Height safety consultants for Melbourne buildings
Anyone whose building gets worked on at height carries a legal duty to make that work safe. Height safety consulting is how you meet it: we assess the fall risks on a building, design or review the systems that control them, and certify the equipment those systems rely on, so maintenance and access stay compliant with WorkSafe Victoria rather than becoming a liability.
That work rests on the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the OHS Regulations 2017, which put the duty on the building owner to eliminate or reduce the risk of a fall so far as is reasonably practicable. The law sets an order for doing that:
Level | Control | When it is used |
Level 1 (preferred) | Eliminate the risk, or work from solid construction (for example, pre-fabricating at ground level). | Always the first duty: remove the risk if you can. |
Level 2 | Passive fall prevention: scaffolds, EWPs, guardrailing. | Where Level 1 is not reasonably practical. |
Level 3 | Work-positioning system: industrial rope access. | Only where the higher levels are not practical. Needs more operator competency and supervision. |
Whatever level a job lands on, any work with a fall risk of two metres or more needs a Safe Work Method Statement written before it starts, setting out the hazards, the controls, and the qualifications and training the work requires. Preparing those is part of what we do.
Anchor points: certification and inspection
Most of what makes rope access safe comes down to the anchor points, so we install, repair and certify them to Australian standards. The rules are specific:
- The roof or structure an anchor fixes to is checked by a competent person as suitable to hold it.
- Every anchor is checked by eye before use.
- A fixed anchor in regular use is inspected by a competent person at least every six months.
- Any anchor found impaired is tagged and kept out of use until it is repaired and re-inspected as safe.
What it costs
We quote on the building. The price moves on how tall and complex it is, what the job actually is (a full system design, a SWMS, or recertifying existing anchors), and the state of any anchors already there, since impaired ones need repair, tagging and re-inspection. Our consultants and technicians hold IRATA/ARAA certification and Working at Heights and inspection tickets.
Tell us about the building and we will advise what the height safety system actually needs.
Frequently asked questions
What Victorian laws regulate height safety work?
Height safety in Victoria is governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OHS Act) and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017. These laws outline health and safety duties for workplaces. Failing to follow an approved compliance code can be used as evidence of an OHS offence in legal proceedings.
How often do fixed roof anchors need certification?
Permanently fixed anchor points used for fall prevention must be inspected by a competent person at least every six months if in regular use. If anchors are used infrequently, they must be inspected before anyone uses them. Technicians also complete a visual inspection of all anchorages prior to connecting equipment.
What safety documents are required for high-risk work at height?
For high-risk construction work where fall risks exceed two metres, consultants see that a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is written before work starts. The SWMS details job hazards, risks and safety control measures. A general risk assessment is also required prior to starting work to verify operations follow the written plan.
What certifications should height safety consultants hold?
Height safety consultants and high-access technicians should hold IRATA or ARAA credentials. Essential qualifications also include a Working at Heights certificate and a Height Safety & Inspection certification. These credentials demonstrate practical competence in complex rope access techniques, anchor inspections, site safety protocols and emergency rescue procedures.
Where does industrial rope access sit in the hierarchy of control?
The hierarchy of control ranks risk management measures from most effective to least effective. Eliminating height risks completely is Level 1. Industrial rope access is classified as a Level 3 control measure for work positioning. It is used when Level 2 controls, such as scaffolding or an EWP, are not reasonably practicable.
WHY US
What you get with every job
IRATA/ARAA-certified technicians on every job, with rescue and work-positioning competencies.
Rope access means no structure on the ground, no permits for hoardings and no closed footpaths.
Public Liability cover and WorkCover for every employee - details supplied with the quote.
You get a documented scope, a Safe Work Method Statement and a photo report on completion.
Our crews have worked on ropes since 2013, with more than 100 years of combined experience across the team - and every job runs to written contract terms.
What affects the price of height safety consultants
Every building is quoted after we have seen it. These are the factors that move the number up or down - ask us about any of them and we will explain how they apply to your site.
| Height and access method | Rope access, elevated work platform or suspended platform - the method is chosen for the building, and it sets the crew size and setup time. |
| Surface area and condition | Heavy soiling, salt, traffic film or construction residue take longer and need specialised products. |
| Facade complexity | Recesses, angled or domed glazing, tight gaps between buildings and heritage detailing all slow the descent down. |
| Access and anchor points | Buildings with certified anchor points are quicker to set up. If there are none, temporary systems or installation are quoted separately. |
| Scheduling | Work outside trading hours, staged access or occupied tenancies affect the programme. Regular maintenance cycles are cheaper per visit than one-off jobs. |
Quotes are free and carry no obligation. Where the work is subject to a compliance requirement, the quote states which standard it is carried out to.
Suburbs we cover
We work across greater Melbourne - from CBD towers to bayside and outer-suburban sites. If your suburb is not on the list, ask anyway: our crews travel across the metropolitan area and regularly work in regional Victoria.
Aberfeldie · Airport West · Armadale · Balaclava · Balwyn · Beaumaris · Bentleigh · Bentleigh East · Blairgowrie · Brighton · Brighton East · Brunswick · Carnegie · Caroline Springs · Caulfield · Caulfield North · Caulfield South · CBD · Chadstone · Coburg · Dandenong · Daylesford · Eltham · Elwood · Essendon · Footscray · Frankston · Gardenvale · Gisborne · Glenbervie · Glen Iris · Glenroy · Greenvale · Hampton · Heidelberg · Hillside · Ivanhoe · Keilor · Kew · Lilydale · Lower Plenty · Malvern · Malvern East · Maribyrnong · Melton · Moonee Ponds · Northcote · Oakleigh · Oak Park · Officer · Ormond · Parkville · Pascoe Vale · Port Melbourne · Prahran · Preston · Reservoir · Rye · St Kilda · St Kilda East · Strathmore · Sunbury · Sunshine · Taylors Hill · Toorak · Tarneit · Wantirna · Werribee · Williamstown
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