Many height safety and fall protection systems cover only over a specific part of a work area. Here’s how workers can check they are staying within the safe work area.
Part of a worker’s obligations when going to use a height safety system is to check that the system is in good working order prior to connecting to it. While ensuring that an anchor point is firmly attached to the structure can be comparatively straight forward, workers should also be making sure the system will keep them in a safe working area.
The issue for workers is that not all height safety systems are designed to provide access to every square-metre of a work area. In these situations, workers need to check the system is going to provide adequate protection against a fall risk in the area they are planning to work in.
Distances between anchor points and fall edges
A height safety system should be designed to keep workers in a fall prevention situation called “fall restraint”. When in fall restraint, a worker can access an edge – for example, the gutters of a building – but is unable to progress to a point where they would pass the edge. Assuming, of course, they have the necessary skills to use the system competently and correctly.
Where issues can arise is when the distances between the sequence of anchor points and the edges do not match up.
When roof anchor points are used as part of a height safety system, their location needs to be calculated to ensure a worker can traverse to the next anchor point in sequence without being exposed to the risk of a fall. The distance between the anchor points must be equal, or less than, the distance to the nearest fall edge.

If the anchor points are not positioned correctly, the distance from one to the next can exceed the distance to the fall edge. When this occurs, a worker can find themselves outside fall restraint, and in a position where a fall can occur.

Roof pitch and its implications
Understanding how steep a pitched roof is, and subsequently what fall protection measures need to be taken, forms another check that workers can undertake to ensure the space they are entering is safe.
So, what is a pitched roof? By strict definition, a pitched roof is any roof that is not flat. However, there is a bit more too it.
Generally accepted practice is that a roof pitch of 15 degrees or less can be “flat” when designing height safety systems. A loss of balance, slip or trip on a roof with a pitch like is not likely to result in the worker sliding further down the roof towards the edge.
Where work is being undertaken on a roof with such a shallow pitch, if the work is two metres or more away from the nearest fall edge, use of a fall protection system such as a harness and anchor points may not be required. However, care should always be exercised.
As roofs get steeper, the more likely it is that such an accident will result in the worker sliding down the roof. This can introduce the likelihood of them then falling off the edge and incurring significant, potentially fatal, injuries.
For roofs with pitches greater than 15 degrees, being continuously connect to a height safety or fall protection system of some sort is a requirement.
Understanding the risks
Unfortunately, it is impossible to eliminate every single risk that exists at a workplace or job site. There will always be a need for some workers to enter high-risk areas. In those cases, it is vital that time and care be taken to ensure that all potential risks are identified, assessed and then mitigated.
Allowing time for this is as much a priority for the worker and their employer as it is a principal contractor or owner who is engaging them. All parties to high-risk work should be aware of, and consider, the time needed to make sure that both workplaces and work systems are safe.
Partners in protecting people
Height Safety Engineers bring more than 20 years’ experience in fall protection to every job. Our team have the experience and knowledge to assist every business in better protecting people working at height.
Start your safety journey with your partners in protecting people by calling 1300 884 978, email enquiries@heightsafety.net, or fill out our contact form.