This information has been adapted from Worksafe QLD.

Construction work that involves the risk of a person falling more than 2 metres is considered high risk construction work. Therefore, the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must prepare a safe work method statement (template here). This mandatory requirement applies to all construction work, including housing construction.

If a PCBU determines that the only appropriate way of managing the risk of a fall of 2 metres or more is through administrative controls, such as signage or training, and the use of personal protective equipment, the PCBU must describe on the safe work method statement each of the control measures that were considered in reaching this decision.

Housing Construction Work

For housing construction work where the risk of falling is 3 metres or more, or on a roof with a slope greater than 26°:

Before starting work, the PCBU must have:

• Fall prevention controls in place (e.g. edge protection) to prevent a person falling any distance, or where this is not practicable;
• Fall arrest controls that arrest a person’s fall (e.g. a catch platform) and prevent or minimise the risk of death or injury to that person when the fall is arrested.

Note: Where the risk of falling is 3 metres or more, lower order administrative controls (e.g. training, safe work procedures) are not permitted on their own.

For housing construction work where the risk of falling is less than 3 metres, or on a roof with a slope less than 26°:

Before starting work, the PCBU must:

• Identify the hazards that may result in a fall or cause death or injury if a person were to fall—e.g. a picket fence or stack of bricks that could cause injury if a person fell on it.
• Assess the risk of death or injury that may result because of the hazard—i.e. how likely is it to happen? How serious could the injury be?
• Use any control measures necessary to prevent or minimise the risk—e.g. a catch platform, travel restraint system, ‘no go’ areas, safe work procedures, and training.

Read more on managing fall risks on roofs in housing construction.

Other Construction Work

For other construction work where the risk of falling is 2 metres or more, or on a roof with a slope greater than 26°:

Before starting work, the PCBU must:

• Put fall prevention controls in place (e.g. edge protection or travel restraint system) to prevent a person falling any distance, or where this is not practicable;
• Have fall arrest controls that arrest a person’s fall (e.g. fall arrest harness or catch platform) and prevent or minimise the risk of death or injury to that person when the fall is arrested.

Note: For work carried out 2 metres and above, lower order administrative controls are not permitted on their own.

For other construction work where the risk of falling is less than 2 metres, or on a roof with a slope less than 26°:

Before starting work the PCBU needs to:

• Identify the hazards that may result in a fall or cause death or injury if a person were to fall—e.g. a picket fence or stack of bricks that could cause injury if a person fell on it
• Assess the risk of death or injury that may result because of the hazard.
• Use any control measures necessary to prevent, or minimise the level of risk. This could include fall prevention, fall arrest, and/or administrative controls.

Remember, working at any height is considered working at a height: These specific regulations enforce certain measures at certain heights, but if such measures are needed at lower heights, for example 1.5 metres in a housing construction, then it is expected that said measures are put in place.

For more information, visit Worksafe QLD or don’t hesitate to contact us. Workplace health and safety, particularly in high risk environments, is our speciality.

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