From 1 July 2026, any construction work in South Australia that involves a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres is high-risk construction work under the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012. The change was introduced through the WHS (High Risk Construction Work) Amendment Regulations 2025, and it tightens South Australia’s rules by bringing the state into line with the national model WHS approach already used in every other Australian jurisdiction.
Until 30 June 2026, the trigger in South Australia was a risk of falling more than 3 metres. The change is now in force and has broadened the definition, so if your work involves a risk of falling more than 2 metres, it is high-risk construction work and the compliance obligations that come with that classification apply from day one.
What the regulation says (2m vs 3m)
SafeWork SA summarises the change in plain terms:
Current definition (in effect from 1 July 2026): “High risk construction work means construction work that involves a risk of a person falling more than 2m.”
Previous definition (in place until 30 June 2026): South Australia’s Regulations defined “high risk construction work” as work involving a risk of a person falling more than three metres.
In practical terms, the tightened definition now captures a broader range of work at height as high-risk construction work. This means SWMS planning and stronger controls are required for jobs that previously sat outside the high-risk category.
Why South Australia tightened the work-at-height threshold
The old 3-metre trigger point had been criticised for leaving a practical gap in controls on some sites, particularly on lower-level residential builds, where work between 2 and 3 metres often didn’t receive the same formal planning as higher work.
According to SafeWork SA, the three-metre threshold had contributed to increased risk for South Australian workers, with some workplaces relying on the higher threshold to avoid implementing adequate fall protection measures. A High-Risk Construction Work Subcommittee, chaired by SafeWork SA and including industry groups, unions, the Australian Institute of Health and Safety, and a Voice of Industrial Death representative, reviewed the injury data and recommended adopting the national “more than two metres” definition. That recommendation is now law.
For businesses, the message is simple: work-at-height hazards from 2 metres upward must now be treated seriously, with documented controls built into job planning rather than relying on informal practices.
What this means on site now: SWMS and controls for work above 2 metres
Since 1 July 2026, any construction work with a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres is classified as high-risk construction work in South Australia. This is no longer a future change; it’s the current rule.
The broadened definition raises compliance expectations for PCBUs, principal contractors and subcontractors right now. It’s most relevant for tasks commonly performed between 2 and 3 metres, including work on roofs, ladders, trestles, scaffolds, elevated platforms and edges.
Key compliance requirements now in effect:
- A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) must be prepared before work starts, identifying hazards and control measures.
- Work must be carried out in accordance with the SWMS.
If your projects involve potential falls above 2 metres, access planning, edge protection, fall restraint/arrest (where appropriate), and supervision all need to be locked in before workers start the job, not after they’re already exposed.
Importantly, this change doesn’t alter the fundamental duty to provide a safe workplace. It changes when construction work is classified as “high risk”, which is what triggers these specific obligations.
Why it matters: preventing falls from height in construction
Falls from height remain a leading cause of serious injury and death in the construction industry. By bringing 2–3 metre work into the high-risk category, SafeWork SA’s approach drives earlier hazard identification, stronger fall prevention controls and better documentation, particularly for short-duration tasks where risks can be underestimated.
SafeWork SA has also folded education on the amended Regulations into its Construction Industry Targeted Campaigns across 2025/2026, focusing on medium and large construction businesses, labour hire companies, and young workers registered with training organisations, backed by both proactive and reactive audits.
Anchor Safe takeaway: what to do now that the change is live
This amendment marks a clear shift toward earlier risk control and tighter compliance expectations for working at height in South Australia, and that shift has now taken effect. If your projects include roof work, ladder access, scaffold work, edge work or elevated platforms in the 2–3 metre range, you should already be operating under the new rules. If you haven’t yet updated your systems, now is the time.
Action checklist for PCBUs and contractors:
- Update SWMS templates and pre-start planning to treat all work above 2 metres as high-risk construction work.
- Check your height safety equipment (anchors, harnesses, lanyards, static lines) is suitable, inspected and used correctly.
- Confirm compliant access, edge protection and fall prevention controls are selected for each task (not one-size-fits-all).
- Review any jobs currently underway in the 2–3 metre range to confirm they now meet high-risk construction work requirements.
Anchor Safe can help you get compliant with height safety systems, site-specific advice and practical installation solutions for working at height.