It’s not always a long way down

You don’t have to be on top of a 12-storey building to be at risk of death or serious injury. A fall from just two metres – or even into a hole, trench or off the back of a truck – can prove fatal.

Early this year, a bricklayer died when he fell five metres through a void at a construction site. A piece of plywood had been thrown across the void and left unsecured, leaving an ad-hoc, unplanned and totally inadequate safety system.

The principal contractor was fined $425,000 and its director $85,500.

In another incident a worker fell through a trapdoor at a bottle shop and broke both of her legs. The publican was fined $150,000 for not having safe systems of work, something as simple as a barrier or alternative access to the cellar.

On top of potential legal action if you’re found to be at fault, a workplace injury opens a can of worms – downtime, poor morale, replacement worker hire and more headaches you don’t need.

Over the past three years, 19 people have died after falling from a height in NSW workplaces. More than 13,000 were injured and about 200 were permanently disabled.

But don’t panic, there are plenty of ways you can help avoid mishaps and ensure your workers go home in one piece.

Here are three steps to remember:

1. If the work can be performed from ground level, do so. Wherever possible prefabricate roofs at ground level, reduce shelving heights, pre-sling loads so you don’t have to get on the tray to load or unload trucks, and design windows so they can be cleaned safely from the ground.
2. If it’s not possible to work on the ground, use a fall-prevention device such as an elevated work platform, guard rail or scaffolding.
3. A fall-arrest system is the next best option but it must include a lanyard, harness and anchor. Check the buckle, webbing and D-rings before using it. And, make sure you’re hooked up and not just wearing a harness – yes, it happens.

It’s really simple to stay safe, so check out our simple safety page on falls – and discover how easy it is to comply with your legal obligations.

10 steps to ladder safety

Each year there are dozens of serious incidents where workers have fallen from ladders. While workers in construction, retail and building maintenance are most commonly injured, any worker using a ladder – at any height – is at risk.

So what can you do to avoid becoming a statistic?

The first thing to consider is whether you really need to use a ladder for the job. Ladders should only be used for simple access jobs or for a short duration. If you can work from ground level or using an alternative like scaffolding; do it.

But if a ladder is your only option, here are the 10 golden rules that can help you avoid injury.

1. Choose the right ladder for the job. It should meet Australian standards and the load requirements of the job.
2. Inspect the ladder for damage before each use.
3. Only use a ladder if you are physically-capable of doing so.
4. Always set up the ladder on a flat, stable surface. Consider safety devices like leg levellers, anti-slip gutter guards and stabilisers.
5. Always maintain three point of contact with the ladder. This means two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand on the ladder. Never lean or reach away from the ladder while using it.
6. Only take small items up or down a ladder and items that allow you to maintain three points of contact.
7. Never exceed the working load limit on the ladder. Remember to include the weight of your tools.
8. If you’re using an extension ladder, secure it at the top, bottom or both. If this isn’t possible then have someone hold the ladder. If you’re using an A-frame ladder, make sure it’s fully open and locked.
9. Extension ladders should be angled at a ratio of 1:4. That is, position the base of the ladder 1 metre away from the structure for every 4 metres of height.
10. Do not climb past the second-top rung of a ladder, and never straddle the top of an A-frame ladder. When climbing down, face the ladder and climb to the bottom rung before stepping off.

We’ve developed a short video to illustrate these steps – watch below and check out our YouTube channel for more how-to videos.