FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need to have my guardrail recertified each year?

Regulation 5 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) regulations requires annual maintenance to equipment and devices such as guardrails. Safesite recommends that a system is checked annually as sometimes third parties such as contractors and maintenance operators can tamper with the system when installing new equipment or connecting additional equipment to the guardrail. Also, over time new equipment might be installed outside the protected area or the roof.

Our air conditioning contractor has asked for a copy of our rescue plan and policy for when their people have to go onto our roofs - Surely if they are doing the work, they are responsible for this?

No this is your responsibility. If you contract a company to carry out maintenance work of plant and equipment on your roof then you are responsible for their safety under the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (Section 3). This means that you must carry out the necessary risk assessment, provide equipment to ensure the area can be accessed safely and ensure a rescue plan and policy are in place.

Can more than one worker be connected to a portable anchorage point?

No. Safesite's Mobile Man Anchor has been tested to EN795 using a 100kg mass (average body weight) free falling 2.5m. Adding extra people to the anchor would require additional load testing and additional weights to be added to the unit which would make the Mobile Man Anchor less user friendly.

Why can't I use an inertia reel with a mobile man anchor?

The HSE has issued a warning about the use of inertia/fall arrest blocks with an anchorage point on a horizontal plane after research indicated that the block/cable could fail in the event of a fall HSE website. As a result of this Safesite now recommends that only shock absorbing rope grab devices with 14mm twisted rope be used in conjunction with the Mobile Man Anchor. (See Mobile Man Anchor for further information).