Fall Control Tightened by New Act

Greater protection against injury from falls is prescribed by the new Act. Under the new model OHS legislation due for introduction on January 2012 a prescribed hazard control must be complied with.

The new fall prevention code of practice that was recently released pending the start of the  2012 regime speak directly to controls that must be in place where working at heights above 2 metres.

Safe Work Australia’s (SWA) has finished development of the code which is designed to arrest the number of death and injury that are the result of falls from height.

The code says that a hazard control must be stipulated and considered when working at heights above 2 metres.

When controlling fall hazards and applying  the hierarchy of control, operators must first consider if the work can be moved to the ground or manually reduce the height.

Where this is not possible, the responsible person or employer representative  must consider using a passive fall prevention device, followed by a work positioning system, then a fall-arrest system.

If these controls aren’t reasonably practicable then the work must be undertaken using ladders, or administrative controls.

The code also stipulates that when working at a height of less than 2 metres, other non-prescribed risk management must be in place and used.