Rescue From Heights SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers planning and carrying out rescue from heights, including equipment checks, access, casualty recovery and incident close-out. It supports work planning and risk management for falls, rescue-system failure, falling objects, casualty handling and emergency response.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Review the rescue scope and planned rescue method
• Set up a rescue exclusion zone
• Inspect rescue equipment before use
• Verify anchorages, ropes and rescue systems
• Brief the team and allocate rescue roles
• Access the casualty location
• Attach, assess and stabilise the casualty
• Perform vertical or aerial rescue activities as required
• Recover and treat the casualty
• Secure the incident area and review before reinstatement

Who is this for?

Suitable for workers, supervisors, rescue team members and businesses carrying out rescue from heights activities.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template includes references relevant to the documented work, including:

• Applicable Commonwealth, state or territory WHS/OHS legislation and regulations, including duties to manage risks, provide first aid, prepare and maintain emergency plans, control falls, and establish emergency and rescue procedures when fall-arrest systems are used.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces — use as guidance where adopted or otherwise applicable; it requires emergency procedures, suitable rescue equipment close to the work area, trained rescuers and tested procedures for fall-arrest work.
• Model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks — use as guidance for applying the hierarchy of controls and reviewing controls after change or incident.
• Model Code of Practice: First Aid in the Workplace — use as guidance for first aid equipment, facilities and trained first aiders.
• AS/NZS 1891 series, Personal equipment for work at height — selection, use, maintenance, harnesses, lanyards, anchorages and horizontal lifelines.
• AS/NZS ISO 22846 series, Personal equipment for protection against falls — Rope access systems.
• AS/NZS 5532, Manufacturing requirements for single-point anchor device used for harness-based work at height.
• AS/NZS 4142.3, Fibre ropes — Man-made fibre rope for static life rescue lines.
• AS 2550.10 and AS 1418.10, Cranes, hoists and winches / elevating work platforms — where an EWP is used for rescue.
• Model Codes of Practice are guidance documents and do not automatically have legal effect in every jurisdiction; confirm local legislative adoption and site requirements before issue.

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Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)

• Task-specific job steps, hazards and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each job step
• Plant, equipment and PPE requirements where applicable
• Permits, qualifications and high-risk construction work details where applicable
• Worker consultation, sign-off and review sections