Under UK law, working at height refers to any situation in which – if not properly protected – a person could fall a distance far enough to injure themselves. Whenever there’s a risk of injury, no matter how small, it’s up to the employer to keep their team safe. One way to do this is with a mansafe system.
Also known as a fall arrest system, mansafe systems encompass a range of safety solutions designed to prevent falls from heights in commercial, industrial, and construction settings. From anchor points to harnesses, the protective equipment works together to keep anyone accessing the site safe and reduce the risk of injury. Fall arrest systems of this kind are specifically designed to protect workers in the best way possible. They differ from fall restraint systems in that an approved fall arrest system will slow a fall and protect a worker, whereas fall restraint devices are designed to stop a fall from occurring at all.
It might sound strange, but fall arrest systems are certainly suitable and sufficient measures for protecting your workers, because sometimes a fall is unavoidable. It’s when falls happen that you’ll be grateful for a mansafe system capable of stopping that fall and preventing injury or worse.
To learn more about mansafe systems and how they’re tested to remain compliant, our height safety services team has put together this easy-to-understand guide.
What Are The Benefits Of A Mansafe System?
Mansafe systems bring a number of safety advantages when working at heights, including:
- Fall prevention
- Reduced injury severity
- Compliance with regulations
- Enhanced productivity and flexibility
If you’re wondering why testing mansafe roof systems (and all other working at height safety equipment) is so important, let’s take a look at each of these benefits in a little more detail. This should show you why ensuring your mansafe systems maintain peak performance is so critical. Your workers are only as safe as the fall protection system and personal protective equipment you provide. To ensure fall protection systems like mansafe systems are able to provide the benefits you expect, you have to regularly maintain them, and regular testing is part of this.
Fall Prevention
The main purpose of a mansafe system is to prevent falls from occurring. Through the use of anchors and eyebolts, horizontal lifelines, mobile man anchors and the like, you drastically reduce the risk of falling when working at heights. This increases the safety standards on your site and reduces fall hazards significantly.
Reduced Injury Severity
50% of all work-related fatal accidents are caused by falls from heights. With the proper implementation of mansafe systems, though, you can significantly decrease the chance of severe or fatal injuries when a fall does occur. This is largely due to fall arrest equipment stopping the workers before they hit the ground to minimise impact force.
Of all the fall protection solutions out there, mansafe systems are some of the best at providing both fall protection and fall arrest – meaning they’re designed to stop a fall in the first place, and catch a fall should one occur.
Compliance with Regulations
Many industries are subject to strict safety regulations that require the implementation of fall protection measures. In the UK, for example, fall protection equipment including a mansafe system is made a legal requirement when working at height under the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
Remaining compliant and ensuring your mansafe system is correctly installed and regularly maintained, tested and inspected is key to prevent personal injury to your workers.
Enhanced Productivity and Flexibility
When workers feel safe and secure, they can focus more on their tasks, leading to increased productivity. They are less likely to be distracted by safety concerns, leading to smoother operations. Mansafe systems can be customised to fit different types of structures, rooftops, or other elevated work areas, too, for greater efficiency and flexibility.
When attached to anchor points or a rail system (as is the case in vertical lifeline systems), your workers are free to use both of their hands to complete their tasks, knowing they’re securely fixed to a point that will prevent them from falling.
Do Mansafe Systems Need Testing?
Under British law, mansafe systems need regular testing to remain compliant. How frequently you’ll need to test your equipment varies depending on what you’re using. A mansafe latchway system, for example, needs to be tested at least once every 12 months in accordance with BS EN 795 and BS 7883. These standards also detail that:
- Rope access systems need to be tested every 6 months.
- Mobile man anchors need to be tested every 12 months.
Mansafe system inspection and testing is crucial to ensure its reliability and effectiveness in preventing falls. It also ensures your worksite remains compliant with UK regulations, which are designed to improve safety for anyone working at height and, as part of this, insist that you inspect fall arrest and fall protection systems regularly.
If your mansafe system is in need of testing, our mansafe testing and inspection team can help you remain fully compliant with inspection, testing, and maintenance services designed to improve the safety measures you have in place on site.
Different Types of Mansafe Testing
After installing a mansafe roof system, different forms of testing will need to be carried out to ensure safety. These tests are:
- Preliminary testing: checks carried out before work begins to ensure the mansafe system is adequate, installed correctly, and working.
- Pre-use checks: the mansafe roof system should be checked before use to ensure it’s secure and safe.
- Compliance testing: this involves fully testing the system at fixed intervals, based on government regulations.
You’ll need a trained professional to sign off your preliminary testing (which is usually carried out after professional installation) and compliance testing. Your pre-use checks can be carried out by a competent member of the team, like a project manager or site supervisor, as a form of ongoing inspection.
Mansafe systems are the pinnacle in personal protection for workers and such systems are vital in preventing falls and injuries whilst working at height. Ensuring they’re regularly tested and inspected is non-negotiable so you remain compliant and protect worker safety.
How to Test a Mansafe System
At Altus, we provide testing and recertification for all height safety products and fall protection systems.
If you’re wondering how to test mansafe latch systems and other fall protection equipment, here’s a quick overview of our team’s process:
Visual Inspection
We help you regularly inspect all components of your mansafe system, including anchor points, lifelines, connectors, harnesses, and lanyards. This should be done before each use and on a scheduled basis. During the inspection, we’ll help you identify signs of wear and tear, corrosion, or damage, and leave you feeling confident you can carry out compliant pre-use checks on your equipment.
Load Testing
We’ll periodically conduct load tests to verify the strength and stability of anchor points and lifelines. This involves applying a specified load to the system to ensure it can safely support the weight of a falling worker.
Drop Test
When testing mansafe latchway systems, eyebolts, and other fall arrest equipment, we’ll simulate a drop in controlled conditions using a dummy. This is necessary to evaluate the system’s ability to arrest a fall safely, mimicking real-world fall scenarios for an accurate assessment of your mansafe system’s performance.
Functional Testing
We’ll follow British and European standards to regularly test the functionality of connectors, lanyards, and other components to ensure they operate as intended. This can include opening and closing connectors, retracting mansafe latchway systems, and inspecting shock absorbers.
Worker Training
A key aspect of our Altus 360 height safety services is training your team. We’ll make sure every relevant individual knows how to correctly use the mansafe system, including how to attach themselves, move along the lifelines, and perform self-rescue if necessary.
Certification
Our qualified safety professionals will certify the mansafe system’s installation and performance according to industry standards and regulations. This provides proof of your legal compliance and gives you the peace of mind that your site can be accessed safely.
Work With Height Safety Services Professionals
It’s always good to remember that testing and maintenance of any height safety system – including the mansafe system – is an ongoing process. Regular checks, maintenance, and employee training are essential to ensure the system’s continued effectiveness in preventing falls and ensuring worker safety.
To make compliance and safety assurance simpler, our team at Altus offers regular testing and maintenance inspection to all of our clients, whether they have bought the equipment from us or purchased it elsewhere.
If you’d like to learn more or book your mansafe system testing, contact us today. We can arrange a time that suits you and tell you more about our testing solutions, including how you can save money with 3 and 5-year mansafe roof system contracts.