About Work at Height

Learn the definitions for Work at Height. And find out about related laws, industry standards and key statistics.

Definition: Work at Height

Work at height (WAH) is defined as the following work:

Work

Examples

Work in an elevated workplace.


Scaffold without proper guard rails

Work near an open edge.

Open edge of building under construction without proper barricade

Work near a floor opening.


Floor opening caused by removal of grating

Work on a fragile surface.

Fragile roof skylight

Any other work environment (whether above or below ground) that poses a fall-from-height or fall-into-depth risk.

N.A.

Laws and Industry Standards

As an employer, you are expected to comply with Singapore's WSH laws. You should pay particular attention to:

You should also observe relevant industry standards, such as:

Please refer to the WSH (Approved Codes of Practice) Notification (PDF) for the full list of approved Codes of Practice.

Statistics

  • Falls are the top contributor to workplace deaths.
  • More than a third of the yearly total workplace fatalities are due to falls.
  • Though fatal falls usually occur in high-risk industries such as construction, they also take place in other industries (where workers may be required to work at height (e.g. on ladders or roofs).

Refer to Workplace Safety and Health Reports for the latest WSH National Statistics Report.