National COP for fall prevention

The Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) declared the National Code of Practice for the Prevention of Falls in General Construction (General Falls Code) at its meeting in Canberra recently.

Building and construction sites can be among the most dangerous workplaces in Australia and the construction industry is one of the priority industries identified in the National Occupational Health and Safety Strategy 2002–2012.

“Twenty-eight people died in work-related injury fatalities in the construction industry in 2006–07, the most deaths in any industry. Thirteen of these deaths were caused by a worker falling from height,” ASCC chairman Bill Scales said.

“In addition, more than 620 construction industry workers are hospitalised every year in Australia after a fall from height.

“The General Falls Code encourages a nationally consistent approach to the implementation of OHS in the construction industry and provides guidance for the industry on how to meet their obligations under the National Standard for Construction Work.

“Specifically, the General Falls Code includes fall prevention measures that are recommended for use when working at heights of 2 m or more — unless it is not reasonably practicable to do so — and adopts a risk management approach to fall prevention for working at heights of less than 2 metres,” Scales said.

The General Falls Code is available from www.ascc.gov.au.