Anchor certifications and height safety – what you need to know
When working at height, safety is a priority. Anchor point certification or anchor point testing involves checking that your anchors meet all standards and operate safely. Read on to learn all you need to know about anchor certification.
Maintaining your Height Safety System
If you’re “a person conducting business or undertaking” (PCBU) then maintenance, inspections and testing are your responsibility. This responsibility might also carry over to designers, manufacturers, suppliers, and contractors. When it comes to maintenance and inspections, don’t think you need to do this yourself – all these services need to be carried out by a competent, reliable person.
When you enlist someone to check the condition of your anchors, any work must be carried out according to the recommendations of the manufacturer or another competent person. Inspections should be carried out at least once a year when it doesn’t seem practical to follow other recommendations.
Engaging a Certifier
You shouldn’t just choose anyone to certify your anchor systems. You need to ensure your certifier carries the relevant QBCC licences, insurances, and height safety certificates as well as a white card. They should also be qualified as a level 3 rope access technician. Insurance is important to ensure protection for you and your certifier, so it’s important you hire someone who carries public liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, and professional indemnity insurance.
Certifying Anchors
- Reliability: There should be no question about the anchor’s quality and configuration.
- Position: The anchor should be positioned so that the operative’s work position can be easily maintained.
- Safety: Anchors should be placed in an area where operatives can connect to and disconnect from the height safety system with no risk of a fall from height.
- Strength: It should have a static strength of at least 12kN for abseil use, 15kN for fall arrest or 21Kn for 2 person connection.
- Permanence: If the anchor is set up for permanent use, it must clearly carry the details of the manufacturer and installer, the load rating and direction, and the status following service and inspection.
Testing Anchors
Anchors are tested using either visual inspection or test loads. A visual inspection takes into account the fixing, any corrosion or fault, or any other factors that might make the anchor improper or unsafe for use. Test loads involve applying half of the intended load for at least three minutes to determine the performance of the anchor.
Recertification Documents
Recertification documents should include a:
- Conformance certificate, which might cover each anchor individually or provide a summary of the entire site.
- Calibration certificate, which covers load testing equipment and is only valid for 12 months.
- Inspection records, which your inspector will issue following their assessment of your anchor. These records are crucial to ensure continuing compliance and evidence that maintenance has been completed.
- Layouts, which involve a clear visual representation of the system.
- Load calculations documents, which the manufacturer supplies to summarise calculations for your site and provide evidence that the load carried by your system are within safety requirements.
- Testing and certification documents, which certify that your anchors have been tested by the manufacturer.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which lists any particular protective gear that might be required when using the system.
- Rescue, which details the ideal rescue method.
- Product brochures and instruction manuals, which are usually provided by the manufacturer.
- Site or product photos, which aren’t mandatory but help users to understand the nature of the site and to ensure product compliance over time.
- Exclusion Zones, which are areas that workers should not access.
- Requirements for testing and re-certification, which are done along with standard inspections.
The cost of non-compliance
The law dictates that PCBUs must provide and keep a safe work environment. Height safety is a crucial factor. If you are a PCBU, you are expected to know what is required to maintain safety on site; claiming ignorance will not be accepted if an unsafe worksite leads to negligence, serious injury, or death.
If an unsafe or non-compliant anchor has caused consequences, you may face a hefty fine and even jail time. According to the WHS Act, the highest penalty an individual could be liable to pay is $600,000. They could also face five years of imprisonment or a combination of both. If you’re a body corporate, the maximum penalty rises to $3,000,000.
Conclusion
Safety is paramount when working at height, and anchor certification is crucial to keeping a workplace free from accidents, serious injury, and even death. Staying on top of the certification requirements will ensure your site continues to operate safely and effectively for the duration of your project.
Give Fidato a call on 1800 343 286 to find out more or book your building to have your anchor points checked or recertified.
For those looking for in-depth information on anchor points, the Working at Heights Association Australia offers an excellent resource dedicated to this topic. You can explore their informative page here.
Additionally, Safe Work Australia provides a comprehensive and downloadable PDF guide titled “Managing the Risks of Falls in the Workplace.” This guide is essential for ensuring safety and compliance in work environments that involve heights.
FAQs about Anchor Points and Certifications
To ensure compliance with Australian Standards for height safety systems, we follow a comprehensive approach:
Adherence to Standards: We strictly adhere to the relevant Australian Standards, such as AS/NZS 1891 for industrial fall-arrest systems and devices, and AS/NZS 4488 for industrial rope access systems. This commitment ensures that all our systems are designed, installed, and maintained according to the latest safety requirements.
Qualified Personnel: Our team consists of qualified professionals who are trained and certified in height safety regulations. Their expertise guarantees that all installations and inspections meet the required standards.
Regular Training and Updates: We conduct regular training sessions and stay informed about any changes or amendments to the standards. This practice helps us maintain high safety levels and quickly adapt to regulatory updates.
Thorough Inspections and Audits: We perform regular inspections and audits of our height safety systems to ensure ongoing compliance. Any identified issues are promptly addressed to maintain safety and adherence to standards.
Documentation and Records: We maintain detailed records of all installations, inspections, and maintenance activities. This documentation is crucial for demonstrating compliance and provides a clear history of system integrity.
Customer Education: We educate our clients about the importance of compliance and the specifics of the standards, empowering them to recognize and demand adherence in all their height safety-related activities.
By committing to these practices, we ensure that our height safety systems not only comply with current Australian Standards but also provide maximum protection for all users.
Fidato is dedicated to improving roof safety standards through our thorough compliance auditing and innovative height safety solutions. We specialise in designing and installing advanced access and fall prevention systems. Our approach combines passive safety elements, such as guardrails, walkways, and ladders, with active features like anchor points, static lines, and self-retracting lifelines. Each system is carefully crafted, installed, and certified to meet Australia’s strict AS 1657 safety standards. This not only ensures maximum protection but also facilitates easy entry and movement in high-risk work environments. Your safety is our priority—let's work together to create a safer workplace.
When it comes to installing height safety systems, the qualifications and certifications of our technicians are vital. All of our rope access technicians hold a valid Working at Heights certificate.
In addition to this, we ensure that our staff have recognized international qualifications, such as IRATA certification or other industry-specific credentials, which equip them with the advanced skills needed for complex installations involving rope access techniques. This training ensures they are knowledgeable about best practices for safe work procedures and are skilled in designing effective height safety systems with safety as the top priority.
Our rope access crew completes manufacturer-specific training programs and receives accreditation from manufacturers for the specific systems they are tasked with installing. Their expertise is further enhanced by a thorough understanding of Australian Standards, such as AS 1657 and AS/NZS 1891, which guide the design of fixed platforms, walkways, stairs, and fall arrest systems.
