AS/NZS 1891.4:2000

1 - AS/NZS 1891.4:2000 INDUSTRIAL FALL-ARREST SYSTEMS AND DEVICES - SELECTION, USE AND MAINTENANCE
4 - PREFACE
5 - CONTENTS
7 - SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL
7 - 1.1 SCOPE
7 - 1.2 OBJECTIVE AND PRINCIPLES
8 - 1.3 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
8 - 1.4 DEFINITIONS
8 - 1.4.1 Competent person
8 - 1.4.2 Engineer
8 - 1.4.3 Fall-arrest device
8 - 1.4.4 Fall-arrest system
9 - 1.4.5 Free fall, free fall-arrest
9 - 1.4.6 Limited free fall, limited free fall-arrest
9 - 1.4.7 Restrained fall, restrained fall-arrest
9 - 1.4.8 Total restraint
9 - 1.5 HIERARCHY OF CONTROL
12 - SECTION 2 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SELECTION AND SAFE USE
12 - 2.1 SYSTEM AND EQUIPMENT SELECTION
12 - 2.1.1 General
12 - 2.1.2 Effects on wearer
16 - 2.1.3 Compatibility of components and systems
16 - 2.1.4 Work in adverse environments
17 - 2.1.5 Work task hazards
17 - 2.1.6 Rescue provisions
17 - 2.2 SAFE USE OF EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS
17 - 2.2.1 General safety requirements and recommendations
18 - 2.2.2 Pendulum effect and snagging
18 - 2.2.3 Falls over sharp edges
18 - 2.2.4 Fragile work surfaces
19 - 2.2.5 Restraint systems
19 - 2.2.6 Working on slopes
20 - 2.2.7 Degradation of equipment
20 - 2.2.8 Labels and signs
21 - 2.2.9 Equipment combinations
21 - 2.2.10 User competency
21 - 2.3 FALL PROTECTION ON MOVEABLE PLATFORMS
24 - SECTION 3 ANCHORAGES
24 - 3.1 ANCHORAGE SELECTION
24 - 3.1.1 General
25 - 3.1.2 Single point anchorages suitable for direct connection of personal fall-arrest equipment
26 - 3.1.3 Anchorages requiring use of a sling
26 - 3.1.4 Horizontal lifelines and rails
26 - 3.1.5 Components, used in anchorage systems
26 - 3.2 SAFE USE OF ANCHORAGES
26 - 3.2.1 General requirements
26 - 3.2.2 Safe access
26 - 3.2.3 Avoiding lateral swing-The pendulum effect
27 - 3.2.4 Safe use of anchorage slings
29 - 3.2.5 Signs at anchorage points
30 - SECTION 4 HARNESSES (INCLUDING BELTS), LANYARDS, STRAPS AND FITTINGS
30 - 4.1 DESIGNATION AND SELECTION OF HARNESSES
30 - 4.1.1 General requirements
31 - 4.1.2 Fall-arrest harnesses
31 - 4.1.3 Work positioning (sit) harness
32 - 4.1.4 Confined space fall-arrest harness
33 - 4.1.5 Lineworker’s body belt
33 - 4.1.6 Ladder belt
33 - 4.1.7 Restraint belt
33 - 4.2 DESIGNATION AND SELECTION OF LANYARD ASSEMBLIES, POLE STRAPS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT
33 - 4.2.1 Lanyard assembly
34 - 4.2.2 Pole strap
34 - 4.2.3 Restraint line
34 - 4.2.4 Attachment hardware
36 - 4.3 SAFE USE OF BELT, HARNESS, LANYARD AND POLE STRAP SYSTEMS
36 - 4.3.1 General requirements
36 - 4.3.2 Harness/lanyard combinations
37 - 4.3.3 Harness/belt/pole strap combinations
37 - 4.3.4 Attachment hardware-General
38 - 4.3.5 Attachment hardware-Usage problems
40 - 4.3.6 Backhooking
42 - SECTION 5 FALL-ARREST DEVICES, SELECTION AND SAFE USE
42 - 5.1 EQUIPMENT DESIGNATION AND SELECTION
42 - 5.1.1 Designation of devices
43 - 5.1.2 Selection
45 - 5.2 SAFE USE OF EQUIPMENT
45 - 5.2.1 General
45 - 5.2.2 Type 1 fall-arrest devices
45 - 5.2.3 Types 2 and 3 fall-arrest devices
45 - 5.2.4 Anchorage lines extended laterally
48 - SECTION 6 HORIZONTAL LIFELINES AND RAILS
48 - 6.1 SYSTEM TYPES AND DESCRIPTION
48 - 6.2 SYSTEM AND EQUIPMENT SELECTION
48 - 6.2.1 System type selection
50 - 6.2.2 Other selection criteria
50 - 6.2.3 Selection of ancillary equipment
52 - 6.2.4 Provision of end anchorages for horizontal lifelines
52 - 6.2.5 Provision of intermediate anchorages for horizontal lifelines
52 - 6.2.6 Pendulum effect
52 - 6.3 SAFE USE OF SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
55 - SECTION 7 FALL CLEARANCE
55 - 7.1 GENERAL
55 - 7.2 CALCULATION AND ESTIMATION OF FACTORS
59 - SECTION 8 EFFECT OF EQUIPMENT CONFIGURATION ON FREE-FALL DISTANCE
59 - 8.1 EQUIPMENT PERFORMANCE
59 - 8.2 MEASUREMENT OF FREE-FALL DISTANCE
60 - 8.3 ACCEPTABLE FALL DISTANCES
61 - 8.4 CONFIGURATIONS USING FIXED LENGTH LANYARDS
61 - 8.4.1 Configurations in the ideal range
61 - 8.4.2 Configurations up to the maximum fall limit of 2.0 m
62 - 8.4.3 Configurations where the fall limit of 2.0 m will be exceeded
62 - 8.5 CONFIGURATIONS USING TYPE 2/ 3 FALL-ARREST DEVICES
63 - SECTION 9 INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
63 - 9.1 SUMMARY OF INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS
63 - 9.2 OPERATOR INSPECTION
64 - 9.3 REGULAR SCHEDULED PERIODIC INSPECTION
64 - 9.3.1 General
64 - 9.3.2 Belts, harnesses, lanyards and associated equipment
64 - 9.3.3 Anchorages
64 - 9.3.4 Fall-arrest devices
65 - 9.3.5 Horizontal and vertical life lines and rails
65 - 9.4 INSPECTION ON ENTRY OR RE-ENTRY INTO SERVICE
65 - 9.4.1 Entry into service of a new item
65 - 9.4.2 Re-entry into service after an item has been repaired
66 - 9.4.3 Re-entry into service after a period of storage or out of service
66 - 9.5 EQUIPMENT WHICH HAS ARRESTED A FALL OR SHOWS A DEFECT
66 - 9.6 LIFE EXPIRED EQUIPMENT
66 - 9.7 INSPECTION OF ROPES AND SLINGS
66 - 9.8 STORAGE AND TRANSPORT
66 - 9.9 MAINTENANCE
67 - 9.10 EQUIPMENT DATA AND MAINTENANCE RECORDS
68 - APPENDIX A - SUSPENSION TRAUMA
69 - APPENDIX B - STANDARDS FOR COMPONENTS USED IN ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS
70 - APPENDIX C - INSPECTION OF BELTS AND HARNESSES-CHECK LIST
72 - APPENDIX D - INSPECTION OF FALL-ARREST DEVICES-CHECK LIST
73 - INDEX

