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Under Managing risk of falls at workplaces · made under Work Health and Safety Act 2011

Scope and Legal Status of the Code

Legislation date 20 Mar 2020
Medium severity
FEDERAL · Code of Practice Managing risk of falls at workplaces > Scope & Legal Status § Introduction
The obligation
The Code is an approved code of practice under s 274 WHS Act, applicable to all workplaces where a fall from one level to another could reasonably cause injury.
The Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces is approved under s 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act. It applies to any workplace covered by the WHS Act and WHS Regulations where a risk of fall from one level to another exists. Following the code is not mandatory but provides a defence: a duty holder who complies will ordinarily have satisfied their obligations under the Act and Regulations. Jurisdictions must formally adopt it for it to have legal effect locally.
What
The Code is an approved code of practice under s 274 WHS Act, applicable to all workplaces where a fall from one level to another could reasonably cause injury.
Source
safeworkaustralia.gov.au

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What's happened with this Topic

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20 Mar 2020 · New
1 update tracked. This law has changed and been enforced.

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falls WHS Act code of practice scope
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Frequently asked questions

Which WHS law does this come from?

Scope and Legal Status of the Code is a WHS requirement set out in Managing risk of falls at workplaces (FEDERAL). It is made under Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (FEDERAL). The relevant provision is Managing risk of falls at workplaces > Scope & Legal Status § Introduction.

What does this WHS obligation require?

Scope and Legal Status of the Code is a WHS obligation under Managing risk of falls at workplaces (FEDERAL). In short, The Code is an approved code of practice under s 274 WHS Act, applicable to all workplaces where a fall from one level to another could reasonably cause injury.

What changed recently?

Scope and Legal Status of the Code was last updated on 26 August 2026.

Where this sits

Managing risk of falls at workplaces Work Health and Safety Act 2011 Federal Australia

About this Topic

Updates tracked1
Monitoring detail
First seenAug 2026