Warning! Immediate Action Required

URGENT RE-TESTING & CERTIFICATION OF FALL ARREST SYSTEMS FOLLOWING THE COUNTRY’S MOST SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR YEARS

A recent inspection of roof areas at one of the country’s top University Hospitals, identified that anchor points to the top fixed anchor systems located on one of the roof areas, had become fractured and deployed, along a section of the roof. This included the visual deployment of a number of anchor points, which rendered the system completely useless and as a result was immediately de-commissioned.

Roof top anchorage, safety line and edge protection systems are designed, in the event of a fall, to deploy from the vertical to horizontal position at approx 3kN. Once in the horizontal position the internal energy absorber in the post deploys at 10 kN, providing protection to the user and the roof safety system.

It is believed that the points may have been under an abnormal consistent load, due to the weight of recent snow fall most of the country have suffered, and a build up of ice over this period, which subsequently caused the load acting on the anchorage system to increase to around 3 kN resulting in deployment of the anchor points.

It is thought this occurrence has not been identified previously on any other installation around the site, strengthening our conclusion that this specific damage has been caused by the severe weather conditions we have suffered. One only has to look at the condition of our road surfaces following this spell of heavy snow and ice, for a surface made of stone and tarmac to crumble where it would have never done so previously shows the severity of damage that can take place. Below are images of the damage caused rendering the anchors useless.

The information below should be passed to whoever is responsible within your organisation for any type fall arrest systems, including eyebolts, horizontal and vertical lines and anchors, and edge protection guardrail, as all of these areas could potentially have suffered damage, that may not be so visible to the eye.

You must

  • Ensure an initial visual inspection is carried out by a competent person and/or specialist contractor such as Heightsafe Systems, before next use, whereby a fresh certificate of conformity will be issued, or problems addressed and fixed.
  • Ensure all users are trained and are familiar with conducting a visual check to ensure any potential faults or deterioration is identified again before next use
  • For areas that have experienced unusually high snowfall reorganise annual examination of system as soon as possible, ensuring that the examination and tests carried out, are in accordance with BS 7883:2005
  • Review maintenance and examination programme after poor weather, especially areas susceptible to snow and ice build up. Again carried out by a competent person or specialist contractor.

In addition consideration to all of the above, examinations must be in accordance with the recommendations given in BS 7883:2005.

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