Falls

Construction’s number 1 cause of fatalities. You need high standards when working at heights.

Falls from heights prevention - Hierarchy of control

You can’t undo a fall, but you can prevent one. If you’re a builder, subcontractor, site supervisor or employer, it’s your job to keep people safe. WorkSafe expects the highest level of fall prevention to be in place.

This video will help you chose the right level of fall prevention for your work.

A mixture of controls is usually required - not just one

Level Control Example

1

Eliminate the risk.

Work on the ground.

2

Passive fall prevention devices.

Guardrails, scaffolds, EWP, safety mesh.

3

Work positioning systems.

Rope access, travel restraints.

4

Fall-arrest systems.

Harnesses, catch platforms.

5

Ladders/Admin controls.

For short, low risk tasks only.

Safety alerts

Apprentice falls 4.7 m when makeshift scaffold access fails  

Monday 11 August 2025

This safety alert is a reminder to anyone who erects or manages hanging bracket scaffolds. It highlights the risks of not providing adequate or safe access.

Employee falls through stair void on housing construction site  

Friday 20 December 2024

WorkSafe is reminding duty holders, including employers, principal contractors and supervisors to ensure that void platform systems are safe for use.

Worker falls from double storey roof on construction site  

Thursday 30 May 2024

WorkSafe is reminding employers about managing the risks associated with working at heights.

Site safety resources

Our construction resources provide simple, practical tips and easy-to-use guides to help businesses and workers stay safe.

Pocket guide  Manual handling  Crystalline silica

Workers with full safety gear on walking across a roof.

Falls basics workshops

Our free online workshops give practical advice and resources to help you prevent falls at your workplace.

Learn more

Use ladders for short, low risk tasks only

Harnesses and nets save lives but won’t prevent falls

Travel restraints stop you before the edge

Scaffolding and guardrails that aren’t set up correctly are not safe to use

Eliminate the risk completely by working on the ground when you can

Falls prevention checklist

A simple, practical tool to help you put the hierarchy of controls into action on site. It walks you through the key steps to identify hazards, check controls are in place, and make sure your workers are protected at every level.

  • Spot gaps in your current fall prevention measures.
  • Confirm you’re meeting your legal duties and industry standards.
  • Start conversations with your team about ways to work at height.

Download the checklist

Guides and codes

Falls – Construction’s number 1 cause of fatalities (PDF)  

Translated in two languages.

Compliance code: Prevention of falls in general construction  

This compliance code provides practical guidance on how to comply with your obligations under Victoria's occupational health and safety legislation to manage risks associated with falls in general construction.

Compliance code: Prevention of falls in housing construction  

This compliance code provides practical guidance on how to comply with your obligations under Victoria’s occupational health and safety legislation to manage risks associated with falls in housing construction.

Safe erection of roof trusses checklist (PDF version)  

This resource is a screen fillable PDF version of the guidance Safe erection of roof trusses checklist.

Using portable ladders in the workplace  

Falls from any height can seriously injure employees. The risk of serious injury or death increases if you work at heights above 2 metres. Anyone on a ladder is at risk of falling, even at heights below 2 metres.

Timber guardrailing for fall prevention  

This guidance explains how to create safe temporary timber guardrails to prevent falls from heights.

Safe work method statements (SWMS)

Learn about how and when to prepare and use a safe work method statement (SWMS) for high-risk construction work (HRCW).

More about SWMS

A housing construction site showing 3 houses in various stages of construction.

The pocket guide for construction safety

A pocket guide to help control risks on small construction sites. The guide is for employers with fewer than 20 employees and self-employed people. The guide may also benefit subcontractors and others.

Download guide

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The high cost of workplace falls - Pat and John's story

Building supervisor John's life changed forever in 2006 when he fell through the floor on the second storey of a building, rupturing his lower spine and fracturing his neck. John's wife Pat knows that he is lucky to be able to walk, but the trauma and resulting mental injury have meant he can no longer work.