Height Safety

It is a legal requirement that all fall restraint or arrest, rescue and rope access systems are inspected, tested, tagged and supported with formal certification.

If certification expires, or a system is subjected to a fall, it is your responsibility to ensure it is inspected, repaired where necessary, and recertified before further use.

Vectis provides nationwide coverage using our highly experienced and trained team of engineers. All Vectis engineers are approved to install and service a wide range of market leading fall protection and access systems.

Customers can rely on our CRM system and dedicated scheduling team to manage their annual recertification. Customers will be notified, two months prior to an expiry date that a visit is required, to ensure the testing programme is in place and that compliance is maintained. In the event of system failure, or non-compliance, a full report and guidance on the required remedial action will be provided; together with the associated costs.

Our Process

Survey

Vectis employs nationwide specialists, to survey, analyse and determine Height Safety requirements.

Design

Following our survey, Vectis has the experience to design the safest, most cost-effective solution appropriate to each structure. Our expert team will work with you to deliver a safe and appropriate fall protection system design. Our knowledge and experience, working with market-leading products will ensure that your system complies with the latest standards.

Installation

Vectis engineers install fall protection systems for a wide range of market sectors; including government, local authority, industrial, manufacturing, commercial, retail, infrastructure, transportation, utilities and renewable energies.

Testing

It is a legal requirement that all fall restraint or arrest, rescue and rope access systems are inspected, tested, tagged and supported with formal certification.

Following installation, all systems must be inspected and tested annually by a suitably competent and qualified person to ensure they are fit for purpose; in accordance with the Work at Height Regulations 2005, BS 7883, BS EN 795, BS EN 353-1, BS EN 353-2, and manufacturer’s specific recommendations.

The Vectis height safety team can inspect, test and certify all of the following:

Cable and rail based horizontal and vertical safety systems
Fixed and free standing guard rails
Walkways
Mobile man anchors
Fixed cat ladders
Eyebolts including “Pushlocks”
Davit arms
Rope access systems and abseil anchors
Flag poles
Gantries
Cradles
Christmas decoration anchors
Personal protective equipment

Standards

Applicable standards for height safety include:

BS 8437 Code of practice for selection, use and maintenance of personal fall protection systems and equipment for use in the workplace
BS 8454 Code of practice for the delivery of training and education for work at height and rescue
BS EN 341 Personal fall protection equipment – Descender devices for rescue
BS EN 353-1 Personal protective equipment against falls from a height – Guided type fall arresters including a rigid anchor line
BS EN 353-2 Personal protective equipment against falls from a height – Guided type fall arresters including a flexible anchor line
BS EN 354 Personal fall protection equipment – Lanyards
BS EN 355 Personal protective equipment against falls from a height – Energy absorbers
BS EN 358 Personal protective equipment for work positioning and prevention of falls from a height – Belts and lanyards for work positioning or restraint
BS EN 360 Personal protective equipment against falls from a height – Retractable type fall arresters
BS EN 361 Personal protective equipment against falls from a height – Full body harnesses
BS EN 362 Personal protective equipment against falls from a height – Connectors
BS EN 363 Personal fall protection equipment. Personal fall protection systems
BS EN 364 Personal protective equipment against falls from a height – Test methods
BS EN 365 Personal protective equipment against falls from a height. General requirements for instructions for use, maintenance, periodic examination, repair, marking and packaging
BS EN 795 Personal fall protection equipment – Anchor devices
BS EN 7883 Code of practice for the design, selection, installation, use and maintenance of anchor devices conforming to BS EN 795
BS ISO 22846-1 Personal equipment for protection against falls – Rope access systems. Part 1 – Fundamental principles for a system of work
BS ISO 22846-2 Personal equipment for protection against falls – Rope access systems. Part 2 – Code of practice
Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA) – International code of practice for industrial rope access
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)
Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR)