How the Right Anchor Points Can Save Lives (and Your Business)
Working at height is recognised as one of the most dangerous workplace activities, causing numerous injuries and fatalities each year. Preventing these accidents happening is one of the most important tasks for any employer due to the responsibility they have for their employees.
Accidents caused by working at height have serious consequences for employees but also for the business itself. If a company is found to be responsible for an accident, it may be fined heavily for non-compliance with regulations, may suffer disruptions to its operations, can be open to compensation claims and will suffer damage to its reputation. Installing proper safety equipment, including anchor points, is essential to avoid these consequences.
Choosing Anchor Points
Choosing the right type of anchor point is crucial for the continued safety of your employees when working at height. Certain anchor points are intended for particular uses and the correct choice will enhance safety.
An anchor point is securely attached to the roof or exterior wall of a building so that equipment for fall protection or arrest can be connected. In general, a series of anchor points will be attached at various locations around a building and these are of two basic types:
- Permanent anchor points that are intended for long-term and regular use, such as when maintaining rooftop equipment that includes HVAC systems and solar panels.
- Temporary anchor points that are for infrequent or one-off tasks and so are installed and removed when necessary; they are not suitable for abseiling or regular work.
When choosing suitable anchor points, some are more suited to particular uses so you need to assess various factors:
- The frequency of use.
- The type of activity to be conducted when using the anchor points.
- Whether the anchor points are to be used for fall restraint or fall arrest systems.
- The weight and pressure the anchor points need to withstand, including the weight of workers and their equipment.
- The roofing material to which the anchor point is to be attached, with different types of anchors for metal and concrete surfaces.
Anchor point selection and placement should follow a thorough risk assessment.
Using Anchor Points Safely
The main purpose of anchor points is to prevent death and injury caused by falls from height. Consequently, they will be fixed at strategic points around a building and will be used for:
- Rope access systems where, for example, workers may be suspended down the side of a building on a hoist to clean and maintain windows.
- Fall restraint systems where cables are attached to a series of anchor points so workers can be connected by lanyard and harness to enable them to move in complete safety.
- Fall arrest systems that come into effect when a worker does fall, stopping the fall before travelling too far.
With proper selection, installation, training and maintenance, workers will be able to move around in complete safety. The extra confidence this gives them will also enable work to be undertaken without restriction and so will boost productivity.
In order to comply with regulations and to ensure maximum effectiveness, all systems must be professionally designed, installed and maintained to ensure maximum reliability. At Workplace Access & Safety, we can do all that and can also train your workers in proper use of the equipment.
Everything we do is compliant with regulations and legislation, particularly Australian standard AS/NZS 1891 in this case, which deals with industrial fall arrest systems and devices. Do not put your workers and your business at risk but contact us without delay.
