Height safety system compliance is not one-and-done.
Height safety systems require ongoing inspections and certification to keep being compliant. Making sure a system is compliant after installation is one thing, but compliance needs to be maintained throughout the working life of the system.
While a system should be inspected by every worker before they first connect to it, there are other triggers that can signal when a system needs a more thorough, documented compliance inspection.
Inspection triggers our team experiences
One very common cause for a system falling out of compliance is the installation of solar panel systems. The Height Safety Engineers compliance team regularly comes across roofs where the installation of solar panels has seen system components damaged or covered up and rendered inaccessible.
This can also happen when other plant or HVAC is installed. Systems can be damaged and anchor points made inaccessible by the plant itself or the service lines running to and from it.
There are other events that can trigger the need for a height safety system compliance inspection, too. Changes to the building and larger maintenance or refurbishment programs can also affect height safety systems.
Older buildings with systems installed on them regularly undergo re-roofing. That is, old and dilapidated roof sheeting is removed and replaced with new sheeting. In these cases, an existing height safety system may be removed and then reinstalled. If not reinstalled correctly, the system may no longer be compliant. If the system is not reinstalled at all, then the roof may be unsafe to access once work is completed.
Other changes to the roof can also impact an existing height safety system.
Any work that is undertaken on the roof has the potential to affect an installed height safety system.
Other inspection triggers you should know
There are two well-known events that trigger compliance inspections for height safety systems.
The first trigger is time.
Under AS/NZS 1891.4:2025, a height safety system must undergo a documented compliance inspection at least once every 12 months. These inspections, sometimes referred to as recertification inspections, check the physical components of the system to ensure they have been installed correctly and that the underlying structure is capable of supporting the system should it be deployed in a fall.
A fall occurring with a worker connected to the system is the second trigger.
In the event of a fall, any component involved in arresting the fall must be replaced. This includes anchor points, harnesses, rope lines, and more. All components of the system must also be checked. This makes sure that a comprehensive check of the system is completed, that could uncover previously unnoticed deployment or damage, prior to workers connecting to the system and using it again.
Standards and regulatory updates
In September 2025, AS/NZS 1891.4 was updated. This update contained a number of important changes in how height safety and fall protection systems are designed and used.
For PCBUs in New South Wales, there has been a new code of practice released relating to working at height on commercial and industrial building roofs.
In some situations, where roof access has not been required for a long period of time, an annual compliance inspection may not have been undertaken. The changes in relevant standards and the codes of practice mean that having a system inspected before it needs to be used again is more important than ever.
The short of it is, getting a height safety system inspected regularly is a vital part of making sure the workers accessing your roof are protected against one of the common mechanisms of workplace injury.
Partners in protecting people
Height Safety Engineers is the expert in fall protection and compliance. Our processes are NATA-accredited to provide complete trust in the robustness and accuracy of our work.
Take the important first step in protecting people at your site from falls by calling us on 1300 884 978, emailing us at enquiries@heightsafety.net, or by clicking here to drop us a line.
