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FALL PROTECTION INSTALLATION & TESTING
Every structure requires maintenance, and some maintenance tasks inevitably introduce a risk of falling from height.
It is the legal responsibility of every building owner and Facilities Manager to provide a safe working environment for their employees and contractors.
British law states that “where work is carried out at height, every employer shall take suitable and sufficient measures to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, any person falling a distance liable to cause personal injury.” Even a short distance fall can result in major injury, so all potential hazards leading to falls – however minor in appearance – must be mitigated under British law.
TESTING & INSPECTION
As a building owner or Facilities Manger, you are legally required to ensure that all Fall Protection Systems are regularly inspected.
If a system is out of date, or has been subjected to a fall, it is your responsibility to ensure that inspection, recertification, and any necessary repairs are undertaken before the system can be legally used.
Depending on the system, a thorough inspection is likely to comprise:
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Visual assessment
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Mechanical testing
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Tagging
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Certification
Developing a compliant inspection schedule is critical to managing work-at-height safety.
Height Sure are on hand to assist in the development of your inspection schedule, and to deploy fully competent and qualified inspectors to all types of Fall Protection within your portfolio.
Examples of Fall Protection items requiring regular inspection:
Guardrails (fixed and free-standing)
12 months
Fixed Walkways, Gantries & Roof Access Ladders (CAT ladders)
12 months
Work Restraint Anchors
12 months
Lifeline (Man Safe) Systems
12 months
Davitt Arms
6 months
Rope Access Anchors
6 months
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS SURROUNDING BS7883:2019
Q: What is the BS7883:2019 standard? A: The standard is well summarised by its full title: “Personal fall protection equipment – Anchor systems – System design, installation and inspection – Code of Practice”. Put simply, this code of practice lays out the British standard for the design, installation and inspection of fall protection systems – e.g., eye-bolts; linear systems (man safe) – and the associated Personal Fall Protection Equipment (PFPE) required to use the systems safely. This 2019 revision supersedes the 2005 edition of the standard, which is now withdrawn.
Q: What’s changed? A: For a fall protection system to be compliant, it must now be supported by three documents. These are prepared by the System Designer, and should be provided to the Duty Holder (the person ultimately responsible for the standard and quality of an anchor system). The documents are: System Technical File Operation & Maintenance Manual Examination Scheme for Inspection The System Technical File is a record of the design, installation, and inspection of a fall protection system. It should propose an appropriate and compliant fall protection system design specification, and include a body of evidence to show that the design has been properly implemented. The Operation & Maintenance (O&M) Manual provides guidance for the correct use of the fall protection system. It should outline the applications and limitations of the system; which items of Personal Fall Protection Equipment (PFPE) are required; a method statement for correct use; and a plan for rescue/recovery from the system. The Examination Scheme for Inspection sets out the frequency and parameters for ongoing inspection of a fall protection system, as well as detailing the correct inspection procedures. This document will be informed by manufacturers’ recommendations regarding the fall protection system components and associated PFPE, as well as legal guidance referencing the scope and application of the system.
Q: What if a Fall Protection System was installed before 2019? A: BS7883:2019 requires all fall protection systems to be supported by a System Technical File, O&M Manual, and Examination Scheme for Inspection, regardless of their installation date.
Q: So, will a Fall Protection System automatically fail inspection without supporting documentation, even if it is mechanically functional? A: Yes. The system is not compliant to the standard without suitable supporting documentation being available. In most instances this will be considered a ‘conditional fail’. Provided the system is observed to be mechanically functional, and if the supporting documentation can be prepared within an agreed timeframe, it is likely that the system will be passed as safe and compliant.
Q: If no supporting documentation is available, will the fall protection system be condemned? A: Not necessarily. We can prepare the System Technical File, O&M Manual and Examination Scheme for Inspection for fall protection systems which have already been installed, ensuring full compliance to the standard after the fact. We gather the necessary information to populate these documents via an Installation Review, which will be designed specifically to meet the requirements of each individual fall protection system. Costs for this service will vary dependant on the specific fall protection system, but will always be a fraction of the cost incurred by installing a brand new system.
Q: Why has my Fall Protection System failed inspection now? It has passed regular inspections since the new standard was introduced in 2019. A: The new BS7883:2019 standard came into effect in 2019, however, owing to disruption associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread implementation of the standard was unofficially delayed in many instances, effectively allowing an additional ‘grace period’ to demonstrate compliance. Many duty holders are now finding that this unofficial latency period has come to an end, and are noticing higher stringency regarding supporting documentation.