Is there a 2 metre rule for working at heights?

Not for the duty to control falls. Under model WHS Regulation reg 78 a PCBU must manage the risk of a fall by a person from one level to another that is reasonably likely to cause injury — this applies to any fall that could injure, including falls under 2 metres. The 2 metre figure is a separate trigger: in construction work, a risk of a fall of more than 2 metres is high risk construction work needing a SWMS (reg 291). So falls under 2 metres still have to be controlled; 2 metres does not turn the fall-control duty on or off.

What controls do I need for work at height?

Work through the falls hierarchy in reg 79, so far as is reasonably practicable, in this order: (1) carry out the work on the ground or on a solid construction; (2) provide a fall-prevention device such as guardrails, scaffolds or an elevating work platform; (3) provide a work-positioning system; (4) provide a fall-arrest system such as a harness; and only as a last resort, use a fixed or portable ladder or administrative controls. You only drop to a lower control where the higher ones are not reasonably practicable.

Do I need a harness to work at heights?

A harness is a fall-arrest system, which sits near the bottom of the falls hierarchy (reg 79) — it is a lower-order control, not the first answer. Before relying on a harness you must consider, so far as is reasonably practicable, working on a solid construction, then a fall-prevention device such as guardrails or scaffolds, then a work-positioning system. A harness is appropriate only where those higher controls are not reasonably practicable.

When do I need a SWMS for work at heights?

A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is required when the work is construction work and there is a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres — that combination is high risk construction work under WHS Regulation reg 291, and the SWMS must be prepared before the work starts (reg 299). If the work is not construction work, or the fall risk is 2 metres or less, a SWMS is not specifically required, but the duty to manage the fall risk still applies.

What about ladders for working at heights?

A fixed or portable ladder is a last-resort control at the bottom of the falls hierarchy (reg 79), alongside administrative controls such as safe work procedures. You should only rely on a ladder where higher-order controls — working on a solid construction, a fall-prevention device, a work-positioning system or a fall-arrest system — are not reasonably practicable for the task.

Working at Heights — What Controls Do I Need?

Answer a few questions about your work at height. The tool tells you that your duty to manage the risk of a fall applies, the recommended control from the falls hierarchy, and whether the work is high risk construction work needing a SWMS — and debunks the 2 metre myth.

Last verified: 21 June 2026

There is no rule that falls only matter over 2 metres. The duty to manage the risk of a fall (reg 78) applies to any fall that could injure. Two metres is only the trigger that makes a fall high risk construction work needing a SWMS in construction work (reg 291).

Your state or territoryWhat type of work at height is this?

Roughly how high is the work carried out?

Your duty to manage the risk of a fall applies to any fall that could injure — height does not switch the duty on or off. Height only affects whether it is high risk construction work.

Is this construction work?

Construction work includes building, alteration, repair, maintenance, demolition, excavation and related work on a structure. It only affects the high risk construction work / SWMS question — the fall-management duty applies either way.

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FairWork Mate is an independent commercial service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Fair Work Commission, or any Australian Government agency. Content is general information and estimates only — not legal, financial, or tax advice. Always verify with the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified professional.

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Working at Heights — What Controls Do I Need?

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