Height Safety in WA (2025): What Applies Now & What’s Next
Falls remain a top cause of serious harm. In Western Australia during 2025, your everyday duties to manage the risk of falls still apply across workplaces. For construction, WA has extended the transition period before full enforcement, but the expectation is clear: use this window to lift controls, documentation, and rescue readiness. At the same time, updates around single-point anchor devices (AS 5532) continue to shape how anchors are specified, tested, and accepted in audits. This page explains what’s current, what’s coming, and how to stay audit-ready — with links to practical guides and a one-page checklist.
What’s in force today (WA)
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Risk management for any work where a fall is possible. Identify tasks at height, assess risks, and apply the hierarchy of control (eliminate → prevent → work-positioning → fall-arrest).
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Specific controls. For edges, openings, fragile surfaces and access, ensure physical protection (e.g., guardrails, covers, platforms) before relying on PPE.
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Rescue and emergency. You must have a documented, practicable rescue plan for any fall-arrest system in use — and keep rescue equipment serviceable and drills recorded.
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Evidence and records. Maintain an asset register (anchors, static lines, ladders/walkways), inspection/recert dates, defect rectification, and sign-offs that match the latest applicable standard.
Need a quick sense check? See the WA Height-Safety Checklist (download link below).
Construction vs non-construction — what’s different?
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Construction (2025): WA has extended the transition period before full enforcement of newer construction falls requirements. Treat 2025 as a readiness window: tighten your SWMS, rescue plans, anchor evidence and routine re-certs.
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Non-construction (general workplaces): Your duties to manage the risk of falls remain fully in force now. Most facilities (strata, schools, health, logistics) sit here.
Anchors & AS 5532 — what auditors expect
Even as standards evolve, audits consistently look for:
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Manufacturer evidence for anchor devices (design intent, test method/results, ratings);
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Installation records and layout plans matching the manufacturer’s instructions;
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In-service verification at the required intervals (recertification/inspection);
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Clear tagging & traceability to the asset register;
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Rescue feasibility for every area where fall-arrest might be used.
Tip: If your anchors were installed years ago, confirm the original evidence and test basis are still acceptable — and document any engineering or administrative controls that bridge gaps.
Checklist (preview)
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Tasks at height identified; controls applied in the right order.
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Edges/openings protected; fragile roofs assessed and controlled.
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Anchors/static lines tagged and in date; register up to date.
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Rescue plan documented and rehearsed in the last 6 months.
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Defects closed out with dated evidence.
Download the 1-page WA Height-Safety Checklist
How PRO HEIGHT helps (independent, WA-wide)
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Independent inspections (we don’t sell or install equipment)
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Audit-ready reports in 24 hours (asset IDs, defect photos, due-dates)
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Recert reminders & simple re-booking