Latest data shows height safety outcomes are not improving on Australian worksites.
The data presented in the latest Safe Work Australia Key Work Health and Safety Statistics report shows there is still a long way to go if there is to be improvement in the rate of serious and fatal falls from height.
Fatalities from falls
In 2024, there were a total of 25 workplace fatalities resulting from falls from height. The good news is that this is down from the 2023 number of 31, which was the worst year for falls since 2012.
However, the longer-term trend paints a more troubling picture.
Fatal falls from height were again above the five-year average (2020-2024) of 24.
There has been a steady upward trend in the number of fatal falls since 2018. This comes after a period of a noticeable decrease in falls between 2006 and 2014.
Overall, falls from height remain the second most common mechanism of workplace death behind vehicle incidents.
The age factor
The age of workers involved in falls form height continues to be an important factor in determining the severity of the outcome.
Although they comprise less than 40% of the total workforce, workers aged 45 and over continue to make up more than two-thirds of the recorded falls from height fatalities, unchanged from 2023.
Older workers have continuously made up the majority of workplace fatalities in each of the last 20 years, with the exception of 2018.
Falls in the bigger picture
The other concerning aspect is that while fatal falls from height are seemingly increasing in number, the overall rates of workplace fatalities are steadily decreasing.
There were 188 recorded fatalities in Australian workplaces in 2024. This was fewer than in 2023 (203 recorded) and below the five-year average (191 recorded per year, 2020-2024).
Exploring solutions
Reducing the number and rate of serious and fatal falls from height requires addressing several different aspects of work.
There has been a focus on exploring the possibility of creating a high-risk work licence for working at height. However, there is much that needs to be looked at in terms of where and how a licence would work, and the ability of state work safety regulators to be able to issue the number of licences likely to be required.
A more straight-forward solution would be to increase focus on making sure that workers engaged in building, construction and trades work have foundational knowledge of height safety risks and mitigation techniques through completing existing safe work at heights training.
While much of the focus on reducing falls from height is directed at the actions of workers, there also needs to be an understanding that workers do not operate in a vacuum. How they go about their day and the decisions they make on site, especially when it comes to safety, are influenced by factors that exist beyond their control.
Employers, site supervisors, building owners and operators all have important roles to play in making sure the social and work structures are built such that safety systems work to protect people, not be little more than a box-ticking compliance exercise.
It is also vital meaningful cultures of safety are developed in workplaces. Creating an environment where the safe thing is not only expected to be done but also facilitated will assist substantially in reducing the number of serious and fatal falls from height.
Partners in protecting people
Height Safety Engineers are the leaders in providing comprehensive, holistic height safety and fall protection services. Our team work across a variety of industries and work environments to design, install, certify systems for protecting people working at height.
Discover our full range of services on our website or get in touch with us to start your safety journey by calling 1300 884 978, emailing enquiries@heightsafety.net or dropping us a line through our contact form.
