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WAHA - News Blog

HELLO WAHA NEWS

The Working at Height Association (WAHA) is launching an E-Newsletter to better communicate with members and with the Height Safety market in general. The Association intends to keep the market appraised of its activities to improve the safety of those required to work at height.

WAHA E-News has been designed to regularly update members - and the market in general - on activities that are underway or planned to help promote the safety of people working at height. The Association will be preparing its own briefs based on its market representation activities but it also requests input from members and other interested parties on local and national issues or events that can

assist in promoting an increased awareness on height safety related matters.

E-News will be delivered electronically to all WAHA members and other registered recipients. The newsletter itself will be limited to a short version of the topic with a link provided to the full article which

can also be downloaded from the WAHA website.

If you have any events or issues you wish to raise with WAHA please use the "Contact Us" page on the website.

This first version of E-News covers the launch of both the establishment of Working at Height Association from the Fall Protection Manufacturers Association and the E-News communication media as well as the current status on the Association's activity on the development of a new Australian Standard on single Point Anchors.

Welcome to E-News!!

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION TO DRIVE NEW AUSTRALIAN STANDARD

WAHA constantly strives to develop and set high standards of safety and currently has a proposal with Standards Australia to fund the development of a new Australian Standard on single point anchors.

WAHA recommends that where personal fall protection equipment is required, there are three key elements employed:

  • Full body fall arrest rated harness.
  • A fall arrest rated anchor system.
  • A connector to join the full body harness to the anchor system (usually a shock absorbing lanyard).

Over the last 10 years, Australia has developed what is recognised as the world's most comprehensive suite of standards covering personal fall protection equipment known as the AN/NZS1891 suite of standards.

The first of 3 parts of the standard covers harnesses and ancillary equipment (lanyards, pole straps, etc.); the second (which is in two sections) covers horizontal lifeline and rail systems while the third is directed at fall arrest devices (rope grabs etc.) Part 4 is directed at the users of the equipment and focuses on the selection, use and maintenance of equipment.

However, this suite of standards – while covering movable horizontal and vertical

lifeline and rail systems – fails to cover the widely used single point anchor – one of the critical items in a wide variety of personal fall arrest systems. This gap in the standards leaves a huge potential risk for those working at height.

Over the last 15 months, the Technical Committee of the Fall Protection Manufactures Association - now WAHA - has worked to develop a draft standard for single point anchors.

The Association currently has a proposal with Standards Australia to fund the finalisation of this Standard. The Standards Australia committee and public comment processes has a timeline of some 25 weeks and, if running to plan, the Standard should be published 35 weeks after commencement. As our tag line states, WAHA is constantly 'reaching new levels of safety' and all of the WAHA team are excited to get this standard implemented as soon as possible.

HEIGHT SAFETY INDUSTRY TO BECOME CO-ORDINATED

We are excited to announce the expansion of the Fall Prevention Manufacturers Association to include other industry segments- including end users - involved in managing safe working at height. With a mission to become the peak industry body on height, WAHA has grown to represent the interests of manufacturers, installers, distributers, training companies, as well as end users, which is an expansion of the FPMA's previous scope.

The Fall Protection Manufacturers Association (FPMA), which was formed in 2006, is currently expanding its sphere of influence to cover all businesses involved with the requirements of managing safe working at height. It is planned that the new Working at Height Association (WAHA) will become

the peak industry body and will represent the interests of manufacturers and installers, through to distributors and training companies as well as end users and related industry associations. The Association has three classes of membership – Full, Associate and Affiliate – based on the level of involvement and contribution of the member within their industry segment.

All Members will be required to comply with the highest technical and ethical standards within their industry segment and to work with the Association on the continual improvement of the levels of safety of those required to work at height.

The Association will provide a number of forums for members to discuss, research and take action on industry issues and will actively lobby on behalf of the industry with the appropriate government agencies, other authorities and related associations

The Association already has a proposal with Standards Australia to fund the development of a new Australian Standard on single point anchors – a standard currently conspicuous by its absence
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