Page 23 - RIIWHS204E Learner Guide

RIIWHS204E-Work safely at heights

There can be the risk of injury from a wide range of hazards on site including fall
hazards.

The following is a list of some of the more common issues that should be taken into consideration
when identifying fall hazards in the workplace.
 Surfaces:

o the stability, fragility or brittleness
o the ability to slip (e.g. where surfaces are wet, polished, glazed or oily in the
case of new steelwork)

o the safe movement of workers where surfaces change
o the strength or capacity to support loads, and
o the slope of work surfaces
 Levels - where levels change and workers may be exposed to a fall from one level to

another
 Structures - the stability o f temporary or permanent structures

 The ground - the evenness and stability of ground for safe support of scaffolding or
a work platform
 The working area - whether it is crowded or cluttered

 Scaffolding - check for platform fully decked, bracing, tying, guardrails, access

 Edges - edge protection for open edges of floors, working platforms, walkways, walls
or roofs
 Penetrations, openings, and holes - which will require guarding (similarly

unguarded shafts and excavations)
 proximity of workers to unsafe areas:
o where loads are placed on elevated work areas

o when objects are below a work area, such as reo bars and star pickets
o where work is to be carried out above workers (e.g. potential hazard from
falling objects), and

o power lines near working areas
 Movement of plant or equipment
 Access to, egress from and movement around the working area (checking for

obstructions)
 Multiple contractors are working in the same area

 Manual handling - checking safe work practices for carrying awkward material,
such as plasterboards and roof sheeting, which may be caught by the wind

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