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Fall Arrest Systems Risk Assessment

Fall Arrest Systems Risk Assessment

  • • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
  • • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
  • • Pre-filled Content – Ready to Deploy Immediately
  • • Customisable – Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
  • • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates

Fall Arrest Systems Risk Assessment

Product Overview

Identify and control organisational risks associated with the planning, design, implementation and management of Fall Arrest Systems Risk Assessment across your business operations. This management-level document supports WHS Risk Management and Due Diligence under the WHS Act, helping to protect directors, officers and the organisation from operational liability.

Risk Categories & Hazards Covered

This document assesses risks and outlines management controls for:

  • Governance & WHS Duties: Assessment of PCBU, Officer and worker obligations in relation to fall arrest systems, including design responsibilities, consultation duties and verification of compliance with the hierarchy of control.
  • Design Responsibility & System Integrity: Management of engineering design risks for fall arrest systems, including load ratings, anchor layout, compatibility of components and integration with building structure and access routes.
  • Procurement & Contractor Management: Evaluation of supplier and installer competency, pre-qualification processes, specifications in contracts, and controls for managing external designers, installers and recertification providers.
  • System Selection & Engineering Controls: Assessment of when fall arrest is appropriate versus higher-order controls (elimination, substitution, isolation, fall prevention), and protocols for selecting engineered systems, anchor types, lifelines and connection devices.
  • Training, Competency & Supervision: Management of competency requirements for users, spotters and supervisors, including training content, refresher intervals, verification of tickets and licences, and supervision arrangements for high-risk work.
  • Inspection, Maintenance & Asset Management: Controls for scheduled inspections, recertification intervals, defect reporting, tagging and removal from service, plus asset registers and lifecycle management of harnesses, lanyards, anchors and lifelines.
  • Documentation, Information & Labelling: Protocols for user manuals, engineering certifications, as-installed drawings, system labels, signage, safe operating limits and communication of system constraints to workers and contractors.
  • Planning, Authorisation & Work Coordination: Assessment of permit-to-work processes, pre-start planning, access control, interface with other trades, and coordination of multiple PCBUs where fall arrest systems are shared or jointly used.
  • Emergency Preparedness & Rescue Capability: Management of rescue planning, rescue method selection, equipment availability, response times, first aid capability, and drills to address suspension intolerance and post-fall recovery.
  • Monitoring of Practice & Field Verification: Systems for workplace inspections, observation of work at height, verification that fall arrest systems are used as designed, and corrective actions where deviations are identified.
  • Consultation & Worker Engagement: Processes for consulting with workers, HSRs and contractors on fall arrest system design, changes to access arrangements, and feedback on usability and residual risks.
  • Continuous Improvement & Incident Learning: Integration of incident reports, near misses and audit findings into ongoing improvement of fall arrest policies, procedures, training and engineering controls.

Who is this for?

This Risk Assessment is designed for Business Owners, Officers, Safety Managers, Asset Managers and Project Managers responsible for planning, procuring, approving and overseeing work at height using fall arrest systems across their organisation.

