Minimum Height for Fall Protection (US, Canada, UK & Australia)

If you’ve ever stood on a platform or edge and wondered, “Am I supposed to be tied off here?”, trust me—you’re not alone. I’ve heard that exact question more times than I can count. And here’s the kicker: the answer changes depending on where you are and what you’re doing.

Different countries have different ideas about how high is “too high” to work without fall protection. Some are strict at 4 feet, others don’t blink until 10 feet, and a few say: “It depends… let’s talk about it.”

So, instead of leaving you guessing—or worse, arguing with your supervisor at the jobsite trailer—let’s break down the minimum heights for fall protection in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia the same way I’d explain it to a new worker leaning nervously over a mezzanine railing.

Country	Industry / Work Type	Minimum Height Where Fall Protection Is Required	Notes / Exceptions
United States	General Industry (OSHA 1910)	4 ft (1.2 m)	Applies to platforms, walkways, pits, mezzanines, etc.
United States	Construction (OSHA 1926)	6 ft (1.8 m)	Most common threshold for edges, openings, leading edges, etc.
United States	Scaffolding	10 ft (3 m)	Guardrails or personal fall arrest required at 10 ft and above.
United States	Steel Erection	15 ft (4.6 m) typical	Connectors and some activities may have up to 30 ft depending on specific tasks.
United States	Residential Roofing	6 ft (1.8 m)	Same as construction; can use guardrails, safety nets, or PFAS.
Canada	Most Industries / Construction	3 m (≈10 ft)	CSA-based; followed by many provinces (e.g., ON, AB, BC, MB, SK, NS, etc.).
Canada	Work Below 3 m With Extra Hazards	< 3 m (varies by province)	Some provinces require protection at lower heights if there are added risk factors.
United Kingdom	Any Work at Height	No fixed height – risk-based	Fall protection required whenever a fall could cause injury (Work at Height Regs).
United Kingdom	Common Site Practice	~2 m (≈6.5 ft) internal company rules	Many employers set their own trigger height around 2 m, even though law is risk-based.
Australia	Construction / General Work at Height	2 m (≈6.5 ft)	WHS Regulations generally require control measures at 2 m and above.
Australia	Work Below 2 m With High Risk	< 2 m (situation-based)	Protection required if near edges, voids, fragile roofs, slopes, etc.

Why Minimum Fall Protection Height Even Matters

Before we jump into measurements and national rules, here’s something I’ve learned in my years dealing with jobsite safety:

The ground doesn’t care which country you’re standing in. A fall hurts the same everywhere.

But rules matter because:

• They tell you when you’re required to protect yourself.
• They help employers avoid fines (and trust me, they can get ugly).
• They give workers a clear line: “Above this height, you need protection.”

And here’s another truth based on real-world experience:
Most injuries don’t happen from crazy high elevations. Plenty of bad falls happen at less than 10 feet—even as low as 4 or 5 feet. So yeah, these minimum heights aren’t random.

Alright, let’s get into each country and which one is the most strict.

Comparison of Strictness Levels (By Minimum Fall Protection Height)

Country	Lowest Trigger Height	Strictness Level (1 = Most Strict)	Comments
United States	4 ft (1.2 m)	1 – Most Strict	Lowest minimum height; general industry requires fall protection at 4 ft.
Australia	2 m (≈6.5 ft)	2	National WHS rule uses 2 m; strict for construction and roofing.
United Kingdom	Risk-based (no fixed height)	3	No set number, but often enforced around 2 m; depends on risk assessment.
Canada	3 m (≈10 ft)	4 – Least Strict	Highest threshold; most provinces follow the 3-meter rule.

United States (OSHA) — The Land of 4 ft, 6 ft, and 10 ft

If you work in the US, you’ve probably heard someone scream “Six feet!” across a jobsite at least once a week. That’s because OSHA actually has three commonly used thresholds depending on the work being done. And if you don’t keep them straight, you’ll get corrected real fast.

Let’s break it down simple:

1. General Industry: 4 Feet

If you’re in a warehouse, plant, or non-construction setting, the magic number is 4 feet.
Why so low? Because indoors you’ve got:

• Wet floors
• Platforms
• Catwalks
• Conveyor walkways
• Machinery pits

One slip and bam—you’re out for 6 weeks.

I’ve been inside facilities where workers forget that 4 feet is the rule and think construction’s 6-foot rule applies everywhere. Nope. OSHA treats general industry differently.

2. Construction: 6 Feet

This is the one most folks know. On construction sites, you need fall protection at 6 feet.

Roofing alone has a whole army of OSHA officers watching—you’ll hear “Six feet, tie off!” shouted across rooftops all day long. I once watched an entire roofing crew get shut down because one guy thought leaning over the edge “for five seconds” didn’t count. OSHA didn’t find it funny.

3. Scaffolding: 10 Feet

Here’s where US workers get confused.
When you’re on scaffolding, fall protection doesn’t kick in until 10 feet.

But—and here’s the part newer workers miss—not tying off doesn’t mean you can work recklessly. Scaffolding still requires:

• Guardrails
• Midrails
• Safe access points

No free-climbing allowed.

4. Steel Erection: 15 to 30 Feet

Ironworkers have their own rulebook (and a lot of courage, too).
Typically:

• 15 feet for general steel erection.
• Up to 30 feet for some connectors and deckers depending on the task.

I’ve seen ironworkers walk beams like they’re strolling at the mall. Not something I recommend if you like living.

Canada — The “It’s Almost Always 3 Meters” System

When I first started looking into Canadian standards, one thing became clear fast: Canada loves the 3-meter rule (about 10 feet). It shows up in almost every province, every code, every guide.

