Working at Heights Training Melbourne

Anyone performing tasks where there is a risk of falling—including work above 2 metres, near edges, openings, pits or elevated platforms—must be trained and competent. RIIWHS204E – Work safely at heights is the nationally recognised unit widely used across Victorian industries to meet training expectations and Australian standards.

If untrained workers perform height-related tasks, the employer may be in breach of their duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (VIC). Employers must provide information, instruction and training to allow employees to perform work safely, including fall-prevention training.

Participants will use a range of height-safety equipment, such as harnesses, anchor systems and ladders. Practical training focuses on fall prevention, safe access, equipment checks, rescue considerations and applying Australian standards to real workplace scenarios.

Yes. RIIWHS204E is widely required across major projects in Victoria. Completing this training demonstrates competence and confirms you are prepared to carry out height-related work safely.

Under Victorian WHS requirements, employers must identify fall hazards and apply a hierarchy of controls: removing the risk of a fall where possible using guardrails, scaffolding, or other fall prevention devices, then work positioning systems, and fall arrest systems such as harnesses where other controls can’t fully remove the risk.

These obligations apply regardless of exact height, though a fall risk of 2 metres or more on a construction site is generally treated as high-risk work requiring formal documentation and planning before work begins.

RIIWHS204E – Work Safely at Heights covers how to apply this hierarchy on Victorian worksites, giving workers and supervisors the practical skills to assess risk and select the right controls for construction, maintenance, and infrastructure tasks.

Only for short, low-risk tasks. Ladders aren’t designed to replace scaffolding, platforms, or other fall protection systems for jobs that take longer, require two hands, or involve less stable ground conditions.

There’s no specific ladder licence in Australia, but ladder use is still governed by WHS obligations relating to fall risk, and the Australian Standard AS 1892 sets out requirements for safe selection and use. On Victorian construction and maintenance sites, a more secure system is often expected where it’s reasonably available.

This course covers how to assess the task properly so Melbourne workers and supervisors can choose the right equipment rather than defaulting to a ladder because it’s already on hand.