230 CALL 132 100 OR SHOP 24/7 AT RSEA.COM.AU CLICK&COLLECT FREE Pick-up from our Stores PHYSICAL CONTROLS WHEN WORKING AT HEIGHT If a full risk assessment and work method statement has determined the need to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), careful consideration must be given to the following work at height techniques. Refer to AS/NZS 1891.4 for further information. All personnel using PPE at height must be trained in the proper use and limitations of their equipment. Restraint Technique Restraint Technique is the preferred approach to fall protection - it prevents you from falling and from suffering possible injuries from the fall arrest system. Restraint Technique is a technique which uses PPE to prevent a person from entering an area where risk of fall from height exists. Work Positioning/Restrained Fall Work Positioning/Restrained Fall is a technique for supporting a person while working by means of PPE in tension in such a way as to prevent a fall. Fall Arrest Fall arrest is an approach which makes use of items of PPE to stop a person falling under safe conditions. This means that if a worker is in a position such that if they lose control they will fall. They are required to use PPE to limit both the distance and the force of that fall. Emergency Plan AS/NZS 1891.4 states that the rescue of a fallen worker must occur as soon as possible, as does the National Code of Practice for the Prevention of Falls from Heights in Construction Work. It also recommends that a person should not use a fall arrest system unless there is at least one other person on site who can rescue the user in the event of a fall. In some situations at least two persons may be required to safely rescue a person who has had a fall. This requires specific training. Confined Space Safe access and egress from confined spaces requires careful planning. When access and egress also includes the potential for falls, then it is considered work at height. In all cases rescue and recovery must be planned and the personnel be trained in emergency procedures. Material Sourced from SpanSet Australia 2026 FALL CLEARANCE Australian Standards stipulates that Fall Clearance (FC) should be greater than the following values: A + L + E + 2.8 metres A: ANCHOR DEFLECTION How much the anchor point moves or stretches when loaded. L: FUNCTIONAL LENGTH OF CONNECTION SYSTEM The actual length of your lanyard. E: EXTENSION OF THE ENERGY ABSORBER How much your shock absorber extends when activated. 2.8 METRES - (Safety Buffer) This is a fixed number added to every calculation to account for: A. 300mm for the harness shifting on your body. B. 1.5 metres for your body height (the distance from your feet to the dorsal attachment). C. 1.0 metre for an extra safety margin to ensure you don’t impact the ground. All personnel using PPE at Height & Confined Space MUST be trained in the proper use and limitations of their equipment. PPE - HEIGHT SAFETY WORKING AT HEIGHT & FALL CLEARANCE HOW TO APPLY THIS RULE TO YOUR SPANSET GEAR STEP 1: REFER TO YOUR LANYARD LABEL Your SpanSet lanyard includes all the information you need to understand how to calculate fall clearance distance. We include the Length (L), Extension of the Energy Absorber (E) and the Safety Buffer (2.8m) into one measurement called the Minimum Fall Clearance. EXAMPLE: 1.8m length lanyard User Capacity*: 60kg min. - 140kg max. Fall Clearance: 5.4m min. - 6.9m min. Minimum Fall Clearance = L + E + 2.8m SpanSet Lanyard Fall Clearance Formula: A + Minimum Fall Clearance = FC E L A 1.0m 2.8m FC *TOTAL MASS: User Weight + PPE + Tools/ Materials Equipment Check All system components must be: Traceable: All lanyards already require a serial number as per standard requirements. Registered: All components must be listedin a maintained inspection register. Logged: The register must record the date of first use/entry into service.
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