Working at Heights Checklist

Quick answer: Before any working-at-heights task, confirm your SWMS is in place, fall protection equipment is inspected and fit for purpose, anchor points are rated, exclusion zones are established, a rescue plan exists, and all workers are competent. Use this checklist before every job.

Last reviewed: June 2026 by the BlueSafe Technical Team. Reflects current Model WHS Regulations.

Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities and serious injuries in Australia. Under the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations, working at heights above 2 metres is classified as high-risk construction work (HRCW), triggering specific obligations for both principal contractors and subcontractors — including the preparation and use of a written Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS).

This checklist is designed to be used on-site before any working-at-heights task begins. Work through each section systematically. If any item cannot be ticked off, the work should not proceed until the gap is addressed.

1. Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)

A SWMS for working at heights is a legal requirement under the WHS Regulations for any HRCW task involving a fall risk greater than 2 metres.

• A current, site-specific SWMS for working at heights is in place.
• The SWMS identifies all steps in the task, associated hazards, and the controls to be applied.
• The SWMS has been reviewed and signed by the workers who will carry out the work.
• The SWMS is readily accessible on-site during the work.
• The SWMS has been updated to reflect any site-specific conditions or changes since it was last used.

Need help? See the Working at Heights SWMS Guide and the Fall Arrest SWMS Guide.

2. Edge Protection and Guardrails

The WHS Regulations require PCBUs to implement fall prevention measures using the hierarchy of controls. Physical edge protection — such as guardrails — is generally the highest-order control and should be used wherever practicable.

• Guardrails or edge protection have been installed at all open edges where a fall of 2 metres or more is possible.
• Guardrails meet the required height (top rail at least 900 mm above the working surface, or as specified in the relevant Australian Standard).
• Midrails or infill panels are in place where required.
• Edge protection components are free from visible damage, corrosion, or unauthorised modification.
• Edge protection is securely fixed and cannot be displaced by foreseeable forces (wind, equipment contact, worker loading).
• Any temporary removal of edge protection (e.g. for materials access) is controlled by a documented procedure and the protection is immediately reinstated.

3. Fall Arrest Systems

Where fall prevention through physical barriers is not practicable, a fall arrest system must be used. Fall arrest is a lower-order control and does not prevent a fall — it limits the consequences.

• A fall arrest system (harness, lanyard, self-retracting lifeline) has been selected appropriate to the task and fall clearance distance.
• All fall arrest components are within their service life and have a current inspection record.
• The system has been assembled correctly and the connections (karabiner gates, load-rated connectors) are locked and double-checked.
• The maximum arresting force (MAF) and free-fall distance have been calculated to confirm there is sufficient clearance before any lower obstacle (floor, scaffold, structure).
• Workers are wearing harnesses correctly — all straps adjusted, chest D-ring centred, leg loops snug.

See the Fall Arrest SWMS Guide for guidance on selecting and documenting the appropriate system.

4. Anchor Points

Anchor points are the foundation of any fall arrest system. An inadequate anchor point can fail the entire system at the moment it is needed most.

• Anchor points are rated for fall arrest loads (minimum 15 kN per person connected, or as specified in AS/NZS 1891 series).
• Anchor points have been formally assessed and approved by a competent person (e.g. structural engineer or manufacturer-certified installer).
• The anchor point certification or rating documentation is available on-site.
• Anchor points show no signs of corrosion, fatigue, or physical damage.
• Workers are connecting only to designated, rated anchor points — not to unrated structural members, handrails, or plant.
• The direction of loading on the anchor point is consistent with its rated capacity.

5. Ladders

Ladders are frequently misused on construction and maintenance sites. They are a short-duration access tool — not a working platform — and must be used within their design limits.

• The ladder type is appropriate for the task (e.g. industrial-rated, correct height, correct duty rating).
• The ladder has been visually inspected before use — no cracked stiles, bent rungs, missing feet, or damaged locking mechanisms.
• The ladder is set at the correct angle (approximately 1:4 ratio — 1 metre out for every 4 metres up).
• The ladder extends at least 1 metre above the landing point (or is fitted with appropriate handholds).
• The ladder is secured at the top, or footed by a second person, to prevent displacement.
• Three points of contact are maintained when ascending or descending.
• Workers are not carrying loads that prevent three points of contact or that could destabilise them.
• The ladder is positioned on a firm, level surface — not on boxes, off the back of a ute, or on unstable ground.

6. Scaffolding

Scaffolding must be erected, altered, and dismantled by licensed scaffolders, and inspected before use by a competent person.

• The scaffold was erected by a licensed scaffolder (basic, intermediate, or advanced licence as required for the scaffold type and height).
• A scaffold handover certificate or tag is in place indicating the scaffold is safe for use.
• The scaffold has been inspected by a competent person after any event that could affect its integrity (storm, impact, modification).
• All planks are fully boarded, overlap correctly, and are secured against uplift.
• Guardrails, mid-rails, and toe boards are in place on all open sides.
• Access and egress points are safe and clearly identified.
• The scaffold is not overloaded — the working load limit (WLL) per bay is displayed and understood.
• No unauthorised modifications have been made since the last formal inspection.

7. Elevating Work Platforms (EWPs)

EWPs include boom lifts, scissor lifts, and cherry pickers. They are plant and must be operated, maintained, and inspected accordingly.

• Operators hold the appropriate High Risk Work (HRW) licence (class WP) if the EWP boom is 11 metres or more — or have documented competency training for EWPs under 11 metres.
• The EWP has a current plant registration (where required) and maintenance log.
• A pre-start inspection has been completed using the manufacturer's checklist — hydraulics, controls, emergency stop, tyres/tracks, outriggers.
• The EWP is being operated within its rated capacity (weight of workers, tools, and materials combined).
• Outriggers or stabilisers are deployed on firm, level ground as required by the manufacturer.
• Workers in the EWP basket are wearing full-body harnesses connected to the designated anchor point inside the basket.
• Ground conditions (slopes, voids, underground services) have been assessed before positioning the EWP.
• Overhead hazards (powerlines, structures) have been identified and minimum safe approach distances are understood and enforced.