Hazards & Risks Covered

Hazard Risk Description
1. Governance, WHS Duties and Design of Fall Arrest Systems
  • • Failure of PCBUs and officers to understand and discharge primary duties under WHS Act 2011 for work at height and fall arrest systems
  • • Absence of a documented organisational standard for fall protection hierarchy of control, leading to over‑reliance on fall arrest instead of elimination or fall prevention
  • • Inadequate integration of fall arrest system requirements into WHS management system, policies and consultation arrangements
  • • Selection of fall arrest solutions without competent engineering input or consideration of load paths, anchor capacities and clearance requirements
  • • Use of non‑certified, non‑compliant or improvised anchorage points and system components
  • • Poor alignment between corporate WHS policies and site‑level procedures, creating inconsistent implementation of fall arrest controls
2. Procurement and Contractor Management for Fall Arrest Systems
  • • Procurement of low‑cost, substandard or non‑compliant fall arrest equipment and components
  • • Engagement of installers or inspectors without verified competency or appropriate licencing
  • • Lack of specification for standards compliance, traceability and certification in purchase and contract documents
  • • Inadequate pre‑qualification of contractors leading to poor installation practices and undocumented variations
  • • Absence of clear requirements for handover documentation, system certification and user instructions at completion of projects
  • • Use of multiple brands and incompatible components across sites, increasing risk of misuse or failure
3. System Design, Integration and Engineering Controls
  • • Fall arrest systems installed where fall prevention or elimination was reasonably practicable, increasing exposure to arrest‑only solutions
  • • Incorrect layout or positioning of anchors, static lines and connectors resulting in inadequate fall clearance, swing‑fall or edge impact
  • • Lack of engineering assessment of building or structure capacity to withstand fall arrest loads
  • • Incompatibility between different system components (e.g. harnesses, lanyards, connectors, energy absorbers) from multiple manufacturers
  • • Complex system designs that are difficult to understand or encourage unsafe shortcuts by workers
  • • Fall arrest systems installed without integrated rescue and recovery considerations
4. Training, Competency and Supervision for Use of Fall Arrest Systems
  • • Workers using fall arrest systems without adequate theoretical and practical training
  • • Supervisors lacking competence to verify correct use of systems and enforce procedures
  • • Inconsistent training content across sites, leading to differing understandings of system limitations and requirements
  • • No formal assessment of competency or refresher training, leading to skill fade and unsafe shortcuts
  • • Insufficient training on emergency response, including suspension intolerance, self‑rescue limitations and communication protocols
  • • Assumption that generic working at heights tickets are sufficient for site‑specific fall arrest systems
5. Inspection, Maintenance, Recertification and Asset Management
  • • Failure of anchors, lifelines, harnesses or connectors due to lack of inspection, maintenance or timely replacement
  • • Use of damaged, contaminated or out‑of‑date equipment because inspection intervals are not defined or monitored
  • • Inadequate technical inspection competency leading to missed defects or incorrect tagging
  • • Fall arrest systems not recertified after structural modifications, impact loads or environmental events
  • • Lack of traceability for equipment history, inspection findings and corrective actions
  • • Storage conditions that degrade harnesses, lanyards and webbing without detection
6. Documentation, Information, Labelling and Communication
  • • Lack of accessible, current documentation on system design, limitations of use and emergency procedures
  • • Inadequate labelling or signage at access points, anchors and system interfaces leading to misuse
  • • Workers and contractors unaware of system limitations, unauthorised anchor points or exclusion zones
  • • Complex or overly technical documentation that discourages review or understanding by frontline workers
  • • Outdated drawings and manuals that do not reflect modifications or decommissioned components
7. Planning, Authorisation and Work Coordination for Height Work Using Fall Arrest
  • • Unplanned or ad‑hoc work at height where fall arrest systems are used without adequate risk assessment
  • • Multiple contractors working in proximity on separate systems without coordination, creating entanglement or overloading risks
  • • Work at height occurring without confirmation that fall arrest systems are in inspection or certification date
  • • Inadequate planning for weather, restricted access, plant interfaces or other site conditions affecting safe use of fall arrest systems
  • • Failure to integrate fall arrest requirements into broader permit to work, isolation and traffic management systems
8. Emergency Preparedness, Rescue Capability and First Aid
  • • Workers remaining suspended in harness after a fall due to lack of effective rescue capability, resulting in suspension intolerance and potential serious injury or fatality
  • • Emergency plans that rely solely on external emergency services with long response times or limited height rescue capability
  • • Rescue equipment not available, not maintained or not compatible with installed fall arrest systems
  • • Insufficient training or drills for designated rescuers leading to delayed or unsafe rescue attempts
  • • Poor communication systems at height, delaying activation of emergency response
  • • Lack of first aid capability and protocols tailored to post‑fall and suspension‑related conditions
9. Monitoring, Inspection of Practice, Consultation and Continuous Improvement
  • • Complacency over time leading to degraded adherence to fall arrest procedures and system limitations
  • • Lack of structured monitoring of how fall arrest systems are actually used in the field
  • • Under‑reporting of near misses or unsafe conditions involving fall arrest equipment and systems
  • • Insufficient consultation with workers and HSRs, resulting in impractical procedures that encourage work‑arounds
  • • No systematic review of incident data, audit findings or technological developments to improve fall protection systems

Need to add specific hazards for your workplace?

Don't worry if a specific hazard isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom hazards at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the risk ratings and control measures for free—to ensure your document is compliant within minutes.

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
  • Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice (Safe Work Australia / State-based equivalents)
  • How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice
  • Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice
  • AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018: Risk management — Guidelines
  • AS/NZS 1891 series: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices (harnesses, lanyards, fall-arrest devices, and system design requirements)
  • AS/NZS 4488 series: Industrial rope access systems (where rope access interfaces with fall arrest systems)
  • AS/NZS 1657: Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders — Design, construction and installation
  • AS 2865: Confined spaces (where fall arrest is used for access to or egress from confined spaces)
  • AS ISO 45001:2018: Occupational health and safety management systems — Requirements with guidance for use
Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)
  • Comprehensive hazard identification for all activities
  • Risk rating matrix with likelihood and consequence analysis
  • Existing control measures evaluation
  • Residual risk assessment after controls
  • Hierarchy of controls recommendations
  • Action priority rankings
  • Review and monitoring requirements
  • Consultation and communication records
  • Legal compliance references
  • Sign-off and approval sections

$79.5

Safe Work Australia Aligned