Working at Heights

In Victoria, the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 define "work at height" as any work where there is a risk of a fall that could cause injury. For roofing work, this effectively means all activities on a roof, as even single-storey roofs are typically three to five metres above ground level — more than enough height for a fall to cause serious injury or death. The regulations place duties on both employers and self-employed persons to identify fall hazards, implement controls, and ensure workers are trained and competent. The hierarchy of fall-prevention controls in descending order of effectiveness is: elimination (do the work at ground level if possible); substitution (use a different method that avoids the height risk); isolation (install permanent edge protection, guardrails, or scaffolding); engineering controls (install safety mesh, catch platforms, or anchor systems); and administrative controls (safe work procedures, training, and supervision) combined with personal protective equipment (harnesses and lanyards connected to certified anchor points). In Gippsland, Town & Country Roofing takes working-at-heights obligations seriously. All team members hold current Working at Heights training certifications, and every job is subject to a site-specific risk assessment and safe work method statement (SWMS). Appropriate fall-prevention systems — whether scaffolding, guardrails, or personal fall-arrest equipment — are used on every project, ensuring the safety of workers and compliance with Victorian workplace safety legislation.