Planning to Work Safely

Careful planning can ensure that the risk of work related accidents and injuries are eliminated or reduced.

The documents on this page have been designed to provide all UWS employees with basic risk management information that will enable them to plan and carry out their work in a safe manner.

The information contained in these documents is to be read in conjunction with the UWS Work Health and Safety Policy (opens in a new window), and the supporting procedures and guidelines. For any advice or assistance, please contact the WHS Unit.

General tips and safety guidelines

Hazardous Manual Task Handling

Working at Height

Statistics show that working at height causes a significant number of work related fatalities and injuries each year.

The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (WHS Regulation) requires a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) to manage the risk of a person falling from one level to another. This includes ensuring that at a risk assessment is carried out in conjunction with work undertaken at height. The WHS Regulation requires that PCBUs specifically manage the risk of falls by ensuring so far as reasonably practicable that:

  • Work involving the risk of falls is carried out on the ground or on solid construction.
  • There is a safe means of access to and from the workplace.
  • The risk of falls is minimised through fall prevention device/s, work positioning systems or a fall arrest system.

Working at height can include but may not be limited to:

  • Working on a roof, plant or structure at an elevated level.
  • Working from a ladder, scaffold, work platform or cherry picker.
  • Working from a platform on the top of a vehicle.
  • Work in an area where an opening or ledge exists that a person could fall through (e.g. a hole, shaft or pit).
  • Work involving climbing eg mast work.
  • Work on a surface which a person may fall through e.g. ceiling space or skylight.

If you are required to undertake work at height you should contact Capital Works and Facilities or the WHS Unit for advice and assistance.

Critical Point Summary:

  • Ensure all work at height is carried out in accordance with the UWS Working Safely at Height Procedure.
  • Before any work at height is commenced conduct a risk assessment.
  • Ensure any equipment that is to be used in conjunction with working at height is appropriate and serviceable and in use on stable surfaces.