Are your safety standards on par with what the government requires? Are you familiar with what the Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 5532 requires of you?
Over the past few years, there have been changes to the guidelines for certain at height work scenarios. More specifically, anyone using single point anchors as roof anchor points now have to keep the Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 5532 in mind. What does this mean for you and your team? This summary will guide you through the need-to-know facts.
What is AS/NZS 5532?
AS/NZS 5532 lays out various requirements for anchor devices, whether fixed or of a portable single-point type. The standards are set in place to keep workers safe when working at height and cover topics like:
- Performance requirements
- Packaging
- Marking
- Labelling
- Testing methodologies
What Compliance Issues Should You Know About?
It Should be Tested in Various Scenarios and on Different Surfaces
The guidelines acknowledge that the efficiency of a roof anchor point does also depend on the quality of the surface or structure it’s used on. This makes it important that an anchor point be tested on such a surface before you can claim it carries compliance with AS/NZS 5532.
This is also why quality suppliers like SAYFA provide clear guidelines and recommendations of how an anchor must be installed. For example, it can be done through the roof surface into the purlin to prevent anything sliding out of place.
Four Tests Required
Your roof anchor point manufacturer must have proof that four different tests are done before an anchor point is certified to be compliant. All are done with 15kN loads:
- Two static load tests: one across the roof sheet and the other in line with it.
- Two dynamic loads tests: one in line and the other across the roof sheet.
The Responsibility Lies with You
Anything happening on your premises is your responsibility. This means it’s up to you to check with your roof anchor point supplier or manufacturer whether AS/NZS 5532 compliance is in place for the components you obtain from them. Never assume that it is and ask for proof to give you and your employees peace of mind.
After Deployment Also Matters
An additional matter to discuss with a supplier is the condition of a roof anchor point after a fall arrest situation occurred. Will it still suffice as part of a rescue operation? You don’t want to exacerbate a problem by using a damaged unit that could place someone else’s life at risk.
What About Maintenance?
AS/NZS 5532 actually doesn’t cover the topic of maintenance or future inspections of an installation. However, you still carry a responsibility to maintain a safe working environment wherever someone is working at height.
Total Compliance for Peace of Mind
Are you sure your workplace is compliant? Give yourself peace of mind by partnering with a height safety systems market leader like Austral Height Safety. With leading brands like SAYFA as our suppliers, you can be sure all roof anchor points and other products adhere to the necessary guidelines, helping you stay legal on-premises and keeping your team safe.
For any questions or proof of the quality service and products we provide, talk to us on 03 9462 3350.
