Queensland Consolidated Regulations

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATION 2011 - REG 306I

306I Fall arrest harness system as control measure

(1) Each anchorage point of a fall arrest harness system used as a control measure must be—

(a) designed by an engineer for the purpose for which it is intended to be used; or

(b) inspected and approved by a competent person before the anchorage point is first used by any person.

(2) Each anchorage point of the system, other than an anchorage point supporting a static line, must have a capacity of at least—

(a) if only 1 person is using the anchorage point and the person could have a limited free fall—12kN; or

(b) if only 1 person is using the anchorage point and the person could have a free fall—15kN; or

(c) if 2 persons are using the anchorage point—21kN.

(3) Each anchorage point of the system must be located so that a lanyard of the system can be attached to it before the person using the system moves into a position where the person could fall.

(4) The system’s device to absorb the energy of a falling person must limit the force applied to the person by a fall to not more than 6kN.

(5) The system must be installed in accordance with the instructions of—

(a) if the system’s manufacturer or supplier has given instructions about its installation—the manufacturer or supplier; and

(b) to the extent the system’s manufacturer or supplier has not given instructions—an engineer or competent person.

(6) The system must be maintained in accordance with the instructions of—

(a) if the system’s manufacturer or supplier has given instructions about its maintenance—the manufacturer or supplier; and

(b) to the extent the system’s manufacturer or supplier has not given instructions—an engineer or competent person.

(7) A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure there is enough distance available for a person using the system to fall to prevent the person hitting an object, the ground or another surface, other than a vertical surface.

Penalty—

Maximum penalty—60 penalty units.

(8) For subsection (7) , whether there is enough distance available must be worked out by taking the following into account—

(a) the person’s height;

(b) the height and position of the anchorage point;

(c) the length of the lanyard;

(d) any slack in the static line;

(e) any stretching of the lanyard or static line when extended by a fall;

(f) the length of the energy absorber when extended by a fall;

(g) any other relevant factor.

(9) A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure that—

(a) no part of the system can come into contact with anything that could affect the safe use of the system; and

Examples of a thing that could affect the safe use of a system—

• an edge of a platform or beam over which a lanyard would tighten if a fall were to happen

• part of an anchorage point that is not adequately padded

(b) a person using the system is trained in the safe and correct use of the system.

(10) A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure that—

(a) a component of the system is not used if it shows evidence of wear or weakness to an extent that may affect the system’s safety; and

(b) if a competent person considers that an anchorage point of the system is worn or that its load-bearing capacity may be impaired—

(i) the anchorage point is not used; and

(ii) appropriate measures are taken to prevent its use while it is worn or its load-bearing capacity may be impaired; and

(c) at least once every 6 months, a competent person inspects the components of the system, other than each anchorage point, and gives the person a written record of the inspection; and

(d) the record is kept for the lesser of the following—

(i) 4 years;

(ii) the life of the system.

(11) If the system has been used to arrest a fall, the system must not be used again unless its manufacturer or a competent person has inspected it and decided that it is fit for safe use.

(12) A person conducting a business or undertaking must not use, or allow another person to use, the system unless it is used in accordance with the instructions of—

(a) if the system’s manufacturer or supplier has given instructions about its use—the manufacturer or supplier; or

(b) otherwise—an engineer or competent person.

(13) A person conducting a business or undertaking must not use, or allow another person to use, the system while the person using the system is alone.

(14) In this section—

"free fall" means a fall in which the distance a person using a fall arrest harness system falls vertically before the system starts to take loading is more than 600mm but not more than 2m.

"limited free fall" means a fall in which the distance a person using a fall arrest harness system falls vertically before the system starts to take loading is not more than 600mm.