Fall Protection
Fall protection encompasses the range of equipment and procedures that are put in place to ensure that the risk of a fall from height is ideally eliminated or at least minimised as much as possible from occurring.
Providing effective fall protection
Fall protection systems are divided into two groups; passive and active. Fall prevention is a means of passive fall protection, meaning it is designed to prevent a person falling. On the other hand, fall arrest is a means of active fall protection, meaning it is designed to safely stop or arrest a person already falling.
One of the main benefits of a passive fall prevention system is the fact that it does not require any specialised personnel to operate it and it does not require ongoing adjustments or alterations.
Regular maintenance of plant and machinery, gutter cleaning, roof repair, solar panel maintenance etc. all require working at heights and impose significant risk on those undertaking these tasks. A fall prevention system is an excellent way to ensure the safety of the personnel working at heights.
What fall prevention systems are available?
What fall arrest systems are available?
Choosing a fall protection system
When choosing a fall protection system for your building, there are three main factors to consider:
What tasks will need to be carried out?
How frequently will the tasks need to be carried out?
What is the risk associated with the task?
Once these three factors have been determined, you can determine if and where you’ll need a fall prevention system, a fall arrest system, or a rope access system. Use the table below to help evaluate your requirements.
Maintenance Category | Item | Maintenance Frequency | Example System |
---|---|---|---|
A Priority | Mechanical Plant and Equipment Hot water units, A/C units, refrigeration units, mechanical exhausts, ect. | Frequent | Fall Protection Passive Fall Protection (Permanent) ie. Permanent Guaradrail, Skylight Protectors |
B Priority | Gutters, Windows and Garden Planters Eave gutters, box gutters, clerestory windows, roof lights, garden planters ect. | Periodic | Fall Protection Active Fall Protection (Permanent) ie. Fall Arrest Anchor Point, Static Line, Rigid Rail |
C Priority | General Roof Access Parapets, flashings, roof sheeting, concrete membrane etc. | Infrequent | Fall Protection Temporary Fall Protection ie. Temporary Guardrail, Temporary Anchor Point, Elevated Work Platform |
Take the risk out of height safety designs
Our height safety system design specialists have a deep understanding of industry requirements and help you meet your obligations for fully compliant systems right from the start.
Exceed compliance
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Reduce rework
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