Working at height is one of the most hazardous workplace tasks. Without the right equipment, the risk of a serious injury or even death rises dramatically.
Ensuring the safety of workers at height is a legal and moral priority. This includes those on rooftops, towers, platforms, or at construction sites.
Here, we'll explore five essential solutions designed to minimise risk. These solutions, from personal fall protection to permanent access systems, will keep your teams safe, secure, and compliant.
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3. Sayfa Sentry Guardrail System
4. Kattsafe Travel 8 Cable Safety System
5. MSA Latchways Horizontal Systems
1. MSA Latchways WinGrip
Workers face a unique set of safety challenges when working at heights on aircraft. The risk of falls and slips is heightened by:
- Smooth wings
- Sloped fuselages
- Diverse weather conditions
The Latchways WinGrip® is a specialised, flexible, and compliant fall protection solution designed to address these dangers. It protects workers and also helps improve operational efficiency.
Key System Advantages
- It is versatile and modular.
- It is intrinsically safe because it requires no electricity.
- It works effectively on wet or dry surfaces.
- It is lightweight, portable, and simple to install.
- It provides hands-free movement.
The Latchways WinGrip System Explained
The WinGrip is a vacuum anchor fall protection system created specifically for aviation. It is suitable for both short-term maintenance and longer manufacturing or repair tasks.
The system works effectively both indoors in a hangar and outdoors on the apron. Although its origins are in aviation, the WinGrip is also ideal for a wide range of industrial applications requiring portable fall protection. The system is lightweight and portable, with each anchor weighing less than 6.12 kg. Its quick and simple installation is crucial for fast-paced maintenance environments.
A key safety feature is that the system operates on compressed air or nitrogen, not electricity. This makes it safe for use around open fuel tanks and in hazardous environments.
A Modular System for Any Task
The WinGrip system offers multiple configurations, making it adaptable to various working-at-height scenarios.
- Single-User System: This setup is perfect for quick maintenance jobs. A worker connects a full-body harness and safety lanyard to a vacuum-locked anchor. A work positioning rope provides a 3-metre safe working radius, allowing hands-free movement. Two vacuum anchors stabilise a worker's position on complex surfaces such as wings.
- Multi-User Horizontal Lifeline System: Designed for heavier maintenance or construction, this configuration supports up to four workers. The system uses two vacuum anchor pads and a tensioned stainless steel cable. Latchways shuttles allow workers to travel smoothly along the cable, even over intermediate anchors. This maximises safety and productivity.
- Barrier System for Collective Protection: The WinGrip Barrier System creates a fully enclosed work zone for edge protection. It is quick to set up and requires only basic training. This system eliminates the need for harnesses or lanyards. It uses adjustable upright stanchions on vacuum pads and customisable horizontal rails.
Authorised service and calibration providers, such as Aegis Sales & Service, support the Latchways WinGrip system.
2. Safety Harnesses
Choosing the right safety harness is crucial to worker safety when working at heights or in confined spaces. This also ensures you meet regulatory compliance.
A serious incident can occur at any time. The right harness is often the difference between a worker going home safely and a tragedy.
Safety Harnesses: A Guide to Types and Applications
Safety harnesses are designed to ensure worker safety for different tasks. Different types of harnesses meet the demands for workers in varying working at heights scenarios.
- General-Purpose Harness: This versatile, all-around harness is suitable for a wide range of activities. It's designed for fall arrest, confined space entry, and working on roofs, ladders, and elevated work platforms. It's also a reliable choice for general maintenance and construction tasks.
- Tower Climbing Harness: Specifically engineered for work on vertical structures, this harness provides enhanced support and extra attachment points. It is used for pole work, tower climbing, fall arrest, and confined space entry.
- Rope Access Harness: Built for high-mobility, rope-based tasks, this harness is ideal for specialists in demanding environments. Its applications include abseiling, rescue operations, ladder safety systems, pole and tower work, roof work, and fall arrest.
We provide harnesses from leading brands like Spanset, MSA, Miller by Honeywell, 3M Fall Protection, Auslift, and Ferno.
