General information
In New Zealand, many serious and fatal accidents happen each year as a result of falls.
With the University undertaking a variety of work from heights, there are significant risks.
It's not just maintenance carried out near the edge of buildings that is a risk for those undertaking it. There are also staff, students and contractors in offices who use step ladders or who operate in environments where they need to work at heights.
Risk assessments
A variety of equipment is used to access work areas at height. To prevent falls and the serious harm that could result from a fall, it is important that comprehensive risk assessments are undertaken to determine the safest way to carry out an activity.
Read more: Risk assessments
Standard and procedures
Read the University's standard and the procedures that support it.
Useful resources
The following link is to a resource available to staff only.
- Working at heights safety checklist (DOCX 42.3 KB)
- Worksafe: Working at height information page
- Worksafe: Scaffolding in New Zealand
Guidance documents
Document Control
Version: 1.0
Last Updated: Dec 2019
Next Review: Dec 2022
Owner: hsw@auckland.ac.nz
Approver: Associate Director, Health Safety & Wellbeing