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Periodic examination of fall protection systems for work at height |
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PERIODIC EXAMINATION OF FALL PROTECTION SYSTEMS FOR WORK AT HEIGHT
HORIZONTAL, Flexible Anchor Lines - EN795 Class ‘C’ :
Periodic examination of work equipment is crucial to its continuing safe performance and to the safety of workers who use it. This is particularly important with equipment used as part of a Fall Protection System, but many system owners may be unknowingly putting users at risk by not following manufacturer’s instructions when procuring inspection services.
Every component of a Fall Protection System must be supplied with manufacturer’s instructions, which include instructions for periodic examination, and which should comply with the requirements of EN 365. This standard requires that instructions for periodic examination shall include:
“Where deemed necessary by the manufacturer, e.g. due to the complexity or innovation of the equipment, or where safety critical knowledge is needed in the dismantling, reassembly or assessment of the equipment (e.g. a retractable fall arrester), an instruction specifying that periodic examinations shall only be conducted by a person or organisation authorised by the manufacturer”.
WAHSA, which represents many major horizontal flexible line manufacturers, is of the opinion that systems from different manufacturers have sufficient technical differences from each other to make it most unlikely that an examiner trained by one manufacturer would have the technical knowledge necessary to examine systems from other manufacturers. Even where an examiner has PREVIOUSLY been trained by a manufacturer, EN365 requires that they should be knowledgeable of CURRENT periodic examination requirements, recommendations and instructions issued by the manufacturer.
Using an examiner who is not aware of manufacturers’ latest technical updates, product recalls etc could result in users being provided with unsafe systems.
When selecting examiners for this type of system, WAHSA advises that for each system to be examined the examiner should be CURRENTLY registered with the system manufacturer - to receive technical updates, current instructions, product updates etc, AND be certified to install spare parts where necessary.
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