Safety Requirements for Working at Height in NSW
Posted on March 12, 2026
What PCBUs and Site Managers Need to Know
Working at height remains one of the highest-risk activities in construction, maintenance, utilities and industrial operations. Under Australian Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws, every Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) has a legal duty to eliminate or minimise the risk of falls from height. In NSW, these obligations are enforced through the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017, and relevant Codes of Practice issued by SafeWork NSW.
This article explains height safety requirements in practical, easy-to-understand terms, enabling PCBUs and managers to meet their legal responsibilities and ensure their workers are fully compliant on site.
What Is Considered “Working at Height”?
A worker is considered to be working at height when there is a risk of falling from one level to another. Australian regulators define this broadly, covering any situation where a fall could cause injury.
Common examples include:
- Working on roofs, platforms or scaffolds.
- Using ladders.
- Operating elevated work platforms (EWPs).
- Performing maintenance near edges, voids or fragile surfaces.
Safe Work Australia’s Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice confirms that falls from any height can cause serious injury, and control measures must be applied even at low heights.
Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)
Health and safety height regulations require a PCBU involved in high-risk construction work to develop a Safe Work Method Statement, which they then circulate among supervisors, workers and any people on site. This should be a straightforward and easy-to-understand planning and implementation tool that helps keep all parties safe while they undertake high-risk construction activities.
The bare essentials of a SWMS should contain:
- An identification of the work that is high-risk (e.g. whereby someone is at risk of falling more than two metres).
- A summary of all the hazards and associated risks inherent in the work.
- Measures taken to control and mitigate said risks.
- A description of how control measures will be implemented, monitored and reviewed (and who will do this work).
As a PCBU or principal contractor, you must ensure that:
- A site-specific SWMS is prepared for any scenario involving fall risks over two metres.
- The SWMS is developed in consultation with workers and contractors who will carry out the work.
- Workers are instructed in the SWMS and understand the required controls.
- Work is carried out in accordance with the SWMS, and non-compliance is addressed immediately.
- The SWMS is reviewed and updated if conditions change or controls are not effective.
ⓘ If work is not being carried out in accordance with the SWMS, the work must cease immediately and cannot resume until the document is reviewed and compliance is ensured.
Safety Requirements for Working at Heights in NSW (PCBU Duties)
Based on WHS legislation, Codes of Practice and AS/NZS 1891.4:2009, PCBUs must adhere to the following working at height safety requirements:
- Identify all height‑related hazards.
- Provide appropriate fall‑prevention or industrial fall‑arrest systems and devices.
- Ensure equipment is fit for purpose and inspected regularly.
- Train workers and ensure ongoing competency.
- Provide supervision and safe work procedures.
- Ensure emergency and rescue plans are in place and tested.
These requirements apply across Sydney and NSW for construction, maintenance, manufacturing, utilities, telecommunications, roofing and similar industries.
How to Provide a Safe System of Work
PCBUs must provide a safe system of work for any task involving a risk of falling. Key legal duties include:
1. Conduct a risk assessment
PCBUs must identify fall hazards and assess the likelihood and consequences of a fall occurring.
2. Apply the hierarchy of controls for height safety
PCBUs must follow this order:
- Eliminate the need to work at height (e.g., work from ground level).
- Use passive fall prevention measures (e.g., guard rails, scaffolds).
- Use work positioning systems (e.g., travel restraint).
- Use fall‑arrest systems (e.g., harness, lanyard, shock absorber).
- Use administrative controls and ladders (e.g., safe work procedures, signage, and portable ladders).
3. Ensure workers are trained and competent
PCBUs must ensure workers have the necessary skills, knowledge and training to work safely at height. This includes:
- Understanding fall hazards.
- Using equipment correctly.
- Knowing emergency procedures.
Formal working‑at‑heights training is strongly recommended for any worker exposed to fall risks.
4. Provide compliant equipment
Fall‑arrest equipment must be selected, used and maintained in accordance with AS/NZS 1891.4:2009 Industrial Fall‑Arrest Systems and Devices.
This includes requirements for:
- Harness design and fit.
- Rescue kits.
- Shock‑absorbing lanyards.
- Anchor points (typically 12–15 kN rating).
- Horizontal lifelines.
- Inspection, maintenance and record‑keeping.
5. Implement emergency and rescue procedures
PCBUs must ensure that a prompt rescue is possible in the event of a fall. Safe Work Australia highlights the importance of preventing suspension intolerance (suspension trauma) by ensuring workers are rescued quickly.
