Sydney Height Safety & Solutions

An Introduction to Personal Fall Protection for Work at Heights

Personal fall protection should be used in situations where it is not practicable to arrange for the work to be done from a more suitable surface, such as a fixed or temporary work platform.

If Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) is the chosen method, it is necessary to select a system which will minimise the possibility and consequences of any fall. Below are the grades in which a system should be approached.

    1.  Should be one designed to prevent the user reaching zones where the risk of a fall exists

    2.  One that prevents the onset of a fall.

    3.  A fall arrest system

These systems are the basic methods that are developed into site-specific height safety solutions by NHSS. The menu on the left highlights the variety of systems that can be designed and employed.

The following methods of fall protection are available, listed in order of preference.

Total Restraint

To control a persons movement by means of a combination of a harness, a restraint line and line anchorage point that will physically prevent the person from reaching a position at which there is a risk of a free fall.

Restricted Fall

A fall or the arrest of a fall where the person suffering the fall is partially restrained by a restraining device. Such as, a pole strap, restraint line or is sliding down a slope on which it is normally possible to walk without the assistance of a hand-rail or hand line.

Limited Free Fall

A fall, or the arrest of a fall, where the fall distance prior to the system taking the load, and the maximum  distance of any free fall component will not exceed 600mm.

Free Fall Arrest

A fall or the arrest of a fall, where the fall distance before the fall-arrest system begins to take any loading, is in excess of 600mm. Either vertically or on a slope which is not possible to walk without assistance of a hand rail or hand line. Maximum Free Fall distance permitted is 2m, with a shock absorbing lanyard.

National Height Safety & Solutions can provide training in all aspects of working at height. See our training page. 

NHSS use and recommend the trusted brands below for your height safety needs.