Product Overview

Summary: This Working at Heights in Drilling Operations SOP sets out a clear, step-by-step method for planning and carrying out elevated work on drill rigs and associated equipment. It helps Australian drilling businesses control fall risks, meet WHS obligations, and protect workers during tasks such as rig maintenance, mast access, platform work, and pipe handling at height.

Working at heights is one of the most critical risk areas in drilling operations, with elevated platforms, masts, derricks, catwalks, and access ladders all presenting serious fall hazards. This comprehensive SOP provides a structured, practical framework for safely performing any task at height on or around drill rigs, including inspection, maintenance, installation, and operational activities. It guides your team through planning, risk assessment, equipment selection, and safe execution, all tailored to the unique conditions of mining, exploration, geotechnical, and water-well drilling environments in Australia.

Beyond simple fall protection rules, this procedure integrates working at heights requirements with the realities of drilling work: moving drill strings, rotating equipment, confined rig floors, remote locations, and changing ground conditions. It supports compliance with Australian WHS legislation and relevant Codes of Practice, while also standardising how your crews set up fall prevention, use harnesses and anchor points, control dropped-object risks, and manage rescue readiness. By implementing this SOP, drilling businesses can significantly reduce the likelihood of serious injuries, improve supervision and competency, and demonstrate due diligence to clients, regulators, and principal contractors.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of falls from height and dropped-object incidents on drill rigs and associated structures.
• Ensure compliance with WHS Act and Regulations, and Working at Heights and Drilling-specific Codes of Practice across Australian jurisdictions.
• Standardise how crews plan, authorise, and carry out work at height, improving consistency between shifts and sites.
• Strengthen contractor management by providing a clear, auditable procedure that must be followed by all drilling personnel and subcontractors.
• Improve emergency preparedness by defining clear rescue, retrieval, and communication protocols for height-related incidents.

Who is this for?

• Drilling Supervisors
• Rig Managers
• Drillers and Offsiders
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• HSE Coordinators
• Site Supervisors and Forepersons
• Maintenance Technicians (Drilling Equipment)
• Project Managers in Mining and Exploration
• Contractor Management Personnel
• Operations Managers in Drilling and Resources

Hazards Addressed

• Falls from height from drill masts, derricks, platforms, walkways, and ladders
• Falls while accessing or egressing elevated work areas on rigs and support structures
• Dropped tools, drill components, and materials striking workers below
• Failure or incorrect use of fall arrest systems, harnesses, lanyards, and anchor points
• Slips and trips on elevated, wet, oily, or uneven rig surfaces
• Entanglement with rotating or moving drilling equipment while working at height
• Fatigue and environmental exposure (heat, wind, rain, dust) affecting stability and balance at height
• Inadequate rescue capability or delayed response following a fall or suspension event
• Uncontrolled interaction between mobile plant (e.g. loaders, service vehicles) and personnel working at height
• Structural instability or failure of temporary work platforms, scaffolds, or access systems used around rigs

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope – Working at Heights in Drilling Operations
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations (e.g. fall prevention, fall arrest, rig floor, mast, derrick, WAH permit)
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Site Senior Executive, Rig Manager, Supervisor, Driller, Offsider, WHS Advisor)
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Competency, Training and Authorisation Requirements for Working at Height
• 6.0 Planning and Risk Assessment for Work at Heights on Drill Rigs
• 7.0 Permits to Work and Pre-Start Checks for Elevated Tasks
• 8.0 Hierarchy of Controls for Working at Height in Drilling Operations
• 9.0 Selection, Inspection and Use of Fall Prevention and Fall Arrest Equipment
• 10.0 Fixed Access Systems: Ladders, Platforms, Walkways, and Guardrails on Rigs
• 11.0 Use of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) and Temporary Access Systems Around Rigs
• 12.0 Safe Work Methods for Common Drilling Tasks at Height (e.g. mast inspections, lighting maintenance, pipe handling, hose installation)
• 13.0 Dropped Object Prevention and Exclusion Zone Management
• 14.0 Interaction with Mobile Plant and Other Trades While Working at Height
• 15.0 Environmental and Site Conditions (weather, ground stability, remote locations) Considerations
• 16.0 Emergency Response and Rescue Procedures for Falls and Suspension Intolerance
• 17.0 Equipment Maintenance, Storage and Inspection Records
• 18.0 Monitoring, Audit, and Review of Working at Heights Practices in Drilling Operations
• 19.0 Document Control, Version History and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Act
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations – Part 4.4 Falls
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Excavation and Drilling (where applicable in some jurisdictions)
• AS/NZS 1891 series: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices
• 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 5532: Manufacturing requirements for single-point anchor device used for harness-based work at height
• AS/NZS ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use
• Relevant state and territory mining and petroleum safety legislation and guidelines (e.g. WA Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations, Qld Coal and Quarrying Safety and Health Regulations)