The following faqs are the questions and answers provided during our july 2014 webinar on safety anchors all responses are provided by carl sachs who while involved in drafting as nzs5532 is not a legal practitioner and his answers are general in nature.
Roof anchor points legislation.
There are many different fixed anchor points in the market today which are suitable for different types of surfaces such as concrete bricks or steel.
Whs regulations require roof anchor points in nsw to be annually certified to ensure they are in good working order.
Anchor points are usually installed on the roof and are used to connect lanyards lifelines and other forms of tie off which prevent a worker from falling.
The law clearly states we need to provide all workers with a safe work environment.
In most cases a client will probably need to approve of the installation of a fixed anchor point before someone drills a hole into the wall.
Only certified roof anchor point installers should be used for the certification of roof anchor points.
Upon completion of the inspection process a certificate of compliance valid for 12 months will be issued.
Why install roof anchor points.
The strength of roof members and other elements of the building to which guardrails are attached or which act as an anchorage point for a fall arrest system f.
Roof anchor points may not be as exciting as a day out on the boat but they can be the one piece of equipment that ensures that you can get home to family safety at the end of a work day.
Designed and installed by our companies height safety industry trained installation team an anchor point system is a means to provide full roof coverage whilst not having the preferred but aesthetically imposing handrail around the perimeter of the work area.
There are differences from state to state and the legislation sometimes seems contradictory.
Both permanent and temporary roof anchor points are available.
Australian standards and legislation require the periodic inspection of all roof anchor points a minimum of every 12 months.
A survival guide to the roof anchor safety alert australian standard as nzs 5532.
Is a roof a safe work environment.
Although the frequency of inspection is addressed by state legislation it can be confusing.
Anchor points and static lines for working at heights need to be inspected at regular intervals.
Providing anchorage points for a fall arrest system where required for use during installation subsequent work on the roof and maintenance see 5 5 fall arrest systems e.
The absolute minimum is to install sufficient anchor points to provide fall arrest.
Most roofs in nsw are non compliant to current whs legislation.
Anchor devices also referred to as roof safety anchor points are a compliant means to access the fall edge of a work area.
If a fixed anchor point is used to access a sloping roofs it should always be installed near the center of the roof.
Roof anchors can be as simple as a d ring connection or as complex as a complete lifeline system.
