New Financial Year, New Safety Plan: WHS Priorities for FY27

The start of a new financial year is a useful reset point. Budgets are being reviewed, maintenance schedules are being updated, projects are being planned and teams are looking at what needs attention before small issues become expensive problems.

For facility managers, builders, asset owners and safety teams, FY27 is the right time to ask a bigger question:

Is your workplace safety plan keeping up with the way your site is actually being used?

Falls from height remain one of Australia’s most serious workplace safety risks. Safe Work Australia’s latest WHS statistics show that falls from height were the second leading cause of traumatic injury fatalities in 2024, accounting for 13% of worker fatalities. 

That is why a new financial year safety plan should not live in a folder and gather digital dust. It should be reviewed, updated and connected to the real conditions on site.

Why FY27 is the right time to review your WHS priorities

A lot can change across 12 months.

New equipment may have been installed. Contractors may be accessing different areas. Roof traffic may have increased. Maintenance requirements may have shifted. Older systems may no longer suit the way the building is being used.

The start of FY27 gives you a clear moment to pause and review:

• What safety risks need attention this year?
• Which systems need inspection, repair or replacement?
• Are access points still suitable?
• Are contractors able to work safely?
• Is documentation up to date?
• Are upcoming projects likely to create new risks?

Under WHS laws, a person conducting a business or undertaking, often referred to as a PCBU, has a primary duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that workers and other people are not exposed to health and safety risks. Safe Work Australia also notes that specific WHS regulations apply to risks including falls, falling objects, construction work, plant and other hazardous work. 

If people need to access risky areas of your site, your safety systems need to be ready for that work.

1. Review roof access and working-at-height risks

Roof access is one of the most important areas to review at the start of the financial year.

Many workplaces rely on roofs for access to air conditioning units, solar equipment, gutters, communications systems, skylights, vents and other building services. The issue is that roof areas are often treated as occasional-use zones, even when contractors may access them regularly.

Your FY27 review should look at:

• How people currently access the roof
• Whether ladders, stairs, hatches or walkways are suitable
• Whether edge protection, guardrails or fall protection systems are required
• Whether access paths are clear, logical and safe
• Whether the system suits the actual work being performed
• Whether old or temporary access arrangements are still being used

Safe Work Australia states that construction work involving a risk of falling more than two metres is high-risk construction work and requires a Safe Work Method Statement. While not every roof access task will fall into the same category, the message is clear: working at height needs proper planning, controls and documentation.

This is where permanent, purpose-designed access systems can make a major difference. A safe access system should help people move from entry point to work area without relying on guesswork, shortcuts or improvised routes.

2. Check whether your fall prevention controls are still appropriate

Fall prevention is not a “set and forget” item. A system that suited the site five years ago may no longer be suitable today.

WorkSafe Victoria’s guidance on fall prevention reinforces the importance of using the highest level of fall prevention that is reasonably practicable. That means looking beyond minimum effort and asking what level of protection best suits the task, environment and frequency of access.

As part of your FY27 plan, review whether your site needs:

• Guardrails
• Static lines
• Anchor points
• Roof walkways
• Step ladders
• Access hatches
• Plant platforms
• Stair access systems
• Fall arrest or fall restraint systems
• Signage and access controls

3. Audit ladders, stairs, walkways and access points

Access systems are only useful if they remain fit for purpose.

The new financial year is a good time to inspect the parts of your site that people use to move through risk areas. That includes ladders, stairways, roof walkways, platforms and hatches.

Look for signs of:

• Corrosion
• Loose fixings
• Damaged treads
• Inadequate guarding
• Slippery surfaces
• Poor lighting
• Unclear access points
• Unauthorised modifications
• Changes to the surrounding work area
• Systems that no longer align with current use

A walkway or ladder may look acceptable at a glance, but the real question is whether it supports safe, repeatable access for the people using it.

For example, if contractors need to carry tools, inspect plant or access a roof area during wet weather, a basic access route may not be enough. The safest solution may involve a more structured system that reduces exposure to open edges, fragile surfaces or awkward transitions.

4. Bring maintenance planning and WHS planning together

One of the biggest safety gaps in many facilities is the disconnect between maintenance planning and WHS planning.

Maintenance teams may know what needs servicing. Safety teams may know what risks exist. Finance teams may know what budget is available. But unless those conversations happen together, safety upgrades can get pushed into the “later” pile.

A better FY27 approach is to map your planned maintenance activities against access risks.

Ask:

• Which assets need regular inspection or servicing?
• Who needs to access them?
• How often will access be required?
• What equipment or system do they currently use?
• Is the access method safe, compliant and practical?
• Are there seasonal risks, such as wet, windy or hot conditions?
• Will upcoming building works create temporary access hazards?