At What Height Is a Safety Harness Required?
Contrary to common belief, Australian WHS laws do not specify a specific height requirement for safety harness use.
Instead, the height safety regulations require fall protection whenever there is a risk of falling that could cause injury. Fall clearance calculation is a critical safety assessment used to determine the minimum vertical space required beneath a worker to prevent them from striking the ground or any obstacles in the event of a fall. It accounts for the total extension of the lanyard and related components to establish a safe working distance.
In practice:
- Harnesses are typically used when other controls (e.g., guard rails) are not reasonably practicable.
- Many industries apply the commonly accepted threshold of two metres, but this is not a legal rule.
- PCBUs must choose the highest level of protection available based on risk assessment.
Why Competency-Based Training Matters
A significant proportion of fall‑related incidents occur because workers either:
- Did not recognise the risk.
- Used equipment incorrectly.
- Failed to follow safe procedures.
Providing formal height‑safety training ensures:
- Workers understand their legal obligations.
- They know how to select and use fall‑arrest systems correctly.
- They can identify defective equipment.
- They follow safe access and egress procedures.
- They understand rescue and emergency requirements.
For PCBUs, this demonstrates due diligence — a key requirement under the WHS Act.
To ensure your workers are competent, you can enrol them in Sydney Safety’s Safe Working at Heights Training course, which covers the practical and legal aspects of fall prevention and fall‑arrest systems.
Height Safety Equipment Requirements in NSW
When fall‑arrest systems are required, AS/NZS 1891.4:2009 specifies minimum performance and inspection standards, including:
Safety harnesses
- Must be a full‑body harness designed for fall‑arrest use.
- Must include suspension trauma straps.
- Lower‑body-only harnesses are no longer permitted for free‑fall situations.
- Must be correctly fitted.
Lanyards and shock absorbers
- Must limit maximum arresting force to 6 kN.
- Must be compatible with the harness and anchorage.
- Must be configured to limit free-fall distance to under 2 metres.
- Must be removed from service immediately if a fall occurs or the shock absorber is deployed.
Anchor points
- Typically rated to 12 kN or 15 kN, depending on system design and fall distance.
- Must be installed and verified by competent persons.
- Annual recertification with clear load capacity and inspection status must be conducted.
Horizontal lifelines and rails
- Must be designed, tested and certified for fall‑arrest loading.
- Must only be used by trained personnel.
- Must display the maximum number of users permitted simultaneously.
- Must include tension indicators.
Inspection and maintenance
AS/NZS 1891.4 outlines specific inspection intervals and criteria. PCBUs must:
- Keep inspection records.
- Remove damaged or non‑compliant equipment from service.
- Maintain a 6-month formal inspection and tagging procedure.
- Conduct pre-use checks before every task.
Final Advice for PCBUs and Site Managers
Height‑related work remains a major cause of serious injury and fatalities in NSW. PCBUs must demonstrate due diligence by ensuring:
- All height‑related risks are controlled.
- Equipment is compliant and maintained.
- Workers are trained and competent.
- Emergency plans are in place.
A professional, compliance‑focused approach not only protects workers, it protects your business.
Get the Right Height Safety Training With Our Team
Sydney Safety training is competency-based, aligned with current Australian Standards and WHS legislation, and delivered by industry-experienced trainers who focus on practical, real-world skills. Sydney Safety also provides a high-quality training environment, prioritises compliance over shortcuts, and ensures workers leave fully capable of recognising hazards, using fall-arrest systems correctly, and meeting PCBU obligations on NSW worksites.
For formal competency‑based training that meets WHS and Australian Standards requirements, book your workers into Sydney Safety’s Safe Working at Heights Training course.
Safety Requirement for Working at Height FAQs
What Are the Safety Requirements for Working at Height?
PCBUs must eliminate or minimise risks, provide safe systems of work, ensure workers are trained, and use equipment that meets AS/NZS 1891.4:2009.
What Is an Industrial Fall‑Arrest System?
A system designed to stop a fall once it has begun, including a harness, shock‑absorbing lanyard, anchorage and connectors.
When Is a SWMS Required for Working at Heights?
A Safe Work Method Statement is required when the work is classified as high-risk construction work, including work that involves a risk of a person falling more than two metres. The SWMS must be prepared before work starts and followed at all times.