Page 40 - RIIWHS204E Learner Guide

RIIWHS204E-Work safely at heights

In managing the risks of falls, Regulation 79 of the Work Health and Safety Regulations
2012 (SA) requires some specific control measures to be implemented. Where it is
reasonably practicable to do so, these must be done in the following order:

 Provide a fall prevention device (e. g. installing guard rails) if it is reasonably

practicable to do so
 Provide a work positioning system (e.g., an industrial rope access system) if it

is not reasonably practicable to provide a fall prevention device

 Provide a fall -arrest system (e.g., a catch platform or safety net) if it is not
reasonably practicable to provide a fall prevention device or a work

positioning system

Who has health and safety duties in relation to hazardous manual tasks?

A person conducting a business or undertaking has the primary duty to ensure,
so far as is reasonably practicable, that workers and other persons are not exposed
to health and safety risks arising from the business or undertaking.

The WHS Regulations include specific obligations for persons conducting a business
or undertaking to manage the risk of a musculoskeletal disorder associated with a
hazardous manual task.

Designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers of plant and structures that
are likely to be handled or used during or as part of a manual task have an important
role in eliminating or minimizing the risks of MSDs, which are often associated with
the poor design and layout of work areas as well as the design of equipment, tools,
packaging and materials. They must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that
the plant or structure they design, manufacture, import or supply is without risks to
health and safety.
Officers, such as company directors, have a duty to exercise due diligence to ensure
that the business or undertaking complies with the WHS Act and Regulations. This
includes taking reasonable steps to ensure that the business or undertaking has and
uses appropriate resources and processes to eliminate or minimize risks that arise
from hazardous manual tasks.

Workers have a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that
they do not adversely affect the health and safety of other persons. Workers must
comply with any reasonable instruction and cooperate with any reasonable policy or
procedure relating to health and safety at the workplace.

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