Working at Height
Apply the avoid-prevent-minimise hierarchy and maintain suitable access, protection, inspection and rescue.
How to prepare for SSSTS
Connect each duty and hazard to the supervisor's workface sequence: check the task and RAMS, brief the team, establish controls, observe and intervene, then report and learn.
Core concepts
Concept 1
Work at height includes any place where a person could fall and be injured, including edges, openings and fragile surfaces.
Exam cue: Challenge whether the task can be done from ground level.
Concept 2
Avoid height where reasonably practicable, then use collective prevention before personal prevention or mitigation.
Exam cue: Select equipment from task duration, reach, loading and conditions, not convenience.
Concept 3
Plans must consider people, materials, falling objects, weather, access, inspection and emergency or rescue.
Exam cue: Check protection after alteration, impact, weather or other change.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Choosing a ladder because the task is brief without further assessment.
Guardrail: Do not use a signature, course certificate or verbal instruction as a substitute for a missing competent plan or physical control.
Relying on harnesses before collective edge protection.
Guardrail: Do not use a signature, course certificate or verbal instruction as a substitute for a missing competent plan or physical control.
Calling the fire service the entire rescue plan.
Guardrail: Do not use a signature, course certificate or verbal instruction as a substitute for a missing competent plan or physical control.
Memory anchors
Avoid, Prevent, Minimise
Follow the work-at-height hierarchy.
Collective Before Personal
Protect everyone without relying on behaviour.
Edge, Opening, Fragile
Identify all fall paths.
Plan the Rescue
Recovery must be timely and task specific.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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