Is your building recertified for height safety for 2023?

The end of the business year is fast approaching but before you turn on your out-of-office notification there is one more thing you may need to add to the to-do list: organise the inspection and certification of your access and height safety systems. Making sure you have organised recertification of your safety systems before the end of the year is a smart move. Come the new year you can rest assured that you are meeting your compliance obligations and your workers will be safe.

It is important to ensure that everything, including roof anchor points, fall-arrest systems, guardrails and static lines are safe and fit for purpose. It also ensures that a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) is meeting their obligations.

Inspection and certification is required at intervals of 6 or 12 months depending on the type of materials in the system to ensure workplaces where people are working at heights are safe. In areas where the systems are exposed to harsh environments, or where corrosion may be an issue, more frequent recertification inspections are advised.

Standards Australia AS/NZS 1891.4-2009 covers industrial fall-arrest systems and devices including their use and maintenance. During the inspection and certification process systems are closely  examined to ensure there is no disrepair or dilapidation of the systems themselves or the structures they are used on.

Why you need to stay on top of recertification

As a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), you have responsibility for ensuring a safe workplace. This includes staying on top of your obligations to meet relevant Australian Standards, as well as workplace health and safety legislation. inspection and certification also ensures the performance of systems is covered by any applicable manufacturer and installer warranties.

Recertification vs site inspection vs site audits – what’s the difference?

Inspection and certification and site audits are not the same and it is important to organise different inspections. Inspection and certification means that your systems have been inspected and certified as compliant, with updated certification for your systems of working at height.

Site inspection of height safety and confined space systems ensures your business is meeting Australian and New Zealand Standards and legislation.

Site compliance audits are conducted by height safety consultants who have expertise in Workplace Health & Safety legislation the broader building and construction industry. Audits identify hazards, assess risks to health and safety, and are an opportunity to develop and implement control measures which use hierarchy of control to eliminate hazards from the workplace or isolate people from the hazard.

Site audits also examine and record lack of systems in place for working at heights, with results provided to the PCBU.

Did you know?

• Earlier this year Safe Work Australia released a new industrial rope access systems guide for working at heights. This guide helps manage the health and safety risks of industrial rope access systems used for gaining access to, and working at, a workplace, usually through vertically suspended ropes. Download a copy here.
• Any person conducting a business or undertaking has a duty to keep workers and workplaces safe from the risks of working at height.
• Height safety and fall prevention equipment is needed for anyone working at a height of over 2m or within 2m of a fall edge.

Contact us if you require an onsite inspection and certification of your height safety and confined space systems contact us. All RISSafety inspectors are trained, have in-depth industry experience and undergo regular professional development.