put up decorations, safety should always be a top priority.

Before you climb, take a moment to refresh your ladder safety knowledge – it could make all the difference!

This festive season, we encourage everyone to follow a few simple steps to ensure you’re safe while at height. Remember: a missed step, improper angle, or even a quick overreach can quickly turn a joyful moment into an unfortunate accident.

Stay safe, enjoy the festivities, and keep those holiday traditions going strong!

Here are our simple steps you can take before you use your ladder:

• Decide if it’s right to use a ladder – ladders can be appropriate for low risk and short duration tasks (no more than 30 mins).
• Select the right equipment – does it meet current product standard (AS 1657)? Is it the right type of ladder for the task?
• Follow the manufacturer’s instruction manual – every ladder should come with instructions, so take some time to read before you climb.
• Check your ladder is in good condition – is it safe to use now? If it’s been in the shed for a while, check the components, give it a clean so you can see any possible damage. Make sure rungs and stiles aren’t bent or damaged, or feet missing. Check the locking mechanisms too before you take your first step.
• Position your ladder correctly – Extension ladders should be angled at a ratio of 4:1. That is, position the base of the ladder 1 metre away from the structure for every 4 metres of height. Make sure all feet are on the ground and the steps are level.
• Make sure the ladder is stable and not on soft ground – soft, sandy or rocky ground is not stable, and makes climbing unsafe.
• Make sure the ladder is long enough for the task – don’t be tempted to overreach (and please don’t try to add extra height!), if it’s a stepladder then avoid standing on the top three steps.
• ‘Get a Grip’ by maintaining a firm handhold at all times – always maintain three points of contact, this could be two feet and one hand, or when both hands need to be free for a brief period (like knocking in a nail), two feet and the body supported by the ladder.
• Don’t overload – decorations could be heavier than you think. Make sure your weight, plus anything you’re carrying doesn’t exceed the maximum total load.
• Secure your ladder – if you need to you should tie your ladder to a suitable point, use a stability device, wedge the ladder, or last resort, get someone to foot the ladder for you.
• Wear suitable footwear! Slippers, thongs or bare feet won’t cut it, so make sure you’re wearing sturdy, flat shoes.

Source: WorkSafe Victoria

Employers and workers are being reminded that even a small falling object can hit hard – from a seemingly harmless bolt striking with the force of a fast motorcycle to a sledge hammer packing the punch of a city bus.

Falling objects remain a leading cause of workplace harm in the building industry and also pose a risk to members of the public near work sites, with more than 280 construction workers injured since the start of 2023 and countless near miss incidents in recent years.

To highlight the risk, WorkSafe has published an animated video outlining the circumstances and factors that led to a sprinkler head falling 26 storeys from a Melbourne construction site in March 2020, landing close to workers at street level.

WorkSafe’s dropped object calculator – which allows users to select the weight of an object to discover how much damage it could cause when falling from a certain height – estimates the sprinkler head would have struck the ground at more than 153 kilometres per hour, with the same force as being hit by a car on the street.

The video was produced as part of an Enforceable Undertaking worth more than $195,000 entered into with Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd following the incident, which also includes funding the promotion of educational materials and a scholarship.

WorkSafe Executive Director Health and Safety Sam Jenkin urged construction workers and duty holders to watch the video, which uses investigation findings to recreate the incident and explains the steps that duty holders should have taken to reduce the risk.

“Every year hundreds of workers are seriously injured by falling objects,” Mr Jenkin said.

“Alarmingly, WorkSafe inspectors continue to see near misses where objects fall from construction sites – and it’s only luck that prevents someone below being seriously injured.”

The falling sprinkler head was just one of many serious incidents involving falling objects on construction sites in the past five years, including:

• In September 2024, an 850 millimetre long steel smoke baffle falling from level 21 of a building under construction on to a public road in South Yarra.
• In April 2024, a 50 millimetre piece of render falling from the fourth floor of a CBD construction site and striking a pedestrian on Rose Lane.
• In November 2023, a six millimetre checker plate falling from a hoist on level six of a building under construction in the CBD, landing in an unlocked exclusion zone.
• In December 2022, a mounting bracket weighing 12 kilograms falling 34 storeys onto Collins Street, before bouncing onto the footpath in close proximity to pedestrians.
• In March 2022, a steel plate weighing around 12 kilograms falling between 13-15 storeys from a South Melbourne high rise project, narrowly missing a worker on the ground below.
• In May 2020, an electrical testing device accidentally knocked into the lift shaft of a Melbourne office building hitting a worker 39 metres below.

Mr Jenkin said risk control measures for falling objects were well known so there was no excuse for duty holders failing to implement them.

“Things like gaps in safety screens on mid and high-rise construction sites, missing kick boards on scaffolding or debris or materials coming loose while being lifted can have devastating consequences for anyone caught below at the wrong time,” he said.

