Working at Heights

Although not a regulated licence for Agriculture, I do recommend that farmers do the ‘working at heights’ course. It often does the rounds of the rural areas so seriously think about undertaking it next time it’s nearby.

Sometimes….if I didn’t laugh I would cry at the high positions farmers get themselves into! Trying to get mobile signal for one!!

I do have some issues with the fall arrest systems available to farmers and the rules around fitting them, so I hope to get some clarification from regulators in the near future for some workable fall arrest parameters that farmers can meet.

I offer more detailed assistance to my members and clients but here are some statistics for you to consider.

WORK-RELATED INJURIES AND FATALITIES INVOLVING A FALL FROM HEIGHT,
AUSTRALIA 2003–04 to 2010–11 combined – Falls from Height – Safework Aust

• Half of the fatalities involved falls of 3m or less – I find this statistic quite alarming!
• The Agriculture, forestry & fishing, Construction and Transport & storage industries had the highest falls-related incidence rates
• One in six fatalities due to fall from height involved a fall from a ladder
• Falls from ladders mainly involved older workers while falls from horses mainly involved younger workers
• Half of the falls from ladder fatalities involved workers aged 65 & over – “grandpa, you’re not allowed to climb the field bin anymore!!!”
• Falls from vehicles typically involved loading or unloading a truck
• A typical claim due to a fall from height involved 6 weeks off work
• Road freight transport had five times the national rate of claims for falls from a height

Other Resources:

• Code of Practice – Managing the Risk of Falls
• Working at Heights Guideline – QLD
• Falls Prevention Resource – Ag Health
• Fall Related Injuries in Australian Agriculture – RIRDC