To all my learned colleagues and peers please provide your opinions and comments here. Especially to all those who are competent height safety technicians have the safety of themselves and their personnel as their highest priority, enforced through sound skills and the application of controls. Those who have paid R 4 165.00 for the Working at Heights: Fall Protection Plan Development and HIRA Certification and have acquired the competencies in this standard. Now being persons responsible for the safety and protection of people working at heights where there is a risk of injury from a fall. Subsequently and directly responsible for the safety of others performing tasks at heights. Being qualified and able to develop fall protection plans for people working at heights, as required by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 85 of 1993. Who are now capable of: •Performing a risk assessment of the work-site where work is to be done at height •Demonstrating knowledge of fall arrest rescue equipment and advanced fall arrest rescue •Developing a fall protection plan and fall arrest plan. •Managing safety of personnel working at heights And with all of this knowledge should be able to educate, enlighten me and confirm for me what the OHS act or Construction regulations specified load threshold in Kilo newton rating for Non Engineered anchor points is. (This being a non-engineered points,mostly on scaffolds?) And if this is specified by our OHS act or Construction regulations. I need to know what the rating for the point to which a shock absorber lanyard is attached is ? What is the actual threshold and is it stated anywhere in the act. ? How is it determined ? How is it checked ? Who checks it ? Must it be signed off by a certified engineer ? What is the improvised anchors minimum kN rating for a single person load ? I wonder who will be be to answer or advise on these questions, definitely keen to hear any opinion from any person ?
Brian I did not pay for the knowledge, so I will share it with you for free too... Metallic anchor devices now 12 kN (previously 10 kN) Non-metallic anchor devices now 18 kN (previously 10 kN). unless evidence of durability is provided. There is no Safety Standard incorporated under the Construction Regulations as referred to, so the answer is: "The Construction Regulations says nothing". The European standard for the testing of anchor devices – EN 795:1996 has been revised, expanded upon and replaced with EN 795:2012. The new EN standard will also be supported by a Technical Specification – CEN TS 16415 to cover multiple users. You should also try and do an IRATA Accredited course. It does not cost R4165, but you know the answers to your own questions. Regards
