Product Overview

Summary: This Work at Heights Safe Operating Procedure sets out clear, practical steps for planning, supervising and carrying out any task where a person could fall from one level to another. It helps Australian businesses control fall risks, meet WHS obligations, and give workers confidence that elevated work is being done safely and consistently on every site.

Working at heights remains one of the leading causes of serious injury and fatalities across Australian workplaces. Whether it’s accessing roofs, working on scaffolds, using EWP/MEWPs, or carrying out maintenance on platforms and ladders, even a short-duration task can have life‑altering consequences if fall risks are not properly controlled. This Work at Heights Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, step‑by‑step approach to planning, authorising and performing work at height, so that hazards are identified early and appropriate controls are implemented before anyone leaves the ground.

The SOP is designed to help businesses demonstrate due diligence under Australian WHS legislation by formalising how work at height is assessed, controlled and supervised. It addresses common gaps such as inconsistent pre‑start checks, unclear rescue arrangements, poor selection of fall prevention equipment and inadequate contractor management. By implementing this procedure, organisations can standardise expectations across sites and trades, provide a solid foundation for training and inductions, and create a clear audit trail showing that fall risks have been actively managed. The result is safer workers, fewer incidents, and stronger compliance with regulator expectations.

This document is suitable for a wide range of industries including construction, facilities management, manufacturing, utilities, transport and local government. It can be adapted to existing permit‑to‑work systems and integrates with risk assessments, SWMS, and emergency response plans to form a complete, practical framework for managing work at heights.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, best‑practice controls are applied to all work at height activities across your organisation.
• Reduce the likelihood of falls, dropped objects and related injuries by embedding clear, repeatable procedures.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS legislation and regulator guidance for managing fall risks.
• Streamline planning and approvals for work at heights through defined roles, checklists and documentation requirements.
• Support effective training, inductions and contractor management with a clear reference document for expectations and safe methods.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Maintenance Managers
• Facilities Managers
• Roof Plumbers
• Electricians
• HVAC Technicians
• Telecommunications Technicians
• Warehouse and Logistics Managers
• Civil and Infrastructure Supervisors

Hazards Addressed

• Falls from roofs, platforms, edges and unprotected openings
• Falls from ladders and temporary access systems
• Falls from scaffolds, mobile towers and elevated work platforms (EWP/MEWP)
• Failure or incorrect use of fall arrest and fall restraint systems
• Dropped tools and materials striking people below
• Structural failure of anchor points, guardrails or temporary work platforms
• Slips and trips on elevated surfaces due to weather, debris or poor housekeeping
• Contact with overhead powerlines or electrical installations while working at height
• Fatigue, vertigo or medical events occurring while a person is working at height
• Inadequate or delayed rescue of a suspended worker in a fall arrest system

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Regulatory Context
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Planning and Risk Assessment for Work at Heights
• 5.0 Hierarchy of Control for Falls (Elimination to PPE)
• 6.0 Permit to Work and Authorisation Requirements
• 7.0 Selection and Use of Access Equipment (Ladders, Scaffolds, EWP/MEWP)
• 8.0 Fall Prevention and Fall Arrest Systems (Guardrails, Harnesses, Lifelines, Anchors)
• 9.0 Pre‑start Checks, Inspection and Maintenance of Height Safety Equipment
• 10.0 Safe Work Methods for Common Work at Heights Tasks
• 11.0 Control of Dropped Objects and Exclusion Zones
• 12.0 Weather, Environmental and Site Condition Considerations
• 13.0 Emergency Response and Rescue Planning for Work at Heights
• 14.0 Training, Induction and Competency Verification
• 15.0 Contractor Management and Interface with Other PCBUs
• 16.0 Documentation, Records and Audit Requirements
• 17.0 Review, Consultation and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) – Part 4.4 Falls
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Construction Work
• 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 1576: Scaffolding (series)
• AS/NZS 1657: Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders – Design, construction and installation