Total Height Safety (THS) was created in 2001 by the merger of three leading companies in the height safety, rescue, arboriculture and rigging industries.
These three companies had unique expertise and a proven presence in such areas as vertical and confined spaces rescue, mining, defence, construction and property maintenance, power transmission, geotechnical, arboriculture, emergency services, communications, stunt and film, and theatrical and stage.
In 2003, THS merged with SERTAC, a training business that specialised in safety and emergency response.
In 2004, THS became a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). This meant THS could offer customers nationally recognised units of competency and qualifications at full certificate levels.
At the same time THS’s training division management system was certified against ISO 9001 (Quality Assurance) and AS4801 (OH&S).
In between 2005 and 2007 attained the ISO 9001 and AS4801 certifications across its remaining divisions – consultancy and contracting, followed by sales. By 2007, THS achieved its certification in Environment Management. Full certification means that customers can have confidence that THS offers an integrated management system (IMS).
In 2011, THS became a Petzl Technical Partner. One of the benefits of this association for customers is that THS can offer the option of an international certification for PPE inspection qualifications.
In late 2014 THS merged with Revolution Safety and this bought Revolution Safety’s particular skills in height safety, confined space operations, WHS, risk management and rope access into the mix.
In 2020, THS attained ISO 45001 (OH&S) across all divisions.
All in all THS has a history going back to 1977, and has had ongoing influence on the development of safety equipment, its usage and training in the height and rescue industries.
Rescue Equipment was established in 1977 to provide expert training and specialised equipment supply to the rescue services segment as well as to industrial users of height access, height safety and height rescue equipment.
In fact, the directors of the company were instrumental in the creation of the accreditation for Australian Light Weight Vertical Rescue Instructors when they saw an increasing need for this type of training in the vertical environment. The expertise developed in the difficult rescue and industrial environments ensured consulting work with the stunt, film and theatre areas.
Extreme Rigging Services had a long history of industrial rope access experience and was one of the founding members of the Industrial Rope Access Association (now the Australian Rope Access Association). The company worked closely with the Work Cover Authority and other organizations to develop the rope access industry. The associated methods and techniques are now the widely accepted and used systems of today.
The company’s focus was always on developing and promoting light-weight access and working systems using rope. The results were frequently put into action with the successful completion of contracts involving remote and very difficult access operations in a wide variety of environments including rock cuttings, bridges and towers.
Urban Forestry Services of Australia was founded by Bill Goddard, regarded as one of the foremost tree climbers in the Sydney region, and an authority on advanced tree climbing and rigging techniques.
The company was well known for its success in handling complex issues involving hazardous and difficult trees.
The company founder used this practical knowledge to invent the “Friction Drum Lowering Device" which has revolutionised the tree dismantling process, and is in constant production and use today. The company was also a specialist provider of quality equipment for the tree climbing and rigging sectors. This expertise has carried forward to the THS organization.
Founded in 1998, SERTAC provided training and consultancy services to mining and heavy industry clients. SERTAC delivered training in the areas of occupational health and safety, fire fighting, confined space rescue, gas detection and underground rescue to a variety of clients, some with complex and specialised training needs.
The selective recruitment of quality staff from mining, fire services and paramedical backgrounds, together with well developed industry contacts enabled SERTAC to achieve a reputation as one of the foremost safety and emergency response training organisations in Australia.
Revolution Safety commenced trading in 2010 and very quickly became a sought after provider of height safety; confined space; breathing apparatus; confined space rescue; rope access; tower and vertical rescue; WHS risk management; Certificate IV and Diploma WHS training and consultation.
Revolution Safety also specialised in fall protection audits, inspections, system design and installation; as well as difficult access building and structure inspection, remedial works and repairs.
The other arm of Revolution Safety provided equipment sales, service, maintenance and inspections of height safety personal protective equipment (PPE) and general safety equipment.
THS and Revolution Safety share the same philosophies in providing a high level of quality in training and customer service.