WorkSafe enforcement action against 10 companies for incidents involving falling objects in construction has resulted in more than $1.05 million in fines, costs and undertakings since start of 2023.

Employers and site duty holders must ensure they prevent falling objects by:

• Eliminating the risk through off-site assembly of equipment that would otherwise be performed at an elevated edge.
• Using containment systems or securing objects through substitution, isolation or engineering controls.
• Using guardrail systems that incorporate mesh infill panels and kickboards.
• Isolating the risk with barricades or fencing to create exclusion zones at ground level.
• Implementing engineering controls such as perimeter safety screens, overhead protection gantries, enclosed perimeter scaffolding, and restraining loose material.
• Using administrative controls such as lines markings and signage to advise lanyard systems are to be used on tools, or to monitor the possibility of windy weather.

Article By Association Secretary and Strategic Programs Manager, Deborah Chick

Working at heights is one of the most hazardous tasks across various industries, including construction, maintenance, telecommunications, and energy. Falls from heights consistently rank among the leading causes of workplace injuries and fatalities worldwide. In Australia alone, falls from a height accounted for 15% of worker fatalities in 2025, underscoring the need for comprehensive safety protocols. One of the most critical components of these safety measures is training.

Organizations like the Working at Heights Association (WAHA) are dedicated to improving industry standards and promoting the importance of training in this high-risk sector. Let’s explore why training is essential and how it contributes to a safer working environment.

In many countries, including Australia, workplace safety laws mandate that workers exposed to heights undergo appropriate training to ensure workers are competent. Compliance with these regulations is not just about avoiding fines or penalties; it is about safeguarding lives. The Australian Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act outlines stringent requirements for businesses to ensure workers are competent to perform high-risk tasks. Training ensures that employees understand these legal obligations and can apply safe work practices in the field.

Working at heights involves a complex array of hazards, from unstable surfaces and weather conditions to the misuse of equipment. Comprehensive training programs teach workers to identify these risks, assess potential dangers, and implement controls to mitigate them. With this knowledge, workers are better equipped to handle the unpredictable nature of working at heights, minimizing the likelihood of accidents.

Training for the effective use of PPE is a cornerstone of working at heights safely. Harnesses, lanyards, anchors, and fall arrest systems are critical for protecting workers from injury or death in case of a fall. However, PPE is only as effective as the user’s knowledge of how to use it properly. Training ensures that workers understand the types of PPE available, how to inspect their gear, and how to correctly wear and use it for maximum safety. Regular refresher courses ensure that workers stay updated on new technologies and safety equipment.

Training provides workers with the practical skills needed to perform tasks safely at heights. These courses often include hands-on practice in real-world scenarios, which boosts worker competence and confidence. When workers feel confident in their abilities, they are less likely to make errors that can lead to accidents. Proper training can transform a potentially hazardous job into a manageable, routine task by fostering a sense of professionalism and self-assurance in workers.

Reducing Incidents and Improving Safety Culture

A well-trained workforce is a safer workforce. Studies show that companies with robust safety training programs have fewer incidents and injuries compared to those that do not prioritize training. Training programs promote a culture of safety within organizations, encouraging workers to take responsibility for their own safety and that of their colleagues. This proactive approach leads to fewer workplace accidents and injuries, resulting in better outcomes for both employees and employers.

Rescue and Emergency Response

While preventing falls is a top priority, it is equally important to prepare for emergencies. In the event of an accident, a fast and effective response can be the difference between life and death. Training workers in rescue operations ensures that they know how to react quickly, efficiently, and safely in case of a fall. This training covers the use of equipment such as rescue kits and proper techniques for retrieving a fallen worker, minimizing the time between an incident and medical intervention.

Cost-Effectiveness

While investing in training programs might seem like an added expense, it is a long-term cost-saving measure. Injuries and fatalities due to falls from heights can lead to significant financial losses for businesses through medical costs, legal fees, insurance premiums, and downtime. By reducing the likelihood of incidents, training can protect businesses from these financial risks, while also ensuring the well-being of their workforce.

There are also immediate productivity gains as a by-product of a more competent, aware and effective workforce. The ability to navigate the space more efficiently leads directly to greater, and safer, output.

Training in the working at heights sector is essential to protect workers from the dangers of falls and ensure compliance with safety regulations. It helps in hazard recognition, proper use of PPE, and instils a culture of safety and preparedness. Organizations such as the Working at Heights Association (WAHA) advocate for high standards of training, which are key to reducing incidents, improving response times in emergencies, and creating a safer workplace overall.

By investing in quality training programs, businesses not only protect their employees but also foster a more productive and secure working environment. The emphasis on continuous learning and upskilling within this sector is vital, as advancements in safety practices and technology continue to evolve, making training an ongoing necessity for all who work at heights. 

For more information on safety standards and training opportunities, explore our website www.waha.org.au