Working at Heights Course

Yes, if your role involves any risk of falling from one level to another, whether that’s a roof, ladder, elevated platform or into a lower level such as a pit, formal training is required under Australian WHS laws. Employers have a legal duty to ensure workers are trained and competent before performing tasks at height, and on most construction sites, a current Working at Heights qualification is a condition of site access.

The training requirement applies regardless of how experienced a worker is or how routine the task feels. Falls remain one of the leading causes of serious injury and fatality on Australian worksites, and many incidents happen during short, familiar jobs where the risk was underestimated rather than during unusual or high-risk work.

The nationally recognised standard for this training is RIIWHS204E – Work Safely at Heights, delivered face to face over one day. It covers risk assessment, correct use of fall protection systems, ladder safety and emergency procedures, and results in a Statement of Attainment valid for three years. If your work involves height related tasks in construction, maintenance, mining, utilities or infrastructure, this training should be arranged before that work begins.

When working at heights, some of the primary hazards include falls, falling objects, structural collapses, and hazardous weather conditions. It is essential to implement risk control measures to prevent falls and to use appropriate safety equipment to effectively address these hazards.

Risk assessment is a vital step in ensuring safety at heights. Start by identifying potential hazards specific to your work area. Evaluate the likelihood and severity of each hazard and determine suitable control measures. Consider factors such as the stability of structures, the presence of guardrails or handrails, and the condition of ladders or scaffolds.

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Harnesses, helmets, and non-slip footwear.
• Fall arrest systems: Safety harnesses connected to secure anchor points.
• Guardrails and handrails: Used to prevent falls from edges or elevated surfaces.
• Ladders and scaffolding: Ensure they are in good condition and used correctly.

• Choose the right ladder for the job, considering height and weight capacity.
• Inspect the ladder for any damage or defects before use.
• Set up the ladder on a stable surface and secure it to prevent slipping.
• Maintain three points of contact when climbing (two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand).
• Never overreach or stand on the top step of the ladder.

In Australia, the specific training and qualifications required for working at heights can vary slightly depending on the state or territory. Link Resources training programs aligned with RIIWHS204E – Work safely at heights. This training typically covers hazard identification, risk assessment, fall prevention techniques, and the proper use of safety equipment. Certification or licenses may be issued upon successful completion of the training.

Under Australian WHS laws, any task with a risk of a fall that could cause injury must be managed, regardless of height. In practice, a fall risk of 2 metres or more on a construction site is treated as high-risk construction work, which triggers stricter requirements, including a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) that must be in place before work begins.

Below 2 metres, the legal duty doesn’t disappear. Employers and workers still need to identify hazards, assess risk and apply appropriate controls, even for shorter falls from ladders, platforms or into excavations.

WHS regulations require fall risks to be managed using a hierarchy of controls. Fall prevention devices such as guardrails and scaffolding are the first option and remove the risk entirely. Where that isn’t practical, work positioning systems support workers at height. Fall arrest systems, including harnesses and safety nets, are used where the other controls can’t fully remove the risk, and reduce the severity of injury if a fall does occur.

Meeting these requirements starts with proper training. RIIWHS204E – Work Safely at Heights covers hazard identification, risk assessment and the correct use of fall protection systems, giving workers and supervisors the knowledge to apply the hierarchy of controls correctly on site.

Sometimes, but it depends on the task, not personal preference. There’s no dedicated ladder licence in Australia, but ladder use is still governed by WHS legislation relating to fall risk. Employers have a duty to manage that risk, provide suitable equipment and ensure workers are trained and competent, and the Australian Standard AS 1892 sets out requirements for safe ladder use.

Ladders are designed for short-duration, lower-risk tasks. SafeWork guidance is clear that ladders should not be used in place of more secure access systems, such as scaffolding, platforms or elevated work platforms, when those safer options are reasonably available for the job.

The right choice comes down to a proper risk assessment of the specific task: how long the work will take, whether it requires two hands, what the ground conditions are like, and what could happen if a fall occurred. For longer or higher-risk jobs, a more secure system is usually the safer, compliant option.

Working at Heights training covers this decision-making directly, giving workers the knowledge to select the right equipment and apply the correct controls for the task in front of them, rather than defaulting to whatever’s on hand.