MANAGING THE RISK
OF FALLS AT WORKPLACES

Code of Practice

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD 4

INTRODUCTION 5

    Who has health and safety duties in relation to falls? 5
    The meaning of key terms 5
    What is required to manage the risk of falls? 6
MANAGING THE RISK OF FALLS 8

    How to identify fall hazards 8
    How to assess the risk 8
    How to control the risk 9
    How to review control measures 11
WORK ON THE GROUND OR ON A SOLID CONSTRUCTION 13

    Work on the ground 13
    Work on a solid construction 13
FALL PREVENTION DEVICES 17

    Temporary work platforms 17
    Perimeter guard rails 24
    Safety mesh 25
WORK POSITIONING SYSTEMS 26

    Industrial rope access systems 26
    Restraint technique 27
FALL-ARREST SYSTEMS 29

    Catch platforms 29
    Industrial safety nets 30
    Individual fall-arrest systems 30
    Anchorage lines or rails 34
LADDERS 36

    Portable ladders 36
    Fixed ladders 39
    Ladder maintenance 40
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS 41
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR FALLS 43

    Emergency procedures 43
    Suspension intolerance 44
DESIGN OF PLANT AND STRUCTURES 45

    Design considerations 45
    Plant 45
    Buildings and structures 46

APPENDIX A – TERMS USED IN FALL CONTROL MEASURES 48

APPENDIX B – REFERENCES AND OTHER INFORMATION SOURCES 49

LIST OF AMENDMENTS 50

FOREWORD

This Code of Practice on how to manage the risk of falls in the workplace is an approved code
of practice under section 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act (the WHS Act).

An approved code of practice is a practical guide to achieving the standards of health, safety
and welfare required under the WHS Act and the Work Health and Safety Regulations
(the WHS Regulations).

A code of practice applies to anyone who has a duty of care in the circumstances described
in the code. In most cases, following an approved code of practice would achieve compliance
with the health and safety duties in the WHS Act, in relation to the subject matter of the code.
Like regulations, codes of practice deal with particular issues and do not cover all hazards or
risks that may arise. The health and safety duties require duty holders to consider all risks associated with work, not only those for which regulations and codes of practice exist.

Codes of practice are admissible in court proceedings under the WHS Act and Regulations.
Courts may regard a code of practice as evidence of what is known about a hazard, risk or
control and may rely on the code in determining what is reasonably practicable in the circumstances to which the code relates.