Specifies requirements and sets out recommendations for the selection, safe use and maintenance of industrial fall-arrest systems and devices based on the use of safety harnesses (including belts), horizontal life lines and rails, fall-arrest devices, and associated lanyards, connectors, anchorages and fittings.

This Standard specifies requirements and sets out recommendations for the selection, safe use and maintenance of industrial fall-arrest systems and devices based on the use of safety harnesses (including belts), horizontal life lines and rails, fall-arrest devices, and associated lanyards, connectors, anchorages and fittings, as follows:(a) Selection Requirements and recommendations for determining the types of components of the system which would be appropriate to the envisaged usage.(b) Safe use Requirements and recommendations relating to the safe practices to be followed in the use of components and assemblies.(c) Maintenance Requirements and recommendations for inspection, storage, servicing and cleaning practices.Performance requirements for the various systems and components covered by this Standard are specified in AS/NZS 1891, Parts 1, 2 and 3.NOTE: This Standard provides guidance for the selection of equipment and safe use procedures for some but not necessarily all forms of height protection or all of the circumstances under which such equipment and procedures are used.

First published in Australia as AS 2626-1983.
AS 4626 first published 1993.
First published in New Zealand as NZS 5811 Part 2:1981.
AS 2626-1983, AS 4626-1993 and NZS 5811 Part 2:1981 jointly revised, amalgamated and redesignated as AS/NZS 1891.4:2000.