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3M Fall Protection has learned of the possibility of a manufacturing defect in a dorsal d-ring utilized in ExoFit NEX™ harnesses manufactured between January 2016 and December 2018. Although there have been no reported incidents involving this condition, a dorsal d-ring with this defect will not support the load in a fall arrest event which could result in serious injury or death. Harnesses manufactured only within this date range require immediate inspection for lot number 09P1 stamped into a dorsal d-ring. We believe that only one harness was manufactured with a defective D-ring, but we urge inspection of all potentially affected harnesses out of an abundance of caution in the interests of worker safety.

To address the situation, 3M Fall Protection is launching a global Inspection Notice. As set out in the attached Notice, all ExoFit NEX™ harnesses manufactured between January 2016 and December 2018 require inspection prior to use.

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SAFEWORK NSW

Fatality

• Incident date: 23/08/2018
• Event: Fall from height through plastic roof sheeting
• Location: Tomago in Northern NSW

A 19-year-old first year apprentice electrician was on the roof of a single storey commercial building, assisting with the installation of solar panels. The worker stepped on a plastic roof sheet and fell approximately 7 metres.

The rope line had excessive slack between the worker and the anchorage point. The excessive slack in the rope line allowed the worker to fall the 7 metres to the concrete slab below.

Teen worker raised safety concerns before fatal fall

The devastated mother of a teenage boy who fell 12 metres to his death during a building refurbishment has pleaded for tighter regulations on WA worksites, including the introduction of industrial manslaughter laws.

"Someone is going to get killed": Mother reveals her son told her he was worried about the safety of his worksite just eight days before he fell 12metres to his death

• The mother of a 17-year-old construction worker who fell to his death has spoken 
• Regan Ballantine's son, Wesley, fell 12 metres through a glass ceiling in 2017
• She wants tighter regulation on workplace safety and a hazard reporting system
• Wesley went to his mother eight days before his death, concerned for his safety
• She says he wasn't comfortable voicing his concerns to the worksite's foreman

Dear Industry Colleagues,

We would like to remind all our Professional Customers that Standards Australia has just released the following drafts of Standards Amendments for Public Comment. Public Comment closes on the 11th of October 2018, so please take the time to read and comment on these vital industry standards.

• AS/NZS 1891.3 - Fall Arrest Devices
• AS/NZS 1891.5 - Lanyard Assemblies and Pole Straps
• AS/NZS 1891.1 - Manufacturing Requirements for Full Body Combination and Lower Body Harnesses.

INTRODUCTION:

Some Petzl products show 100 kg.

Only the EN 341 (descenders), EN 12841 (rope access) and EN 813 (Seat harnesses) standards allow certification for masses over 100 kg.

For all other equipment, European standards require testing with a mass of 100 kg.

The requirements of the standards only partly cover the consequences of a fall of a 100 to 140 kg user (including equipment)

The employee was crouching down welding hand railings onto a platform at a height of more than three metres when he lost his balance on 19 August 2016. He did not have adequate fall protection, a travel restraining system or a fall-arrest harness.

The company had not prepared a safe work method statement before work began.

With Standards constantly changing and with training & maintenance requirements increasing each year, many organisations go into reactive mode with regards to managing their working at heights risk and PPE. Instead of simply "ticking the box" just to meet the minimum compliance requirements, we need to look more effective ways to manage the changing risks of our workplaces and ensure our PPE meets these needs. When we do this, we discover ways to remove the layers of complexity from equipment application and selection, make it more simple to train our team and maintain their skills, ensure what we specify is fit for purpose and all while comply with any Regulatory requirements we face.

HEIGHTECH can help. By working with us, you can design a comprehensive and fit-for-purpose fall protection plan that stays abreast of changes in Standards and removes the complexity of product selection, with the core focus of keeping your workers safe.