For many years the debate about how best to protect workers required to operate at height has been taken to the market by the individual manufacturers of fall protection equipment - as well as consultants, training organisations and other interested parties. This historically fragmented approach by the equipment manufacturers to the ultimate improvement in safety standards has allowed less qualified parties to manipulate information for commercial advantage rather than the basic principle of improved worker safety.

While the design and quality of height safety equipment has consistently improved through the development and adoption of Australian Standards (AS1891 part1 to part 4), the continued high incidence of serious injury and death to workers clearly shows that more needs to be done than simply the development of equipment.

In July 2006, under independent facilitation, a meeting of the Managing Directors of the major fall protection equipment manufacturer's in Australia was convened to discuss the need for a more effective method of increasing the awareness on the issues relating to the safety of workers operating at height. Companies represented were Capital Safety (Sala), Moxham, Fallright, Spanset, Beaver and MSA.

The group unanimously agreed that implementing industry agreed standards for height safety and confined space workers must be the prime objective and that, by setting and using those industry standards on a consistent basis, the individual companies would continue to compete for normal commercial advantage in the market.

Subsequent discussions held between the manufacturers led to the formation of THE FALL PROTECTION MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED - to be known as the FPMA.