What is a Man Safe or Anchor Safe system?

One of our qualified inspectors tested a line safety/ Man safe system in Portsmouth on Friday. We thought we’d do a quick Q and A for anyone not sure about Man Safe or Anchor Safe Systems

What is a Man Safe or Anchor Safe system?

Man safe systems help to protect personnel working at height They connect them to a fall arrest system with suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Working at height is inherently hazardous and should falls occur then the results could be fatal or life altering. However, working at height is sometimes necessary and so Mansafe systems are of critical importance when it comes to protecting your people.

A man safe system could be a single anchor fixing near a window or a line system installed on roof. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) state that man safe systems should be used for carrying out inspections and minor repairs only.

To comply with legislation, in the form of BS EN 795: ‘Protection Against Falls From Height – Anchorage Devices – Requirements And Testing’. these man safe systems must be regularly tested by qualified inspectors.

Why do we need to test our ManSafe / anchor safe systems?

The legislation means that man safe or anchor safe systems must be regularly tested and certified as remaining compliant and safe to use, in order to protect those using them.

How often should man safe / anchor safe units be tested?

As a minimum they should be tested at least every 12 months but this may be required more frequently depending on how often they are used. The rules are governed by some fairly technical legislation so there is not a one size fits all answer. Our fully qualified system testers can help you understand your obligations and plan a testing regime to suit your needs.

Who is responsible for man safe/ anchor safe systems?

You may be responsible If you are the:

  • Health and safety manager
  • Facilities manager
  • Employer
  • Building owner
  • Principal contractor or sub contractor
  • Architect
  • Designer

What are the regulations for working at height?

To comply with the legislation, in the form of BS EN 795: ‘Protection Against Falls From Height – Anchorage Devices – Requirements And Testing’, Anchor safe or man safe systems must be regularly tested by qualified inspectors.

More useful links for Working at Height

With over 20 years experience of using fall prevention equipment, our understanding and knowledge is invaluable in the planning stages through to testing and maintaining.

Call us today on 023 9236 6377 and see how we can help you.