South Australia to reduce height limitation of high-risk construction work

South Australia has approved changes to work health and safety regulations to reduce the height limitation of high-risk construction work from three metres to two metres.

The move will align South Australia with the national model WHS regulations and other Australian states and territories, changing the definition of high-risk construction work in the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 (SA).

To allow time for industry to be educated about the regulations before they come into effect, there is a transition date of 1 July 2026.

Since the 2016/17 financial year, ReturnToWorkSA data shows that falls from height in the construction industry have been responsible for around 1585 workers compensation claims — with a total claims cost of more than $64 million.

A significant proportion of falls from heights occur from above two metres, SafeWork SA stated, and between 2020 and 2022, there were 149 instances in South Australia where a person fell from over two metres.

Further, more than 100 of those falls occurred in the residential construction sector and 68% of those falls occurred between two and three metres — the height range that will now be covered by South Australia’s high-risk construction work regulations.

“Falls from heights constitute a significant proportion of workplace injuries and deaths in the construction industry,” SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell said.

“This change to the regulatory framework will mean employers can no longer erroneously rely on the higher height threshold to avoid providing adequate fall protection, particularly in the residential sector.”

The changes have been made in consultation with key unions and industry associations.

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