Start the New Year with Safety in Mind: Essential Height Safety Resolutions for 2025
As we head into 2025, many of us are undoubtedly setting new goals and plans for the year ahead. Yet for those of us who work at heights, prioritising safety should always be at the top of this list.
This month’s blog will look at essential safety resolutions for height safety specialists and companies in the rope access and height safety industry, such as reviewing equipment, refreshing training certifications, updating risk assessments, and staying informed about the latest safety standards and innovations.
Reflecting on last year
Sadly, working at heights remains a leading cause of occupational injury in Australia, and is among the leading causes of worker deaths. According to SafeWork NSW, falls from heights account for more than half of all injuries and 44% of workers’ compensation claims in the construction sector. Fortunately, in 2024, Australia experienced a renewed focus on improving height safety in the workplace through a variety of initiatives, including a SafeWork NSW campaign aiming to reduce the risk of falls from heights and securing safer work sites.Top safety resolutions for 2025
Workplace safety remains paramount for Kerrect, and we go out of our way to ensure our team of height safety experts uphold safety standards on every worksite. We believe that workplace safety is not only a legal obligation, but also a moral responsibility for every employer and employee. A safe work environment is more than just preventing deaths and injuries, it’s about reducing costs, increasing productivity and improving morale. Furthermore, it requires commitment, awareness and action from everyone involved. As a result, it’s imperative to ensure work tasks are planned in advance, are assessed and supervised. It’s also necessary for the proper selection, provision, inspection and maintenance of the most appropriate equipment, to both prevent a fall from occurring and minimise the distance and consequences of any potential fall on every worksite. It seems obvious, but proper training and professional development are also non-negotiable for upholding safety in 2025.Training and certificate refresher
Without proper training, the dangers when working at heights are amplified and obtaining the right qualifications is crucial for ensuring safety on the job. Without adequate knowledge and safe work practices, you’re putting yourself, as well as your team, in grave danger. As an organisation, investing in quality training means you’re not only compliant with Australia’s legal requirements, but you’re also safeguarding the well-being of your colleagues.Safety- it’s a team effort
A work environment that encourages and promotes working safely at heights will undoubtedly ensure a high morale amongst your workers, leaving them feeling confident that their interests are being taken care of. It will also lead to enhanced productivity, as your team will feel confident to complete the task at hand, knowing the site is secure and that they too are being looked after. Whether you’re an employee or employer, safety is everyone’s responsibility and Kerrect, who take pride in ensuring the utmost safety of every site they work on, encourage you to ensure every job you undertake, prioritises safety.New safety technology in 2025
It seems crazy that 2025 is already almost upon us, and we believe that keeping one step ahead of the safety trends and regulatory changes will help you plan budget allocations, prioritise your projects and keep your employees safe. Some of the new technologies regarding safety whilst working at heights that we’re excited about include:- Robots that can carry out specific tasks at height, enabling workers to keep their feet on the ground.
- Drones that can be used to conduct site surveys or inspections, providing teams with visual data for analysis and planning.
- AI tools that can interpret data to help assess, interpret and predict or report on risks, enabling more proactive safety planning, management and response.
- Wearable tech (sensors) that detect worker movements or location in real time, collect data and proactively manage safety.
- Equipment sensors that sound an alarm and halt operations if the equipment is not safe to use. Virtual reality or augmented reality tools, for safety training.
- Computer vision solutions that can detect whether fall protection systems and PPE are being utilised correctly.