But here’s what makes Canada interesting:

1. Most Provinces: 3 Meters (10 Feet)

In Canada, fall protection generally kicks in at 3 meters, including:

• Ontario
• British Columbia
• Alberta
• Manitoba
• Saskatchewan
• Nova Scotia

That’s about 9.84 feet, but every safety inspector rounds it to 10 feet—because nobody wants to measure in decimals while dangling off a roof.

Why is it 3 meters?

Because Canada follows CSA (Canadian Standards Association), which pushes updates regularly and focuses heavily on analyzing fall incidents. And guess what they found?

Most serious injuries happen above 10 feet.

2. Some Provinces Add Extra Triggers

This is where folks get tripped up.

Examples:

• BC requires protection even below 3 meters in the presence of certain hazards.
• Ontario adds extra rules for specific tasks like formwork and roofing.

3. “Different Province, Different Rules” Reality

I’ve worked with Canadian crews who move between provinces, and every time someone says, “Isn’t it the same everywhere?” someone else quickly jumps in with:
“No, not in Alberta…”
“No, that’s BC’s version…”
“No, Ontario requires this…”

So yeah, when in Canada, always check your province.

United Kingdom — The Country That Doesn’t Give a Specific Height

When I first learned the UK system, I thought, “Wait… what? How does this even work?”

The UK doesn’t set a minimum height like 4 ft or 6 ft.
Instead, the rule is:

If there’s any risk of falling where a person could be injured, you need fall protection.

This comes from the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

So what does that mean in real life?

1. No Magic Number

You could be:

• 2 feet off the ground
• 4 feet
• 10 feet
• 30 feet

Doesn’t matter. If you could fall and get hurt, you must protect yourself.

Honestly, this approach makes sense. I’ve seen workers in the US fall from just 3 or 4 feet and end up with busted ankles or wrists.

2. Risk-Based Instead of Height-Based

The UK focuses on:

• The severity of potential injury
• The workplace situation
• Surfaces below (soft vs hard)
• Access routes
• Weather conditions

Basically, the UK looks at the whole scenario, not just a number.

3. Most UK Job Sites Are Very Strict

Even though there’s no fixed height, most UK employers follow strict internal rules (usually around 2 meters or 6.5 feet). Site managers don’t take chances, and they definitely don’t want HSE showing up.

Australia — The “2-Meter Rule” (Plus Lots of Situational Triggers)

Australia reminds me of the UK, but with a simpler number to remember:

If you’re at 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) or more, you need fall protection.

This comes from the various Australian Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations.

1. National Standard: 2 Meters (6.5 Feet)

Most Australian job sites use this as their standard height, especially for:

• Construction
• Roofing
• Scaffolding
• Maintenance work

When I worked with a few Aussie supervisors, they’d always say, “If you’re above the head of a tall person climbing up, tie off.”

2. Australia Has Lots of Situational Triggers Too

Even if you’re below 2 meters, fall protection is required if:

• You’re working near an edge
• There’s a hole or roof opening
• The surface is fragile
• You’re working on a sloped roof
• You’re using elevated machinery

I’ve seen Aussie crews tied off at surprisingly low heights because the jobsite layout made the risk higher.

3. State-Level Differences

Much like Canada, Australia’s states add their own flavor:

• NSW
• Queensland
• Victoria
• Western Australia

Each has additional guidelines, but the 2-meter rule stays consistent.

So… Which Country Is the Strictest?

Here’s the quick breakdown from most strict to least strict:

1. United States – 4 ft (lowest threshold)
2. Australia – 2 m ≈ 6.5 ft
3. United Kingdom – no set height, but practically very strict
4. Canada – 3 m ≈ 10 ft (highest threshold)

But honestly? Strict or not, every country is trying to do the same thing: stop workers from falling and getting hurt.

Same Task, Different Height Rules

Let’s say you’re working on a platform doing maintenance:

Country	Fall Protection Required At
US (General Industry)	4 ft
US (Construction)	6 ft
Canada	10 ft (3 m)
Australia	6.5 ft (2 m)
UK	Any height where injury is possible

Why These Numbers Matter More Than People Realize

From experience, here are the three biggest mistakes workers make:

1. Thinking the rule is the same everywhere

Nope. It changes by country, by industry, and by task.

2. Assuming a small height is “safe enough”

I’ve seen broken arms, twisted backs, and concussions from falls under 6 feet. Happens fast.

3. Not checking the special cases

Ladders, scaffolding, leading edges, steel erection—these all have their own rules.

My Advice After Seeing Hundreds of Job Sites

If you want the simple version, here it is:

When in doubt, tie off.

It’s easier to explain to a supervisor why you chose more protection
than explain to a doctor why you didn’t.

Always check your local rules.

Even within the same country, the rules shift from industry to industry.

Focus less on “minimum height” and more on “actual risk.”

That’s the difference between covering the basics… and going home every day safe.

Final Thoughts

Fall protection rules can be confusing—especially when you’re comparing the US, Canada, UK, and Australia. But knowing the minimum heights gives you a solid starting point and helps you avoid mistakes that could cost you a fine… or worse.

Here’s the bottom line:

• US: 4 ft (general), 6 ft (construction), 10 ft (scaffolds)
• Canada: 3 m / 10 ft
• UK: No minimum height—risk-based
• Australia: 2 m / 6.5 ft

Whether you’re a worker, supervisor, or safety trainer, understanding these numbers helps you stay compliant and keep the crew safe.