STANDARD + VR Construction and EPC · Australia Updated October 13, 2026

Falls Prevention VR Training for Australian Construction (Model Code: Managing the Risk of Falls)

VR falls scenario on the Safe Work Australia model Code: work on the ground first, then passive protection, then work positioning and fall arrest.

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The Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice on falls explains how a PCBU should manage fall risk using the hierarchy of control: do the work on the ground or a solid surface where possible, then use passive fall prevention, then work positioning, and only then fall arrest. A VR site turns that order into real choices.

What the Rule Requires

Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces (Safe Work Australia): under the model WHS laws a person conducting a business or undertaking must manage the risk of falls by eliminating it where reasonably practicable, for example by doing the work on the ground, and otherwise minimising it through passive fall prevention devices, work positioning systems and fall arrest systems, in that order. Construction work with a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres is high risk construction work that needs a safe work method statement. Each state and territory adopts the model laws and codes in its own way.

The scenario is a two-storey townhouse build in western Sydney. The roof framers want to start before the perimeter scaffold is finished, a void for a staircase is open on the upper floor and a harness is offered as the quick fix.

Hazards in This Scenario

Falls from roof edges and frames
Falls through stair voids and penetrations
Fall arrest used where passive protection was practical
No rescue plan for a suspended worker

The Procedure the Scenario Rehearses

Ask whether the task can be done on the ground
Finish edge protection or scaffold before access
Cover or barricade voids
Use positioning or arrest only where higher controls are not practical
Follow the SWMS for work above 2 metres
Confirm the rescue plan

Mistakes the Scenario Is Built to Catch

Starting before the scaffold is complete
Harness as the first answer
Open void left unmarked
SWMS signed but not read

Competence Assessment Matrix

Decision point	What the assessor sees	Pass standard
Eliminate	Ground-level option	Considered first
Passive	Edge protection	Complete before access
Voids	Stair void	Covered or barricaded
SWMS	Work above 2 metres	Followed

What VR Covers

The hierarchy of control as live choices
Voids and edges in realistic places
Height exposure with no fall risk
Decision records per worker

What VR Does Not Replace

A site-specific SWMS
Hands-on harness and rescue training
Supervisor checks of edge protection

Scope of a One-Scenario Pilot

A pilot builds this scenario as a single module, in Unity or Unreal Engine depending on the visual fidelity the task needs and the headsets on site. It runs on standalone headsets, logs every learner decision, and exports a per-person record for your training file. It is measured against your current method with a test cohort before anything is scaled.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the falls hierarchy in Australia?

Eliminate the risk where practicable, then use passive fall prevention, then work positioning, then fall arrest, supported by administrative controls.

When is a SWMS required for falls?

Construction work with a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres is high risk construction work that needs a safe work method statement.

Do all states use the model Code?

Most jurisdictions adopt the model laws and codes, with local variations, and Victoria runs its own OHS laws.

Want this scenario built around your site?

We review your current procedure and tell you which parts can be rehearsed in VR and which still need hands-on practice.

Map Your Highest-Risk Scenario