WORKING AT HEIGHTS
Raising the bar on height safety Juanita Pienaar spoke with An-Lie Mostert, Trade Manager at the Institute for Work at Height (IWH), Brian Randall, CEO of the IWH, and Dr Alti Kriel, IWH Consultant, about the latest regulatory developments in work-at-height safety and what they mean for contractors, operators, and equipment suppliers across South Africa.
A shifting regulatory landscape Work at height has long been recognised as one of the most hazardous aspects of construction, maintenance, and industrial operations. Recent regulatory developments, however, signal a decisive shift towards stricter compliance, enhanced accountability, and a stronger emphasis on prevention. According to the IWH, the foundation remains the Construction Regulations of
remain fundamental, but the expectations around how they are implemented have increased significantly.” Key updates include the November 2024 amendment to the Driven Machinery Regulations, which introduces a formal training accreditation code, and the publication of the new SANS 10085-1:2024 scaffolding standard. Together, these developments tighten requirements around training, equipment design, and operational safety. “The introduction of the SANS 10085- 1:2024 standard is particularly important,” notes Dr. Alti Kriel. “While it is not legislation in itself, compliance is effectively expected under Section 44 of the OHSA. It strengthens requirements for scaffold design, erection, inspection, and use, which directly impacts how work at height is executed.” In parallel, a draft revision of the Construction Regulations was published in APRIL 2025 for public comment, reinforcing existing duties such as risk assessments
2014 under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). These regulations continue to require that all work at height be governed by a documented fall protection plan prepared by a competent person, alongside baseline risk assessments provided by clients. “What we are seeing now is not a replacement of the existing framework, but a reinforcement of it,” explains Brian Randall. “The Construction Regulations
The regulations are increasingly pushing for built-in safety features. The focus is on prevention rather than reaction.
Dr Alti Kriel, IWH Consultant.
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