Height safety compliance for Victorian buildings.
Who's responsible, how often anchor points must be tested, and the standards that apply — a straight guide for building owners, managers and owners corporations.
In short: if anyone works at height on your building — cleaners, maintenance crews, contractors — you have a duty to provide compliant height-safety systems and keep them certified, generally with annual inspection under AS/NZS 1891.4. Here's what that means.
Whose responsibility is it?
The building owner or manager holds the duty to provide a safe system for work at height and to keep the equipment compliant. That responsibility doesn't pass to the contractors who clip onto your anchors — if a system fails because it wasn't certified, that sits with the building, not the worker using it.
How often does it need testing?
Roof anchor points and fall-arrest systems generally need inspection and recertification at least every 12 months under AS/NZS 1891.4, and before first use. A system that hasn't been tested within that window can't be relied on, and contractors will often refuse to use uncertified anchors. Each point is load-tested where required, tagged, and recorded on a register so you have evidence of compliance.
Which standards apply?
- AS/NZS 1891 — industrial fall-arrest systems and devices (harnesses, lanyards, anchors, lines).
- AS 1657 — fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders.
Anchor and static-line systems should be designed, installed, inspected and certified to the relevant parts of these standards.
What good looks like
A compliant height-safety setup has: a current certification for every anchor and line, a register you can produce on request, and a provider who installs and tests to AS/NZS 1891 and AS 1657 — ideally one who uses these systems at height themselves, so they're assessed the way they're actually used. That's what we do — install, test, recertify and document.
Height safety compliance FAQs
Who is responsible for height safety on a building?
The building owner or manager — they must provide a safe system for work at height and keep the equipment compliant and certified. That duty doesn't transfer to the contractors who use it.
How often must roof anchor points be tested?
Generally at least every 12 months under AS/NZS 1891.4, and before first use. Each point is tested, tagged and recorded on a register.
Which standards apply?
AS/NZS 1891 for industrial fall-arrest systems and devices; AS 1657 for fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders.
Anchors due for certification?
We install, test and certify height-safety systems to AS/NZS 1891 and AS 1657.
Height safety systems →