To ensure functionality and safety, height equipment inspections are available on-site by arrangement or at our in-house workshop. These inspections comply with Australian Standard AS1891.4 and manufacturer guidelines.
3. Kattsafe (Formerly Sayfa) Sentry Guardrail System
The Kattsafe (formerly Sayfa) Sentry Guardrail System is a long-term solution for edge protection that complies with the most demanding workplace safety regulations. This modular system combines strength, flexibility, and straightforward installation while ensuring ongoing safety for anyone working at heights.
Benefits of the Sentry Guardrail
- Fast and efficient installation thanks to modular sections
- High-strength construction with minimal weight
- Options to suit different design requirements
- Adjustable to accommodate complex roof layouts
- No ongoing certification or re-approval needed
Why Invest in a Fixed Guardrail?
Guardrails provide one of the simplest and most reliable forms of fall prevention. Unlike harness or lifeline systems that require active use and proper attachment, a fixed guardrail remains in place at all times, delivering continuous, passive protection.
For buildings that are regularly accessed for maintenance or inspections, a permanent barrier offers reassurance to facilities managers, safety coordinators, and contractors alike.
Where It Makes the Biggest Impact
The Sentry system is purpose-built for areas with ongoing access requirements where fall hazards are unavoidable. Typical uses include:
- Access to HVAC units and other rooftop equipment
- Regular roof-edge or gutter cleaning
- Protection around exposed roof perimeters
- Enhancing safety along walkways and escape routes
- Servicing skylights or roof lights
- General safe access to commercial, industrial, and public buildings
When paired with the Kattsafe (formerly Sayfa) On-Trak Walkway System, the result is a complete, integrated rooftop safety solution.
4. Kattsafe (Formerly Sayfa) Travel 8 Cable Safety System
The Kattsafe (formerly Sayfa) Travel 8 Cable Safety System is a permanently installed fall arrest system that enables safe, hands-free movement across rooftops and elevated work areas.
Designed with a streamlined, low-profile appearance, it blends seamlessly into the structure. This makes it an excellent choice for sites where both functionality and aesthetics are desired.
System Highlights
- Supports multiple users simultaneously
- Engineered for superior fall arrest performance
- Modular components for straightforward installation
- Smooth, continuous travel without interruptions
- Easily integrates with complementary rooftop safety solutions
Practical Applications
The Travel 8 system delivers reliable protection for anyone working at height, ensuring secure access for:
- Routine servicing of gutters and roof perimeters
- Safe approach to rooftop machinery and plant equipment
- Cleaning and upkeep of skylights, roof windows, or elevated glazing
- Combined use with the On-Trak Walkway for complete access solutions
- Protection when working on fragile surfaces such as glass, slate, asbestos, or brittle roof panels
5. MSA Latchways Horizontal Systems
MSA Latchways Horizontal Systems deliver advanced fall arrest and restraint protection, featuring a unique energy management technology exclusive to their design.
At the heart of the system is a specialised post fitted with a built-in coil that activates in a controlled sequence if a fall occurs. By carefully absorbing and dissipating energy, it ensures the load applied to the roof never exceeds 10 kN. This safeguard means even lightweight or fragile roofing materials remain undamaged.
This innovation means the system can be mounted directly to a wide variety of roof types without the need for additional structural reinforcement. The result is reduced installation time, lower costs, and preserved roof integrity.
Advantages at a Glance
- Precision energy absorption for enhanced safety
- No additional strengthening is required for most roof structures
- Broad compatibility across multiple roofing materials and profiles
- Low-profile design that blends into building architecture
- Fast, straightforward installation process
Conclusion
When employees are required to operate at heights, safety cannot be left to chance.
The right protective systems don’t just prevent accidents. They also streamline workflow, minimise legal risk, and demonstrate compliance with occupational health and safety obligations.
From safety harnesses and guardrail setups to more specialised solutions like MSA's Latchways WinGrip, the 5 options highlighted here all serve an essential function in reducing hazards for those working at heights.
Choosing to implement these systems is more than a compliance measure. It’s a commitment to your workforce and to the sustainable future of your business operations.
Interested in discovering more about life-saving height safety equipment?
Get in touch with our team online today.