This helps you identify where safety improvements should be planned before the work begins, not after a near miss, contractor complaint or failed inspection.

5. Update documentation before it becomes a problem

Good documentation does not replace safe systems, but it does help make safety easier to manage.

At the start of FY27, review your key WHS documents, including:

• Risk assessments
• Safe Work Method Statements
• Contractor induction documents
• Roof access procedures
• Maintenance access instructions
• Inspection records
• Asset registers
• Compliance reports
• Emergency procedures
• Training records

Safe Work Australia notes that PCBUs carrying out high-risk construction work must prepare, keep, comply with and review Safe Work Method Statements. Even where a SWMS is not required for every task, the habit of reviewing documentation is still a practical safeguard.

Documentation should match reality. If the system on paper does not reflect what happens on site, that is not a procedure. That is workplace fiction with a company logo.

6. Prioritise contractor safety

Many of the people exposed to roof access and height safety risks are contractors. They may be servicing HVAC systems, installing equipment, cleaning gutters, checking solar panels, inspecting cladding or carrying out general maintenance.

Because contractors are often moving between sites, they rely on clear access, safe systems and accurate instructions.

Your FY27 safety plan should consider:

• How contractors are inducted
• Whether access routes are clearly marked
• Whether roof entry points are controlled
• Whether contractors know which systems to use
• Whether anchor points, static lines or guardrails have current inspection records
• Whether maintenance tasks require special access equipment
• Whether emergency procedures are clear

Contractor safety is also a reputational issue. A site that is easy to access safely sends a clear message: this workplace is organised, professional and serious about risk.

7. Budget for prevention, not reaction

Safety upgrades often compete with other building expenses. That is why the new financial year is a smart time to plan ahead.

Reactive safety spending is usually more stressful, more expensive and less strategic. It often happens after an incident, audit finding, failed inspection or urgent project requirement.

Planned safety investment gives you more control.

You can:

• Stage upgrades across the year
• Align works with maintenance windows
• Coordinate with other building projects
• Reduce disruption
• Get proper advice before committing to a solution
• Avoid rushed decisions
• Build a stronger business case for approval

For many sites, the best first step is a practical review of existing roof access and height safety systems. From there, you can prioritise the areas that present the highest risk or the greatest operational need.

8. Make safety easier to follow

The best safety systems are not just compliant. They are usable.

If a system is confusing, hard to access or disconnected from how people actually work, people may avoid it. That is where risk creeps in.

When reviewing your FY27 WHS priorities, look at your site through the eyes of a contractor or maintenance worker arriving for the first time.

Can they tell where to go?
Is the access point obvious?
Is the safest route also the clearest route?
Are there unnecessary obstacles?
Does the system support the task they need to complete?

This is where smart design matters. A well-planned roof access or fall prevention system reduces decision-making in high-risk areas. It gives people a safer path and fewer opportunities to make the wrong call.

Your FY27 WHS planning checklist

Use this checklist as a starting point for your new financial year safety review.

Roof access

• Are all roof access points safe and controlled?
• Are ladders, stairs, hatches and walkways fit for purpose?
• Has roof traffic increased in the past 12 months?
• Are access routes clearly defined?

Fall prevention

• Are guardrails, static lines, anchor points or other systems required?
• Have existing systems been inspected?
• Are fall prevention controls suitable for the current work being performed?
• Are any temporary controls being used as long-term solutions?

Maintenance access

• Which plant and equipment need regular servicing?
• Can workers and contractors reach these areas safely?
• Are future maintenance projects likely to create new access risks?

Documentation

• Are SWMS, risk assessments and procedures current?
• Do documents reflect the real site conditions?
• Are inspection records easy to locate?
• Are contractor instructions clear?

Budget and planning

• Are safety upgrades included in FY27 budgets?
• Can works be staged across the year?
• Are urgent risks separated from nice-to-have improvements?
• Has expert advice been sought before committing to solutions?

Start FY27 with a safer site

A new financial year is a good time to sharpen the pencil, but it is also a good time to sharpen your safety plan.

For facility managers, builders and asset owners, WHS planning should be practical, site-specific and connected to the work people actually do every day. That means reviewing roof access, fall prevention, maintenance pathways, documentation and contractor safety before problems appear.

Workplace Defender can help review your site or plans, design compliant height safety systems and deliver installations suited to how the space will be used. 

If your FY27 safety plan includes roof access, ladders, walkways, plant platforms or fall prevention systems, now is the time to get ahead of it.

Need help reviewing your height safety priorities for FY27? Contact Workplace Defender to discuss a practical site review or compliant access solution.