Benefits of Safety Nets?
Safety nets are designed to protect people from injury by catching them if they fall from a height. They work by deflecting and absorbing the energy of the fall, reducing the likelihood of serious injury.
Fall Protection
They provide a collective fall arrest system, meaning they protect multiple workers at once without restricting their movement.
Energy Absorption
Safety nets are designed to absorb the impact of a fall, providing a ‘soft landing’ and minimizing injury.
Flexibility
They allow workers to move freely and work efficiently at height, which is crucial for tasks like roofing, cladding, and construction.
Safety Compliance
Using safety nets complies with The Work at Height Regulations 2005, ensuring a safer working environment.
3 Pillars of Safety Netting
Competent Rigging
Our team involved in the design, supply, and erection of safety net assemblies are competent through experience and training, as per BS 8411: 2019.
Compliant Product
All of our nets are tested and maintained to meet all requirements of BSEN 1263:1 2014 and BS 8411: 2019, as indicated on the label attached to each net.
Comprehensive Maintenance
Safety nets are maintained systematically, inspected regularly when rigged, and thoroughly examined by a trained member of our team.
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Components of a Safety Net
Hover over the yellow diamonds to see more infomation.
Border Rope: A rope with no knots (spliced joint or stitched joint) with a minimum 30kN breaking strength.
Unique Serial Number: For records and traceability.
Mesh: Formed either knotted or knotless in 100mm or 60mm size. It can be either diamond or square orientation.
Removable UV Test Meshes are serial-numbered components that can be detached from safety nets for testing. Their purpose is to confirm whether UV exposure has compromised the net’s integrity, potentially affecting its performance during a fall. Even if no UV test mesh is visible, compliance is maintained as long as the net has been UV tested within the last 12 months and there is evidence of such testing.
The 3 Key Standards
This standard outlines the safety requirements and test methods for how safety nets are manufactured.
BSEN1263-1:2014
This standard provides safety requirements for the positioning limits and therefore how safety nets are installed.
BSEN1263-2:2014
This is a code of practice for safety nets on construction sites and other works. It explains how to use, select, and specify safety nets. It also sets requirements for a competent person and provides guidance on maintenance procedures.
BS8411:2019
1. Remote Attachment Devices
Rig / de-rig safety nets remotely from low level. Therefore not exposing riggers to any risks associated with working at height. Usually utilising claw poles.
2. MEWPs
If there is clear access and suitable ground conditions. Safety nets may be rigged from MEWPS usually Cherry Pickers or Scissor Lifts which require opertaives to be trained to IPAF 3a & 3b.
3. Ladder Access
Rig / de-rig of safety netting using ladders. Recommended maximum height of 4.5m.
4. Rope Access
Industrial climbing access techniques with IRATA trained operatives.
FASET Best Practice
Access Methods
There are 4 methods of access currently recommended for rigging and de-rigging safety nets which should be considered in the following order.
These methods have been assessed and prepared by the FASET H&S Committee with assistance from HSE to give general guidance on methods of access for rigging of safety net systems.
OUR SERVICES
Safety nets are tested for a maximum fall height of up to 6m. However, it’s good practice to minimise the fall height in every application. The maximum permissible fall height should be within a distance of 2m.
Fall Height
The number of workers protected by an individual safety net must be contained within the capacity of the net. For a 2m maximum fall height, this sets the maximum at 2 workers over an individual net. If 3 workers are required to work above a safety net, a specific risk assessment must be done.
Number of Operatives
The required catching width is dependent on the actual fall height available. It’s good practice to rig the net at least 3m beyond the position of the worker operating above the safety net.
Catching Width
BSEN 1263-2:2002