Safety when working at heights - tips given after spate of falls

Medical teams were dispatched to Wee Waa on January 7, Aberdeen on the 13th and Narrabri on the 14th after three men all sustained falls in those areas.

The spate of incidents left three men suffered potentially life-changing - if not life-threatening - injuries.

At least two of the falls having been in a rural setting, AgHealth Australia spokesman Tony Lower said people on properties could take simple safety steps.

"Unfortunately, falls come up quite frequently, particularly in the injury data, so it's quite a common occurrence on farms," the honorary associate professor said.

However, "good planning and good operations will help to alleviate the problems".

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"The first step is to try to see if you can undertake the work without climbing to a height," he said.

"Secondly, if you do have to climb, make sure you have suitable precautions in place in terms of supports and falls protection, such as a harness; there all sorts of apparatus that can be used to prevent a fall."

In the most recent incident, a man fell up to 13 metres from a shed near Narrabri, suffering possible spinal injuries.

NSW Ambulance and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (WRHS) were called to the property east of town on Tuesday morning.

A WRHS spokesman said a 50-year-old man had been resheeting a large hay shed and had apparently fallen from the roof.

The incident came the day after an elderly man fell from a ladder on a property at Aberdeen in the Upper Hunter.

Shortly after 6.30pm on Monday, the WRHS and NSW Ambulance were tasked to help an 84-year-old who had fallen about six metres.

Paramedics treated him at the scene for lower limb fractures and possible pelvic injuries.

The week before, a 71-year-old suffered chest injuries after falling from machinery, in an accident on a property near Wee Waa.