Code of Practice

The Code of Practice has been developed by Safe Work Australia to offer practical guidance to achieve the standards of health, safety and welfare required in the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) and Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (WHS Regulations).

The approved code of practice under section 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act (the WHS Act) is a practical guide to manage the risk of falls in the workplace. A code of practice applies to anyone who has a duty of care in the circumstances described in the code, including those persons who design, construct, import, supply or install plant or structures, on how to manage health and safety risks arising from falls.

Codes of practice are admissible in court proceedings under the WHS Act and Regulations. Courts may regard a code of practice as evidence of what is known about a hazard, risk or control and may rely on the code in determining what is reasonably practicable in the circumstances to which the code relates.

This Code has been revised and republished in March 2015.