S A F E T Y
SAFETY
AT ITS HEIGHT:
not address ongoing inspection,
proof loading and maintenance and
only addresses installation by way
of specifying system design and
installation information that is to be
supplied with the anchors.
STATUS
According to a release from the
Working at Heights Association
(WAHA), for a single-point anchor
device to be compliant to AS/
NZS 5532:2013, it shall meet
the performance requirements
and test methods as well as the
marking, labelling and packaging
requirements specified within the
Standard.
The anchor device must be subject
to and pass both the dynamic and
Authorized Agent
There have been
the Australian and New Zealand
Standard for ‘Manufacturing
requirements for single-point
anchor device used for harnessbased
compliance statement has been
developed to clarify the situation
given the apparent confusion
regarding this standard. AS/
NZS 5532:2013 was created to
supplement the AS/NZS 1891
series, to standardise requirements
for manufacturing and testing of
single point anchors, exclusively for
the protection of personnel.
Note that AS/NZS 5532 is a
manufacturing standard; it does
REN344
numerous requests for
advice as to the status
of AS/NZS 5532:2013,
work at height’. This
www.filtercorp.co.nz 0800 481 9999
static tests to comply with the
performance requirements.
Additionally, to ensure the rating of
the anchor is suitable to perform
in its installed state, testing of
the anchor must be done on
the substrate/structure that it is
intended to be fixed to. This is
because some anchors may be able
to withstand higher loading when
tested on a solid structure then it
would on the substrate to which it is
intended to be installed. Testing of
the anchor to simulate its intended
performance in the ‘as installed’
configuration is imperative and must
be conducted both dynamically and
statically in the proposed direction
of use. The manufacturer must be
able to provide evidence of the
testing of the anchor on the fixed
substrate, not just of the anchor
itself.
EXPOSITION
Due to the varying performance
of roofing types, it therefore
follows that testing must to be
performed on each type of roof
substrate. Detailed installation
instructions shall be provided by
the manufacturer with the anchor
device, showing the specific
installation requirements for each
roof substrate. E.g. additional fixings
may be required to ensure the
substrate can withstand the load
rating.
AS/NZS 5532:2013 is not applied
retrospectively, therefore all anchors
installed prior to the publication
in October 2013 should instead
comply with the requirements of AS/
NZS 1891.4:2009.
AS/NZS 5532:2013 is a
manufacturing standard and does
not address on-going inspection
and maintenance. Inspection and
maintenance criteria based on AS/
NZS 1891.4:2009, including annual
load testing of glued-in (chemical)
and friction anchors, shall continue
for all installed anchors.
Where anchors are found to be
damaged or not to have been
installed in accordance with
the manufacturers’ instructions
(e.g. roof mounted anchors with
insufficient fasteners or installed in
roof sheeting that is thinner than the
specified minimum) these anchors
must be made compliant with the
manufacturer’s instructions or
replaced.
IN THE END…
WAHA’s role as a group of industry
professionals is to ensure that
current standards are maintained, to
respond to height safety issues and
to assist in the process of creating
higher industry standards across
products, training, installation
and maintenance, based on
progressions in the height safety
industry.
WAHA recommends the use
of products that are third party
certified by a JAS-ANZ accredited
certification body. Third party
certification provides independent
oversight and auditing. Compliance
with the AS/NZS5532 Standard,
as well as all others for fall
protection, are not mandatory by
Regulation, but form part of the
body of knowledge of industry.
Such Standards are also referred
to in Codes of Practice and can
be referred to in legal cases and
workplace investigations to assess
the contribution that product
design and performance has toward
accident outcomes.
"We strongly recommend that this
advice is taken on by all installers,
manufacturers, operators and
building owners (PCBU’s)."
Note: SafeWork NSW recently
amended their advice to the
community on the AS/NZS 5532
standard. You can read their fact
sheet here:
www.safework.nsw.gov.au/resourcelibrary/
construction/fall-arrestanchors
AS/NZS 5532 SINGLE POINT ANCHORS
26 October 2019
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