Take extreme care when working from heights

WorkCover NSW is urging those who work from heights to be vigilant following three serious incidents in the one day in Sydney last week.

On Tuesday 4 June, at around 8.30 am, a 23-year-old worker fell 4 m through the floor of an electricity substation under construction in Potts Hill. In a second incident, a 25 year-old man fell more than 3 m through a skylight on a demolition site at Rushcutters Bay and, in the afternoon, a man fell 3 m from a ladder on a site at South Coogee. WorkCover has started investigations at all three incident sites.

Acting General Manager of WorkCover’s Work Health and Safety Division Peter Dunphy said that falls from height are totally preventable and it was important workplaces implemented simple and practical fall-prevention controls when working from heights.

Workplace safety laws require specific measures to control the risks associated with working at heights. When working from heights, it is important to ensure:

• Safe access and walkways are provided to all parts of your workplace
• The area they are working on is stable
• Physical barriers are in place over exposed edges
• Appropriate personal protective equipment is used

“We want all workers to return home safely to their families and friends at the end of the day and under work health and safety laws, workplaces must have systems in place to prevent workers falling from heights,” Dunphy said.

“Businesses must provide workers with information, instruction, training and supervision in risk control procedures.

“Workers are required to follow the procedures set out by the business who must provide a safe workplace by identifying foreseeable hazards, assessing risks and taking action to eliminate or control those risks,” he said.