Selecting fall arrest equipment

Selecting fall arrest equipment

What you must know when selecting and using fall arrest equipment

Whilst an effective preventative against injury from falls from height, a fall arrest system such as a safety harness does require a lot of factors to be taken into consideration.

• What is the length of the lanyard?

• Where is the location of the anchor point?

• Have you calculated the length of the user’s legs and body in the fall distance?

• Does the lanyard incorporate a section that lengthens when it is deployed and if so, what is this measurement?

• Have the anchor points that the system will be attached to been recently tested and certified to be able to handle the load associated with a fall?

According to the hierarchy of control when working at height, other alternatives such as guardrails, walkways and static lines are the more preferred option but depending on the particular situation and application they may not always be practicable or possible.

A fall arrest system is an effective measure against injury resulting from falls from heights.

It must be remembered that depending on the way these systems are set up a fall could still occur if not used correctly.  However the distance and the speed of the fall is regulated reducing the chance of injury to the operator.  It is very important that persons using fall arrest systems are competent in their use as incorrect usage may result in more significant injuries should a fall take place. It must also be mentioned that if a fall occurs it may be necessary to perform a rescue operation so you need to have rescue plans in place should this be required.

Key considerations to ensure correct placement of anchors

When choosing to use a fall arrest system the key consideration is to ensure the anchor can be placed so that the user will be in fall restraint, rather than fall arrest. Some areas may not allow this to be achieved therefore fall distance must be considered and may change the type and positioning of the anchor system used.

Typically systems only engage once they have become taut so the length of the lanyard is the first factor that must be considered. It is important that excessive slack in the operator’s lanyard is kept to a minimum to ensure effective operation of the system in a fall situation.

All these factors mean that a fall arrest system may not engage until the worker has fallen a distance of approximately 5 to 6 metres, so you must make sure the fall clearance is sufficient for the system to operate effectively.

For example, how tall is the building and are there any hazards in the way such as trucks, trees or other buildings which the operator may collide with in a fall situation?

It is very important that all anchor points that are used in conjunction with these systems are compliant with Australian Standards

Have the systems been certified able to withstand a fall situation. The required load for a fall arrest anchor point is 15 kNs which is equivalent of suspending a small motor car from the anchor. It is also critical that the structure to which the anchor is attached has been certified to withstand these loads.

When contemplating work at heights system and the use of a fall arrest system by you, your colleagues or your contractors you must make sure that all of these factors have been considered.

Falls from heights are preventable if systems are designed, installed and used correctly.

Need assistance in the installation, selection or use of your fall arrest equipment?

Please contact sales@kattsafe.com.au or call the Kattsafe team on 1300 301 755.