General

Safety Measure: Everything You Need to Know About Anchor Point Testing

Anytime anyone is working on a height, their safety should always be a priority. Any contractor should not cut corners when it comes to safety, therefore installing anchor points is one of the most important aspect of safety, and as such, they need to be thoroughly tested and vetted safe before using them. 

Here are all the aspects you need to know about anchor point testing. 

What are anchor points

Anchor points are essentially a safety net of a different kind. They prevent workers who operate at great heights to fall, thus preventing any injury or death by said fall. 

The anchor points are extremely valuable to every height worker, and therefore must be safe to prevent any injury. 

Why install them

Even if the building seems small, or has only a few stories, and you may think you will not need anchor points, install them regardless, and use them. Any height can be deadly, or cause a serious injury, and rather than regretting it later on, be safe and think about the people cleaning your windows, or simply repairing a leaky roof

How does it all work

The anchor points can be used in a variety of ways. The major goal of this equipment is to keep personnel safe from any unintentional falls on the job. The anchor points can be placed on either man-made structures such as houses or natural surfaces such as cliff faces. The anchor points work by removing the worker’s and his equipment’s weight from the structure.

Different types

An abseiling anchor is one of the many types of anchor points available. This is for craftsmen who abseil or rappel down from heights, as the name implies. This sort of anchor is made to support the weight of the worker at all times.

A fall arrest, on the other hand, is a sort of anchor that includes bringing a person who is already falling to a safe halt. A catch platform, lifelines, or a rope grasp are examples of fall arrest systems.

Why are they important

The main purpose of an anchor point is to keep everyone safe. Whenever working on heights, people are exposed to falling and hurting themselves. Anchor points are essential for connecting lifelines and lanyards and ensuring their security.

In some countries even, there is a law requiring anyone working on a height over two meters to be strapped in, connected to an anchor point, to prevent a fall. 

Having that legal requirement, buildings need to have anchor points installed on them. Simply having them installed is not enough, as they need to be regularly checked and tested for safety. 

How often should they be tested

The frequency of testing is primarily determined by the type of system installed in your building. However, the safest advice is to have all the anchor points, static lines, and fall arrest inspected every 12 months. Above all, this examination and testing should be conducted by a qualified and experienced professional who understands how to utilize a properly calibrated test device. 

Certification

The roof anchor point devices are simple to maintain. There will be no need for maintenance after the device is placed in your building, save for anchor point checking every 6 to 12 months by a trained professional technician. A few well-known manufacturers additionally give safety certification by fully qualified and experienced specialists to keep workers safe.

For example, for anchors that have been set in concrete, there are different tests to ensure that they can hold the weight they are predetermined to, like blow tip it with a cold machine. 

For anchors screwed into a purlin, all the fixings are checked to verify proper installation and to look for rust or corrosion in crucial locations. 

The roof anchor points are intended to protect the safety of the employees, since it is a matter of life and death for them. As a result, a thorough examination performed by qualified specialists is critical. They do a risk assessment first, then create a system plan, implement the system, and finally offer certification.

If the anchors are not certified, do not use them. It is imperative that they be tested and properly vetted every 12 months. If something happens to anyone involved, both the company and the customer will be held liable

So, there you have it. Anchor point testing is of the utmost importance for everyone involved, and their safety.

Sabith

Sabith is an Bangladeshi web blogger. Right now he writes Digital Marketing, Entertainment, Fashion, Foods, Games, Health, Life Style, Sports and much more.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button