The better your system on-premises, the easier and more efficient property management can be. That’s the truth that any property owner must realise, and it necessitates investing in infrastructure you may not have thought of before. An important topic to consider is how you accommodate anyone doing maintenance at height or working on your building’s façade.
Are you continuously putting items like a roof ladder at the bottom of your priority list? Perhaps you think you’ll upgrade your building and make it more accessible for the next scheduled maintenance. But then you never get around to it. Rather educate yourself about your options as well as the legal requirements, so you stay compliant and create a safe environment.
Remember, safe workers will work faster and more efficiently, so this is for everybody’s benefit!
Multiple Installation Options
Today, the height systems industry provides you with a range of options to use on your building to improve access. You can therefore pick what suits you in terms of functionality, but also aesthetics. For example, if you don’t want to install a feature on the outside of your building, that’s where a unit such as a roof access hatch could come in handy.
Of course, the feature must be suitable for your type of building and layout. But, with the many installations on the market, you can find a setup that suits your personal preferences and even your budget. Options include:
- Ladder systems
- Pull down ladders
- Roof access hatches
It’s not only about gaining access to the roof. Once someone is up there, he or she needs to move around comfortably as well as safely. Options such as the following are available:
- Roof walkway systems that make it safer when walking across a roof section
- Roof anchor points to which a worker can be connected to
- Safety rails as physical barriers and to hold onto; they form an extra layer of security when installed near slippery surfaces or beside a steep ladder
You can also consider height safety platforms that turn a dangerous area on the roof into a safer working environment.
What the Law Requires
Australia has strict height safety standards, and as a building owner, you carry the responsibility to ensure workers on your premises are safe. For the height safety system components mentioned above, there are clear rules of compliance they need to adhere to. Educate yourself about these laws so you can discuss them with your height safety systems installer:
- AS/NZS 1891.1 for harnesses
- AS/NZS 1891.2 for Guardrails
- AS/NZS 1891.3 for any fall arrest device
- AS/NZS 1891.4 if you use industrial fall rest and devices
- AS/NZS 1657:2018 for ladders, walkways, platforms and stairs
- AS/NZS 4488 for rope access
When you work with Austral Height Safety as your height safety partner, we can issue you with certification proving the necessary compliance.
Ongoing Responsibilities
So, you have everything in place to offer easy roof access for a maintenance worker. Just remember, your responsibility doesn’t stop there. You need to ensure those areas stay compliant, so your installations must undergo regular inspections. A company like Austral Height Safety can help with these checks and audits, giving you peace of mind that you’re doing all you can for on-site workers.
You can take this one step further and use these experts to train personnel that will do the maintenance or work on the façade. Make sure anyone using your new roof access equipment knows how to use it correctly, further minimising the risk of injury.
Yes, it’s worth going the extra mile. The time, money and effort you invest today will prevent unnecessary injury, risk and even legal cases of negligence against you.
The Right Height Safety Partner
It’s easy to stay compliant and transform your building into a more accessible, safe space, even when it comes to the roof. Simply contact Austral Height Safety about your needs on 03 9462 3350 so we can discuss your requirements. With five decades of experience behind us, we’re the experts you and your contractors need.
