From 1 July 2026, South Australia lowered the height at which construction work becomes “high-risk” from 3 metres to 2 metres — bringing it into line with the national model regulations and states like Queensland, which already use 2 metres. Any construction work with a risk of a fall of more than 2 metres now requires a Safe Work Method Statement before work starts.
Key facts at a glance
- The change: South Australia’s Work Health and Safety (High Risk Construction Work) Amendment Regulations 2025 dropped the fall threshold for high-risk construction work from 3 metres to 2 metres, effective 1 July 2026.
- What it triggers: a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) must be prepared before high-risk construction work begins.
- Why it matters: between 2020 and 2022, 149 South Australian construction workers fell from above 2 metres — and 68% of those falls were in the 2-to-3-metre band now captured.
- The national picture: the 2-metre threshold matches the national model WHS regulations; Queensland already applies it.
- Don’t misread it: 2 metres is the trigger for a SWMS in high-risk construction work — the general legal duty to manage falls applies to any fall that could cause injury, with no blanket “2-metre rule”.
- The capability: nationally recognised working-at-heights training (RIIWHS204E) is how workers and employers demonstrate competence to work at height safely.
What changed in South Australia on 1 July 2026?
Under the previous 3-metre threshold, much of the roof and edge work on single-storey homes sat just below the “high-risk construction work” line — meaning a Safe Work Method Statement was not legally required. From 1 July 2026, the majority of that work now crosses the line. SafeWork SA framed the change as bringing the state into step with the national model, closing a gap that let some residential builders rely on the higher threshold.
SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell put it plainly: the change means “employers can no longer erroneously rely on the higher height threshold to avoid providing adequate fall protection, particularly in the residential sector.”
Does the 2-metre threshold mean falls under 2 metres don’t matter?
No — and this is the most common misunderstanding. The 2-metre figure is the trigger for classifying work as high-risk construction work, which requires a documented Safe Work Method Statement. It is not the point at which the duty to manage falls “switches on”.
The distinction that matters: the general duty to manage the risk of falls applies to any fall that is reasonably likely to cause injury — there is no blanket height below which falls can be ignored. The 2-metre threshold simply determines when a SWMS becomes mandatory for construction work. Ladders, low roofs and mezzanines can all injure someone from well under 2 metres, and the duty still applies.
Why are regulators tightening the same rule nationally?
South Australia’s change is one signal in a broader pattern. On 1 July 2026, SafeWork NSW named falls from heights as one of just four regulatory priorities in its 2026-27 Regulatory Statement, noting that in the previous 12 months it had received over 600 fall-from-height incident reports, including five fatalities. The priority was carried over, the regulator said, because the harm has not reduced.
The national data explains why. Safe Work Australia’s most recent Key Work Health and Safety Statistics report (2024 data) records 24 worker deaths from falls from a height — 13% of all worker fatalities and the second-leading cause after vehicle incidents. Falls remain one of the most persistent killers on Australian worksites.
What do recent 2026 prosecutions show?
Recent cases show courts imposing six-figure penalties for falls involving unsafe systems of work, and regulators laying fresh charges — a reminder that the cost of getting height work wrong is measured in both human and financial terms.
| Development | Jurisdiction | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Fall threshold lowered to 2 m (1 Jul 2026) | South Australia | High-risk construction work now triggered at a 2 m fall risk; SWMS required |
| Falls named a 2026-27 priority (1 Jul 2026) | NSW | 600+ fall incidents and 5 fatalities reported in 12 months |
| Company fined $225,000 | NSW (Industrial Court) | Worker in a boom-lift basket flung ~11 m when a tree struck the platform; s32 breach |
| Two builders charged (3 Jun 2026) | Victoria | Alleged failure to provide a passive fall-prevention device after a balcony-ceiling fall (allegations to be tested) |
| Business fined $60,000 (13 Mar 2026) | Queensland (Brisbane Magistrates Court) | Labourer fell ~4 m from a second-floor balcony replacing balustrading; s32 breach |
In the NSW case, Mulligan Geotechnical was fined $225,000 in the Industrial Court of NSW after an unharnessed worker in an elevated work platform was thrown around 11 metres when a tree being felled nearby struck the boom lift, causing multiple broken bones — the judge noting the crew should not have started until an exclusion zone was in place and the worker was clipped in. In Queensland, a small construction business was fined $60,000 after a labourer fell about 4 metres from a balcony. These are systems failures, not freak accidents: the controls existed and were simply not used.
Who needs working-at-heights training — and how often?
Anyone whose work exposes them to a risk of falling — roofers, construction and trades workers, telecommunications and solar installers, warehouse and maintenance crews — should be trained to work safely at height. The nationally recognised unit is RIIWHS204E “Work safely at heights”, which FMS Training (RTO 45189) delivers in person at Lawnton, north of Brisbane. It is the practical, assessed credential that demonstrates a worker understands fall risks and controls.
There is no legislated expiry on the Statement of Attainment, but the Working at Height Association and most principal contractors recommend a refresher roughly every two years to keep skills and site access current — an industry expectation, not a legal deadline. A common myth worth clearing up: an EWP “Yellow Card” is a voluntary industry credential, not a legal requirement — don’t confuse it with the licensing for larger boom-type elevating work platforms. If you’re weighing up what your team needs, our guides to the working-at-heights ticket in Brisbane, the Queensland heights regulations and how often to refresh break it down.
Frequently asked questions
What changed for working at heights on 1 July 2026?
South Australia lowered the fall-height threshold for high-risk construction work from 3 metres to 2 metres. From that date, construction work with a risk of a fall of more than 2 metres requires a Safe Work Method Statement, matching the national model and states such as Queensland.
What is the 2-metre rule for working at heights?
The “2-metre rule” is the threshold at which construction work is classified as high-risk construction work, triggering a mandatory Safe Work Method Statement. It is not the height at which the duty to manage falls begins — that duty applies to any fall reasonably likely to cause injury.
Do falls under 2 metres still need to be managed?
Yes. There is no height below which falls can be ignored. The general duty to manage fall risks applies to any fall that could cause injury; the 2-metre figure only determines when a SWMS is legally required for construction work.
Does Queensland use the 2-metre threshold?
Yes. Queensland already applies the 2-metre high-risk-construction-work threshold under the national model regulations. South Australia’s change brought it into line with Queensland and the other jurisdictions.
Is a Safe Work Method Statement the same as heights training?
No. A Safe Work Method Statement is a site document that plans how high-risk work will be done safely. Working-at-heights training (RIIWHS204E) is the nationally recognised course that gives workers the underlying competence — both are needed.
Do I need an EWP Yellow Card to work at heights?
No. The EWP Yellow Card is a voluntary industry credential, not a legal requirement. Larger boom-type elevating work platforms are covered by high risk work licensing, which is a separate matter from working-at-heights training.
How often should working-at-heights training be refreshed?
There is no legislated expiry, but industry bodies and most principal contractors recommend refreshing about every two years to keep competency and site access current.
Where can I do accredited working-at-heights training near Brisbane?
FMS Training (RTO 45189) delivers the nationally recognised RIIWHS204E “Work safely at heights” course in person at Lawnton, north of Brisbane.