About FPMA
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.

The FPMA has since concluded that those standards do not just cover the equipment and its design and test parameters, but reach into areas ranging from equipment inspection and maintenance through to operator competency based certified training. Concern was also expressed about the circulation of factually incorrect information - such as recent articles on suspension trauma and articles misrepresenting the difference between fall arrest and fall restraint - as well as the provision of "height safety training" to the industry by unqualified and uncertified training organisations. 

The group was also critical of the Australian Standards organisation. While the Australian Standard on height safety - which is considered as the most comprehensive in the world - is essential to meet the specific requirements of the Australian market conditions, it is not being updated in both content and testing requirements to incorporate conceptual design changes that further improve worker safety by reducing risk. 

FMPA representatives will be contacting parties from Insurance Groups, Work Cover Authorities, Trade Unions, Australian Standards and Industry to gain support for changes that will lead to improvements in the safety of people that are required to work at height through:- 

• The upgrading of equipment design and test standards for the Australian market.

• Correct equipment selection, use, inspection and maintenance.

• Industry Accredited operator training.

• Publishing papers on "Industry Critical" issues.