UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE

SOP No: 132
Workplace: ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT UNISA STEM Page: 1 of 2

TASK:
Working at Height
Procedure Developed by: Jim Toshach & Tim Golding Approved By: Senior WHS Consultant WHS Date: 22/06/2015

Reviewed 27/05/2020 UniSA STEM Technical Services

Sequence of Job Steps Potential Standard Operating Procedure Personal
(What to do in the right order) Hazards/Risks of (How to do it) Protective
Each Step Equipment

1 Plan the task Risk of a fall Working at heights is a skill & a dangerous activity Safety
Glasses
resulting in &
Select the right equipment for Where possible design to eliminate working at heights Solid Shoes
task to be undertaken safety Serious Injury
Always choose safest practical option:- - Workshops
Climbing a ladder to inspect Poor practices - Labs
may be safe, however using could see UniSA or
• Cherry pickers – Scissor lifts (Licence required)
- Construction
hand tools or heavy work
you prosecuted under • Forklift & Work Cage Bld N (Licenced FL Driver required and suitable forklift)
requires a stable platform. - Field work
the WHS Act • Scaffold (>4m licensed installer to erect) - etc.
• Platform Ladders
Do a
Environment • Ladders
2 Risk Assessment Task area • Steps
Discuss the job with your
supervisor and the technical Weather (wind)
manager Always consider & ensure:-
Electrical • Stability of the ground/foot
Look up & Live • Accessibility - best location to set up device for safe operation
Keep a safe distance • Clutter free ! If a fall did occur - what would you land on?
High Risks Tasks from live wires
required a written Always be aware of electrical cables and power lines
3 Method Statement Competency Keep 6.4m from wires from power poles
Dot point description : Be mentally alert Keep 10m from wires from towers
• Hazards Skill
• Control Measure Mindfulness (being aware) Zero Alcohol or drugs (including medication that makes you drowsy)
• Safety equipment No smoking even outdoors
• Contingencies
Low Height Tasks Platform step - if frequently moved
Manual handling purchase platform with
spring loaded castors
Feet = < 1 M Falls
(lock up platform when stood on)

Any task in easy reach

when standing on the Hoop steps
step. - 2 or 3 rung

Use only upon a stable, firm & uncluttered

floor/surface.

Safety
Glasses
- Workshops
- Labs
- Construction
- Field work
- etc
Medium Height Tasks Manual handling
Solid Shoes
Feet = < 2 M Platform ladders any ladder or
Bld N1 1800 mm Bld N1 walk through steps 1200 mm step

Any task in easy reach Falls

when standing on the step up
to 1800 mm from the ground.
Medium to High Tasks A licensed forklift
driver must stay
Feet = < 4 M with the forklift
Safety
while a person is Glasses
• Longer working at height
• Heavier/active tasks in the cage

Falls Solid Shoes

Work Cage Bld N Harness & suitable
• Adjustable lanyard must be
• Easy to set up worn whilst in cage
• 2nd person to spot available in N1-13 Safety Vest
lifting gear cupboard
hazards

Forklift & Cage Hard Hat

< 2000 mm

Scaffold
Scaffold
• Stable platform Falls Scaffold can be built up to 4 M (ground to platform) without a licence
• Once set up easy Ensure scaffold is - Must have a balustrade (2 hand rails) 900 mm
safe access cross braced & stable - Must have steps or safe means to access platform safety
• Longer term project - Use aluminium floor planks
2 Handrail 1000 mm
high balustrade must Harness &
be included around the Lanyard
platform (min 900 mm) NB. A fall
arrestor
Harness & Lanyard requires 6.5
For work > 2000 mm meter to
If a need to lean out function
over the handrail safety

Manual Handling 4 m max

Do not hand carry
tools or objects when
climb up or down the
steps.

Manual Handling
Erecting a scaffold is a
2 person job
Light work
Inspection Safety
Glasses
Ladders = < 2000 mm (ground to feet height) - Workshops
Feet = < 2 M • Should only be used for simple operations - Labs
Electrical • Fibre glass are highly recommended for any electrical work - Construction
Use fiberglass ladder if • Wooden ladders should not to be used (never painted) - Field work
any electrical work or • Inspect for damage and stability before use - etc
hazard. eg changing a • Place on stable surface
light bulb. o use boards on soft ground Solid Shoes
. o pack feet to ensure feet are level any ladder or
• Never go higher than1 metre below the highest rung step
• Non slip feet are important
Safety Vest
• Have both hand free to climb a ladder
o use a tool bag or bucket & rope the tools up to the person on the ladder - Construction
- Field work
High Tasks • Always face the rungs when climbing up or down a ladder
• Keep rungs clean - clean foot wear of mud and grease.
Hard Hat
• Use a tool belt of tool bag or bucket & a rope to haul it up and down.
Any
Light work construction
Inspection like
Permission + method environment
statement required Ladders > 2000 mm (ground to feet height)

• As above +
Feet = > 2 M Manual Handling
• Use sand bags & lash the ladder for extension ladder
2 people to carry/,erect • 2 people to carry, erect & stay to foot the ladder.
& stay to foot of the
Step ladder Bld N 3m, 5m ladder.
Extension Ladder 6 m
Fall Prevention
Do not hand carry
tools or objects when
climb up or down the
steps. Use a tool belt
of tool bag or bucket &
a rope to haul it up and
down.
2nd Person must foot
the ladder.
 Safety
Glasses

Solid Shoes

Safety Vest

Hard Hat

Lanyard
¼ Working Length Clip onto
cage

Safety
Glasses

Solid Shoes

Safety Vest

Hard Hat

Harness
secured to a
mounting
point

Any work over 6.5 metres requires a harness/ fall arrestor

It must be worn and anchored correctly so that in event of a fall you do not hit the
ground or other objects.
High Task
>4M

High risk

Safe Work Method

Statement
[SWMS] required
Reading Material
Consider using
licensed contractors http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/about/pu
blications/pages/managing-risk-falls-cop

http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/about/pu
blications/Documents/349/National_Code_Practice_for
_the_prevention_of_falls_in_housing_construction_201
0.pdf