Preventing falls in construction

Falls from heights are a major cause of death and serious injury in Australian workplaces and are a high risk on most construction sites. When we think of working at heights, the picture that springs to mind is working on the top of a multi-storey building. While this is correct, most serious and fatal falls are from a height of less than 4 metres – so about the height of a single storey. This could be as simple as overbalancing and falling from a ladder, an incomplete scaffold or formwork, or off a balcony or building edge. Falls can also occur at ground level into holes, for example, trenches or service pits.

At the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Explain who is at risk of falls and who is responsible for safety when working at heights.
• Access, interpret and apply legal, technical and safety information for preventing falls when working at heights.
• Identify onsite hazards, assess falling from height risks and select appropriate control measures.
• Select, inspect, and use suitable fall prevention systems, tools and equipment.
• Communicate issues related to fall risks to the appropriate person on site.

This course is aimed at everyone who works on a construction site.

Duration: 2 hours
Delivery: Online (self-paced)
Access period: 6 months access from the day of enrolment

Proudly developed by SafeWork NSW in collaboration with Building Commission NSW.