2 February 2005 - New HSE Research Report on Fall Prevention and Arrest Equipment

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A research report has been produced, prepared by Glasgow Caledonian University School of the Built and Natural Environment for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), on Fall Prevention and Arrest Equipment within the Construction Industry.    The aim of the study was to show safety benefits and limitations within the construction industry's high injury and fatality rate from working at height.

The five phase programme studied areas such as the following:

• Purlin Trolley Systems

• Safety Decking

• Fall Arrest Mats

• Safety Netting

• Cable and Track based fall arrest systems NASC's SG4:00 fall arrest usage when erecting, altering of and dismantling scaffold equipment.

When selection of correct safety equipment for working at height, principles of hierarchy of risk control are important.   The report preferences such as follows:

• prevention: guardrails, barriers, purlin trolleys and safety decking

• passive arrest: safety nets and fall arrest mats

• active arrest: cable and track-based systems such as described in SG4:00

• mitigation of any consequences of an accident.

Wherever possible, say the HSE, the risk of a fall must be designed out.   However, if designing out is not possible, when selecting of equipment, the above hierarchy must be followed.

The research report can be accessed by clicking the following:

Research Report - Selection and Use of Fall Prevention and Arrest Equipment

Article by Alexandra Johnston