8. Exclusion Zones Below the Work Area

Anyone below a working-at-heights activity is at risk from falling tools, materials, or debris. Exclusion zones are a mandatory control.

• An exclusion zone has been established beneath all working-at-heights areas.
• The exclusion zone is appropriately sized for the height of the work and the potential trajectory of falling objects.
• The exclusion zone is demarcated with barriers and signage visible from all approach directions.
• Unauthorised persons cannot enter the exclusion zone — controlled access points are in place where required.
• Where overhead work is unavoidable in trafficked areas, a spotter is in place and the work is scheduled to minimise exposure.
• A debris net or catch platform has been considered and installed where required.

9. Rescue Plan

A rescue plan is not optional. If a worker falls and is suspended in their harness, suspension trauma can become life-threatening within minutes. The rescue plan must be ready before work starts — not devised after someone falls.

• A documented rescue plan exists specifically for this task and location.
• The rescue plan identifies who is responsible for initiating the rescue.
• Rescue equipment (rescue ladder, second EWP, abseil kit, or equivalent) is on-site and ready to deploy.
• At least one person on-site is trained in the rescue procedure and the operation of rescue equipment.
• Emergency services contact numbers (000 and nearest hospital) are known and accessible.
• Workers are aware of the rescue plan before work begins — it has been communicated in the pre-start briefing.

10. Weather Check

Weather conditions can change rapidly and dramatically affect the safety of heights work.

• A weather forecast has been checked for the duration of the work.
• Work will not proceed if wind speeds exceed the limits specified in the SWMS or equipment manufacturer's instructions.
• The risk of lightning has been assessed — work will be suspended if thunderstorms are forecast or observed nearby.
• Surfaces (scaffold planks, ladder rungs, roof sheets) have been checked for wet, icy, or frost-affected conditions.
• UV and heat exposure has been considered for extended work periods at height.
• A clear trigger point and procedure exists for suspending work if weather deteriorates during the task.

11. Worker Competency

Equipment and documentation mean nothing if the workers using them are not competent. Competency includes both formal qualifications and demonstrated on-the-job ability.

• All workers performing the task hold the required licences or qualifications (e.g. HRW licence for scaffold erection or EWP operation).
• Workers have received site-specific induction covering the heights hazards present on this site.
• Workers have been trained in the specific fall protection systems being used today — including donning and doffing harnesses, connecting to anchor points, and operating self-retracting lifelines.
• Workers understand the rescue plan and their role in it.
• Training records are current and available for inspection.
• A pre-start briefing (toolbox talk) has been conducted covering today's task, the SWMS, hazards, and controls.

12. Harness and PPE Inspection

Personal protective equipment used in fall arrest must be in serviceable condition. A damaged harness may fail silently until the moment it is loaded.

• Each harness has been visually inspected before use — stitching intact, webbing free from cuts/abrasion/chemical damage, buckles and D-rings undamaged.
• Lanyards and self-retracting lifelines (SRLs) have been visually inspected — stitching intact, hooks and snap-locks functioning, SRL retracts and locks correctly.
• No component shows signs of previous fall-arrest loading (deformed D-rings, torn stitching, deployed SRL shock absorber).
• All equipment is within its manufacturer-specified service life and has a valid inspection tag.
• The harness fits the individual worker — it has been adjusted and checked, not borrowed and worn as-found.
• Helmets are rated for height work (where required) and are undamaged.

State and Territory Regulatory Context

This checklist is based on the Model WHS Regulations published by Safe Work Australia, adopted with minor variations across most Australian jurisdictions.

Always verify current requirements with your state or territory regulator and the relevant Codes of Practice (e.g. Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice).

Related guides

• Working at Heights SWMS Guide
• Fall Arrest SWMS Guide

Frequently asked questions

Is working at heights a high-risk construction work (HRCW) activity?

Yes. Under the Model WHS Regulations, work that involves a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres is classified as high-risk construction work (HRCW). A written Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) must be prepared before the work begins and must be followed throughout.

What is the minimum height that requires fall protection in Australia?

Under the Model WHS Regulations, a PCBU must manage the risk of a fall if a worker could fall 2 metres or more. Some jurisdictions and industries apply tighter thresholds — always check your state regulator's requirements and any relevant industry codes of practice.

How often should a fall arrest harness be inspected?

Harnesses and associated components should be visually inspected by the user before each use and formally inspected by a competent person at intervals specified by the manufacturer (typically every 6 or 12 months). Any harness that has been subjected to a fall arrest load must be taken out of service and inspected before being used again — in most cases, it will need to be retired.

Who can operate an Elevating Work Platform (EWP)?

Operating an EWP with a boom length of 11 metres or more requires a High Risk Work (HRW) licence (licence class WP). For EWPs under 11 metres, there is no licence requirement, but operators must still receive documented training and be assessed as competent before operating the plant.

Get your working-at-heights SWMS and documentation sorted

A checklist gets you organised on the day — but the underlying documentation (SWMS, training records, inspection registers) needs to be in place before any worker sets foot off the ground.

Need compliant working-at-heights documentation? Explore BlueSafe Online.

This checklist is provided for general guidance only. It does not constitute legal advice and does not replace the need for site-specific risk assessments, SWMS, or consultation with a qualified WHS professional. Requirements may vary by jurisdiction, industry, and specific work conditions. Always verify requirements with your state or territory WHS regulator.