COMPLIANCE & CONFIDENCE

With changing regulatory compliance requirements, different height safety equipment manufacturer requirements, and changing end-use requirements – it is difficult to ensure your system is complaint.

Ensure your personnel are protected and your liability minimised with a height safety system audit. We will identify your existing systems and their compliance with fall prevention standards. We will provide feedback on cost-effective solutions to ensure your system meets the end-user needs, and help you identify and prioritise potential hazards. So you can say with confidence, that your site(s) have compliant height safety systems.

I HAVE ANCHORS ON MY ROOF - ISN'T THAT ENOUGH?

There are a number of common issues found when auditing existing height safety systems. Usually a hangover from poor planning and haphazard implementation. Sometimes a builder will place a few anchors on the roof as part of a final handover, or a system was installed for one purpose such as gutter cleaning, but now you need to access the facade.

FALL ARREST VS. ROPE ACCESS ANCHORS

Fall Arrest anchors are used in two main functions – fall arrest and fall restraint. Fall Arrest is a system that will arrest a fall from height, preventing a worker from hitting the ground. Anchors are designed to take a shock load, and retain strength while the fallen worker is retrieved. A fall arrest system requires a rescue plan should retrieval of a fallen worker be required.

To absorb the initial load and prevent injury, a shock absorbing lanyard is used to slow the workers fall before arresting. Some fall arrest anchors are “deforming” – designed to stretch – to assist in this process. They must be replaced immediately after a fall. This is one reason fall arrest anchors are not suitable for Rope Access (where a sustained static load is applied).

Manufacturers design fall arrest and rope access anchors for different purposes, and they are not interchangeable.

FALL DISTANCE & INCORRECT LAYOUT

We are often asked to place fall arrest anchors on short awnings, or asked why certain systems have failed due to inadequate fall calculations. Having a fall arrest anchor does not mean the risk of serious injury has been reduced if fall distance has not been taken into consideration.

Some fall arrest anchor configurations may result in a potential free-fall distance in excess of 2.0m (see Clause 8.3 in AS/NZS 1891.4).

Calculating Fall Distance in Fall Arrest Systems

THE PENDULUM EFFECT

Incorrect use of a fall arrest system, or poor placement of fall restraint anchors can result in a pendulum fall. Calculating potential fall distances and ensuring workers are appropriately trained is the only way to prevent a dangerous fall.

WHAT ARE YOUR FALL CALCULATIONS?

As part of a height safety systems audit, we will examine your existing anchors suitability for the end-use task.

Do the anchors allow the users to safely access the areas required?

Have the anchors been positioned correctly with respect to fall calculations?

Simply placing a bunch of anchors on the roof without adequate consideration for their use is not acceptable, and is not compliant.

TESTING & CERTIFICATION

Inspection and certification required every 12 months by competent person in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications and requirements of Standard AS/NZS 1891.4:2009 Section (9).

ANCHOR TESTING & CERTIFICATION

INDUSTRY LEADING DOCUMENTATION

COMPREHENSIVE LAYOUT PLANS & CERTIFICATIONS