New SAFed guidance for thorough examination of Personal Fall Protection Systems: What You Need to Know

Purpose of the Guidance

The primary purpose of this guidance is to ensure that systems are safe and compliant for end users, in accordance with BS 7883:2019. Compliance reduces risk, ensures legal adherence, and protects lives.

David

FAWKES

Chief Engineer - CEng MIMechE, BEng (Hons)

Bureau Veritas

The Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed) has recently introduced an industry Guidance for the inspection and thorough examination of Personal Fall Protection Systems, known as ML CC19. This guidance supports periodic inspection and/or Thorough Examination of systems with respect to BS 7883 - Personal fall protection equipment, Anchor systems - System design, installation and inspection - Code of practice to ensure they are safe for the end user.

Included Equipment

Horizontal lifelines (EN 795 Class C), which are flexible lines (usually wire rope or webbing) installed horizontally and anchored at both ends, are included in this guidance. These systems allow workers to move along a length while remaining attached for fall protection.

Key Changes in BS 7883:2019

The latest edition of BS 7883 was issued in November 2019 and includes significant changes to the design, installation, and inspection of Personal Fall Protection Systems. Notable updates include:

Comprehensive Technical File: A requirement for a detailed technical file and examination scheme.
Retrospective Application: Unlike other standards, BS 7883:2019 implies that the recommendations for the inspection of anchor systems are applied retrospectively to all equipment within its scope.

Action Steps for Compliance

To ensure compliance, follow these action steps:

Ensure Documentation Availability: Make sure all required documentation is readily available.
Installation Review: Arrange for an installation review or reverse engineering if needed.
Corrective Actions: Complete any necessary corrective actions to avoid failure at the next inspection.

Required Documentation

To ensure your Personal Fall Protection Systems are compliant, you should have the following documentation:

System Technical File: Records of the system design/layout, design calculations, structural fixing details, as-built drawings, and information on any hidden elements.
Operations and Maintenance Manual: User instructions, personal fall protection equipment (PFPE) required, method statement for use, rescue, and recovery plan.
Examination Scheme for Inspections: Recommendations for inspection supplied by the manufacturer(s) / suppliers of the personal fall protection system (PFPS) and frequency of periodic inspections.

If any of these documents are not available, an installation review would be required. If information on hidden elements is not available, this may require reverse engineering.

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Access the SAFed MLCC19 Guidance Here