Net worth from FASET

FASET has been successfully assessed as meeting the core criteria of Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP) - the HSE supported certification scheme intended to cut health and safety costs and bureaucracy.

It means that any organisation wishing to secure the services of a FASET member company can do so confident in the knowledge that the company has the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to satisfy the prequalification stage of procurement as specified in the new CDM 2015 Regulations.

“Accreditation by SSIP demonstrates the scope and thoroughness of the FASET audit, the process by which FASET members are first admitted into membership and then assessed on an ongoing basis to ensure their continued compliance with the association’s strict membership criteria,” says company secretary, Tony Seddon.

“Safety nets are an integral part of saving lives and reducing injuries. It’s therefore essential that the companies that supply and install them use only approved products to industry standards, employ recognised testing and maintenance regimes, and install them using only FASET trained safety net riggers.”

New website launched

The new FASET website - www.faset.org.uk - is now live. With several new sections, it provides access to 21 technical bulletins ranging from joining safety nets together and the testing requirements for safety net attachment devices, to the testing of safety nets for UV degradation and the tagging of safety net repairs. There is also a useful ‘Top 10 do’s and don’ts for safety net use.’

FASET and BCSA issue joint guidance
Included on the new website is a guidance document issued jointly by FASET and BCSA, the British Constructional Steelwork Association.

Rigged to the underside of a structure, nets are normally used as the primary means of protection due to their close proximity to the working level. Accordingly, the use of an additional fall arrest system is not required. If however, as a result of a risk assessment, personal fall protection equipment (PPE) is considered necessary, then the following factors must be taken into account says FASET.

First, with teams of workers operating in close proximity to each other, fall restraint is generally not practicable and frequently creates additional hazards, including the risk of slips and trips.

Second, that fall arrest lanyards are not appropriate due to the lack of distance for them to be deployed effectively. In many situations, says FASET, they are likely to hinder rescue efforts from within the safety net in accordance with the agreed rescue plan.

The guidance goes on to confirm that BS EN 1263-1 safety nets (greater than 35m² and 5m minimum side length) are subjected to a type test involving 100kg falling 7m (6m plus an allowance for the height of the centre of gravity of a human). The nominal acceptable total fall energy is therefore 6kJ on a new net.

The number of workers protected by an individual safety net that complies with BS EN 1263 -1 & 2 must be contained within the capacity of the net. Therefore, for a 2m maximum fall height, and allowing 100kg per worker (including tools), the recommended maximum number of workers over any section of safety net is two.

If more than two workers are required over the same section, a specific risk assessment must be completed to determine the risk of more than two workers falling into the net simultaneously. If the risk is considered to be low, then more than two workers may be able to work safely above the safety net.

To increase safety, the use of a B-specification BS EN 1263-1 safety net should be considered.