Compliance with a standard is mandatory if stated as such in the work health and safety legislation. Neither AS/NZS 1891.4 nor AS/NZS 5532 are mandatory standards in the legislation.

However, the falls code does include references to the AS/NZS 1891 series and ‘relevant Australian/New Zealand Standards’.

Unsafe conduct, but BHP worker harshly dismissed

The Fair Work Commission has ruled the dismissal of a mine worker was harsh, despite his failure to acknowledge unsafe conduct.

The construction industry is the most dangerous for ladder use, with falls from ladders being the most common causes of fall-related injuries and fatalities, according to data in a 2013 Safe Work Australia (SWA) 2013 falls from height report.

When a fatality occurs, head injuries are the most common cause of death, with 76 per cent of the 112 workers who died from a fall from a height in the four years 2008–11 doing so because of a head injury.

35 Injuries per day

36 Deaths per year

Safe Work Australia has the latest report...

Given the number of questions received in relation to Australian Standards AS/NZS 5532 and AS/NZS 1891.4 and the Work Health and Safety legislation SafeWork NSW has published a fact sheet explaining their expectations.