Lowering height threshold will raise safety standards
New fact sheets to help workers and employers understand changes to work health and safety regulations relating to high-risk construction work have been published by SafeWork SA.
The changes to the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 will reduce the working at height threshold for high-risk construction work from three metres to two metres from 1 July 2026.
The fact sheets, specifically tailored to tailored to workers and Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), are available here:
- High-risk construction work changes – for workers(PDF)
- High-risk construction work changes – for PCBUs and principal contractors(PDF)
Whether you’re a sole trader, labourer, apprentice or contractor, any work at height above two metres will now be classed as high-risk construction work.
This means a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) must be in place before you start high risk construction work.
The change will align South Australia the national model WHS regulations and other Australian states and territories. It has been introduced to reduce the number of serious falls in construction and to ensure work at heights is properly assessed and controlled.
A transition date of 1 July 2026 will allow time for industry to be educated about the regulations before they come into effect.
ReturnToWorkSA data shows that since the 2016/17 financial year, falls from height in the construction industry have been responsible for about 1,585 workers compensation claims with a total claims cost of more than $64 million.
A significant proportion of falls from heights occur from above two metres. In South Australia, between 2020 and 2022, there were 149 instances where a person fell from over two metres.
More than 100 of those falls occurred in the residential construction sector and 68 per cent of those falls occurred between two and three metres – the height range that will now be covered by South Australia’s high risk construction work regulations.
The changes have been made in consultation with key unions and industry associations.
The building and construction industry is one of the most high-risk industries in Australia.
From July next year, construction businesses will be required to prepare and adhere to a Safe Work Method Statement for work that involves a risk of a person falling more than two metres.
A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a legally required document for high-risk construction activities. It clearly outlines the work to be undertaken, identifies potential hazards, and details the steps to control and manage those risks.
Before any high-risk work begins, the SWMS must be developed in consultation with workers and made readily available on site.
Changing the regulations does not impose any greater obligation on employers in relation to the practical steps they must take to ensure a safe system of work compared to their current obligations.
Attribute quotes to SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell
Falls from heights constitute a significant proportion of workplace injuries and deaths in the construction industry.
This change to the regulatory framework will mean employers can no longer erroneously rely on the higher height threshold to avoid providing adequate fall protection, particularly in the residential sector.
Further links: