Product Overview

Summary: This Fall Prevention Safe Operating Procedure sets out clear, practical steps to control the risk of falls in Australian workplaces, whether working at height, near edges, on ladders, or around floor openings. It helps businesses implement a systematic, hierarchy-of-control approach that protects workers, demonstrates due diligence, and supports compliance with WHS laws across all states and territories.

Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of serious injury and fatality in Australian workplaces, particularly in construction, maintenance, warehousing and facilities management. This Fall Prevention Safe Operating Procedure provides a robust, step-by-step framework for identifying fall risks, selecting appropriate control measures, and managing work where there is a risk of a fall from one level to another. It translates legislative requirements and best practice guidance into clear, usable instructions that frontline workers and supervisors can follow on site.

The procedure walks your team through planning, risk assessment, and the practical implementation of the hierarchy of controls for fall prevention, from eliminating the need to work at height through to the safe use of fall-arrest systems. It addresses common high-risk tasks such as roof access, ladder use, working from elevated work platforms, loading docks, mezzanines and around penetrations or floor openings. By standardising how fall risks are assessed, controlled, monitored and reviewed, this SOP helps your business reduce incident rates, improve worker confidence, and provide documented evidence of due diligence in the event of audits, inspections or incident investigations.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the likelihood of serious injuries and fatalities from falls by implementing consistent, proven control measures.
• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS legislation and Codes of Practice relating to falls from height and working at levels.
• Standardise planning and authorisation of work at height, improving coordination between supervisors, contractors and workers.
• Improve worker competency and confidence through clear instructions on safe access, edge protection and use of fall protection equipment.
• Provide defensible documentation to support incident investigations, regulator enquiries and internal WHS audits.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Facilities Managers
• Maintenance Team Leaders
• Operations Managers
• Warehouse and Logistics Managers
• Civil and Building Contractors
• Property and Asset Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Falls from roofs, platforms, scaffolds, ladders and elevated work platforms
• Falls through fragile roofing materials such as skylights and asbestos sheeting
• Falls into floor openings, pits, shafts, stairwells and penetrations
• Slips and trips on elevated surfaces leading to falls from one level to another
• Objects falling from height and striking people below during work at elevated positions
• Incorrect use, selection or failure of fall-arrest, restraint and anchorage systems
• Loss of balance or overreaching while working on ladders or narrow platforms
• Unprotected edges on mezzanines, loading docks, ramps and stairways

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Legal Context
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Identification of Fall Hazards
• 5.0 Risk Assessment for Work at Height
• 6.0 Hierarchy of Controls for Fall Prevention
• 7.0 Safe Work Planning and Permits for Work at Height
• 8.0 Use of Ladders, Platforms and Elevated Work Platforms
• 9.0 Edge Protection, Guardrails and Physical Barriers
• 10.0 Fall-Arrest, Restraint and Anchorage Systems
• 11.0 Access to Roofs, Fragile Surfaces and Restricted Areas
• 12.0 Housekeeping, Signage and Exclusion Zones
• 13.0 Pre-Start Checks, Inspection and Maintenance of Equipment
• 14.0 Training, Competency and Supervision Requirements
• 15.0 Emergency Response and Rescue Procedures for Falls
• 16.0 Incident Reporting, Investigation and Corrective Actions
• 17.0 Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations (Safe Work Australia) – Part 4.4: Falls
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
• AS/NZS 1891.1: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices – Harnesses and ancillary equipment
• AS/NZS 1891.2: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices – Horizontal lifeline and rail systems
• AS/NZS 1891.4: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices – Selection, use and maintenance
• AS/NZS 1657: Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders – Design, construction and installation
• AS/NZS ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use