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Saving Lives with SRLs!!!
Risk management guidelines for working at height in New Zealand.
Due to the ever increasing industry safety standards, small & medium-sized businesses within our industry have been challenged to keep up with the health and safety standards, and how to implement and execute best practices for everyone involved.
Every day you and your workers are exposed to many health and safety risks and placing risk management guidelines is a must.
When it comes to your people’s safety it is essential your gear is inspected and serviced to high standards and in the required timeframe in order to prevent any injuries and loss of life in your work environment.
For example, when you are working at height on-site, you want to make sure that your gear and equipment will not only withstand the test of time but also will ensure you safely returned home to your loved ones.
According to MBIE (Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment), more than 50 percent of falls occur while working at heights that are less than three meters, and approximately 70 percent of the falls are from ladders and roofs. So it is highly important to have high safety standards implemented so that people are not harmed.
Having top-quality equipment such as SRLs (Self-retracting lifelines), or an automatic fall arrest device, is significant to your safety. Without inspections and maintenance schedules, equipment failures, and can have major impacts on your business including unscheduled outages, increased cost, and most importantly, major safety hazards potentially resulting in injury or loss of life. SRLs that are properly treated, handled, installed, inspected, stored, and certified will reward you with a prolonged life of service, better job performance, and peace of mind in knowing they won’t fail.
Why, When, Where, Who, How, and What do you need to know about SRLs?
When should I inspect my SRLs?
Regular inspections and maintenance are required prior to every use. It is recommended to do daily inspections at the start of every job. Periodic thorough examinations must be carried out at least every 12 months or more frequently according to statutory regulations, type, and frequency of use by a qualified technician. Daily inspections at the start of every job should be performed by a trained employee alongside another co-worker so if something of concern is found you have another set of eyes to look at it. It is highly important to record your inspections to prevent any faults.
Who should inspect my SRLs and where?
An inspection must be conducted by a competent person to comply with industry best practice guidelines. Annual inspections must be conducted by a qualified technician, on-site or in their workplace. They should offer you a certificate of inspection, predictive preventive, and a repairs log. They will offer regular maintenance services to ensure your work can be done safely. Alongside these, it is recommended to have your STLs tagged and schedule regular inspections.
How to inspect SRLs?
It is recommended to use gloves to protect your hands when handling wire rope SRLs. Slowly and gradually pull the wire cable out from the housing and look for any cuts or frayed areas, if the cable is worn or has any broken strands, rust, pitting corrosion, or any visible deterioration such as crushed, jammed, or flattened stands, kinks, bulges in the cable, gaps between the strands, or any heat damage.
When inspecting a Webbing SRLs make sure to look at both sides of the web. Rub the surface of the sling using your bare hand and feel for any hardened spots as this could be a sign of heat damage. To get a better view of the web, bend it and make a “U” shape. Look for anything unusual including things like shiny spots, loose stitches, or broken fibers.
Check the carabiner lock is functioning properly. You can test this by opening and closing the carabiner to make sure it closes on its own and doesn’t get caught. Also check it has no cracks, bends in the metal, or any rust and discoloration.
Perform a tension test. Pull out half of the lifeline and allow it to slowly retract retaining a light tension on the cord (do not let it go). Check to make sure the lifeline can retract smoothly. Then repeat this process by pulling out the full length of the lifeline. It is important to always maintain a light tension on the lifeline during this test. Test the brakes by grasping the lifeline and applying a sharp and steady pull downwards until the breaks engage, and then keep tension on the lifeline until the breaks are fully engaged. There should be no slipping felt during this process. Allow it to retract keeping light tension. The brakes should release and allow the lifeline to retract smoothly back into the housing. Repeat this several times at different length points.
Why are SRLs important?
When working at heights, a Self-Retracting Lifeline is a critical piece of equipment, that helps ensure you and your workers can safely return home to your families at the end of the day. You never know when an accident may take place, and when it does, you want to be connected to an SRL that is up-to-date on its inspection and ready to do its job!
What else do I need to know about SRL?
It will allow you to have greater mobility when working at heights, while at the same time, it reduces trip hazards, as the lanyard is always pulled tight.
Ensure you can read the label including the date of manufacture, serial number, manufacture information, and warnings. If for any reason you can’t read this information or your SRL does not work properly or fails, it must be removed from service immediately.
The housing of the unit is not to be removed – unless you have been authorized and trained to fix it. You can visually inspect the external cover for any cracks. If you see any damage then take your SRL to a qualified technician, as it requires special tools to open the unit and repair it. DO NOT open it yourself! You may cause greater damage.
The team at Handling Equipment Canterbury is highly qualified to inspect your equipment and will provide you with the certifications you need to ensure your peace of mind in implementing and executing best practices for everyone involved.
We have you covered.
If you have any questions or would like to book our technicians get in touch with our friendly team today!
Resources:
https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/working-at-height/working-at-height-in-nz/