Roof Safety anchor points are essential components of fall protection systems used in industries such as construction, roofing, and maintenance where workers are at risk of falling from heights. These points provide secure, reliable attachment points for personal fall arrest systems (PFAS), which include safety harnesses, lanyards, and other equipment.
Understanding how to use and install safety anchor points properly is critical for preventing accidents.
What Are Roof Safety Anchor Points?
Fall arrest anchors are essential for ensuring worker safety at heights. In Australia, two key standards guide the selection, use, and manufacturing of these systems:
- AS/NZS 1891.4:2009 – Covers industrial fall-arrest systems, including their selection, use, and maintenance.
- AS/NZS 5532:2013 – Specifies manufacturing requirements for single-point anchor devices used in harness-based work at heights.
Although these standards are not mandatory under Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation, they provide important guidance and should be followed as best practice.
Key Considerations in Anchor Points
1. WHS Legislation and Standards
- WHS legislation focuses on performance-based safety outcomes rather than prescriptive measures.
- Employers must ensure the safety of workers exposed to fall risks by implementing the hierarchy of controls, where fall arrest systems (like anchors) are lower-order controls and should only be used when higher-order controls (e.g., ground-level work or temporary platforms) are not feasible.
2. AS/NZS 1891.4:2009 (Selection, Use, and Maintenance)
- Not mandatory but referenced in the WHS Falls Code.
- It outlines how anchor points should be selected, used, and maintained. Courts may refer to this standard when assessing what is “reasonably practicable” for workplace safety.
- Inspections and maintenance programs should be in place, including annual load testing of chemical and friction anchors.
- Compliance with this standard has shown no recorded failures when anchors are correctly installed and inspected.
3. AS/NZS 5532:2013 (Manufacturing Requirements)
- This standard applies to the manufacture of single-point anchor devices but does not cover inspection, testing, or maintenance.
- There has been industry debate about the standard, and while it’s not mandatory, manufacturers are expected to comply with it in the future once the ongoing issues are resolved.
- Important Note: AS/NZS 5532 does not apply retrospectively, meaning existing installed anchors do not need to be updated based on this standard.
Installation and Inspection Guidelines of Anchors
- Anchor Strength: Fall arrest anchors should comply with the strength requirements set out in AS/NZS 1891.4 (or AS/NZS 5532 where applicable). They should withstand the forces generated in a fall, with systems designed to limit peak loads on anchors to 6kN.
- Inspection and Load Testing: Ongoing inspection and load testing, as specified in AS/NZS 1891.4, are critical to ensure safety. This includes ensuring that chemical and friction anchors are inspected and load-tested annually. Load testing or pull testing can be conducted with a pull testing unit like a Hydrajaws pull tester.
- Correct Installation: Ensure that anchors are installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. For example, roof-mounted anchors should have the proper number of fasteners and be installed in materials (e.g., concrete) that meet the manufacturer’s specifications. Non-compliant anchors should be repaired or replaced immediately.
Summary
While neither AS/NZS 1891.4 nor AS/NZS 5532 is mandatory under WHS legislation, following these standards ensures that fall arrest systems are safe and effective. Employers should regularly inspect and maintain their anchors, ensuring compliance with these standards to provide the highest level of protection for workers at heights.
For NSW, Safework cover Fall Arrest Anchors in detail.
Alternative Solutions for Height Safety
While anchors play a crucial role, they should be part of a broader strategy conforming to the hierarchy of fall protection controls. Employers are encouraged to explore alternative solutions and safer methods to work at heights, such as using advanced scaffolding systems or protective barriers that reduce or eliminate the need for exposed work at heights.
Edge protection alternatives, such as EasyRail or EasyDeck systems, are gaining traction due to their quick installation and removal, adaptability to various heights, and absence of complex fixings. Such systems serve as essential complementary tools to traditional anchor points, broadening the strategies available for effective fall protection.
Read our full breakdown on roof barrier protection in our ultimate guide for more information on this topic.
