| The death of a man due to a Fall related accident | | | | management approach that can be implemented |
| in Sydney Australia, reminds us all of the extreme | | | | into any workplace. The first step is to identify |
| dangers of working at heights. This article | | | | the hazards, the second is to assess the risk and |
| refreshes our memory on the frequency and | | | | the third step is controlling the risk. |
| seriousness of Height Safety accidents. This article | | | | Controlling the risk can involve such measures as |
| also introduces a three step risk management | | | | eliminating the hazard, by working on the ground |
| plan to eliminate these incidents. | | | | as much as is practicable; substituting with a safer |
| Fall hazards are the construction industry's main | | | | surface such as constructing temporary work |
| cause of death from traumatic injuries with 18 | | | | platforms; remove workers from the hazard by |
| deaths having occurred in 2003 in Australia and | | | | using guardrails as physical barriers; and the use of |
| New Zealand. They are also construction industry | | | | personal protective equipment such as a hard hat |
| workers second largest cause of non-fatal | | | | which can minimise the risk of head injuries and |
| workplace injuries. In Australia alone between | | | | safety harnesses which are secured into an |
| 1997 and 2001, the construction industry | | | | anchor point or a safety line at the work site. |
| generated around 1,600 fall-related workers' | | | | If your workplace engages contractors to |
| compensation claims each year. This represents | | | | undertake work, it is important to remember that |
| approximately 12% of all construction workers' | | | | there is a shared responsibility for health and |
| compensation claims.* | | | | safety and this requires cooperation and |
| Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act | | | | communication regarding risks associated with the |
| 1989, employers, persons in control of a | | | | work. You can not "contract out" your safety |
| workplace and self-employed persons must take | | | | responsibilities for work or a workplace that you |
| all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that | | | | control. |
| persons at or near the workplace are not | | | | The state Workcover websites can provide |
| exposed to health and safety risks. Preventing | | | | further information on both the rights and |
| injury from falls is also a requirement under the | | | | responsibilities for employers and employees. |
| Scaffolding and Lifts act 1912. | | | | They have loads of information and provide all the |
| What can you do to prevent these height safety | | | | up-to-date legislative requirements. |
| accidents? There is a three step risk | | | | |