The draft standard to replace Australian / New Zealand Standard Industrial fall-arrest system and devices AS/NZS 1891.4:2000 has been released for public comment. This draft has been prepared following the recent publication of AS/NZS 1891.1, Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices, Part 1: Harnesses and ancillary equipment, with a primary aim of bringing it up-to-date with that Standard.

 The principal changes from the previous edition are:

(a) Division of the work method ‘restraint’ into total restraint and restraint technique, the latter requiring the user always to wear full-body harness, the former requiring at least a lower body harness and both methods requiring use of fall-arrest rated equipment at all times.

(b) Minimum allowable anchorage strength to be 12 kN or 15 kN depending on fall distance.

(c) New terminology for harnesses (full or lower body) and positioning of fall-arrest attachment points.

(d) Inclusion of twin-tail lanyards.

(e) In-service values for the extension of personal energy absorbers in fall situations.

(f) Lower body harness use restricted to limited free fall and restrained fall.

(g) Updated requirements for operator training and assessment.

Copies can be obtained from Standards Australia. Comments close 21 May 2008.

From the 1st September 2008 the NSW Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 (OH&S Regulation) and 21 Codes of Practice made under the OH&S Act 2000 will apply to protect persons at work within the states mining industry.

Risk Response + Rescue are well poised to assist mining companies with compliance. RR+R has a proven track record of safety compliance with both the mining sector and the application of the Regulations and relevant Codes of Practice. Our current mining programs have been aligned to meet and comply with these requirements since their inception.

Safer workplaces resulting in fewer traumatic injuries, fewer industrial diseases and reduced costs to are the objectives of the reforms.