AS/NZ Standards

Australian/New Zealand Standards are developed by Standards Australia, an independent organisation that prepares and publishes voluntary technical and commercial standards which are sometimes adopted by occupational safety and health regulations.

Where a regulation in the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 refers to a standard, workplace participants must comply with the standard.

AS/NZS1657:2013 Specifies requirements for the design, selection, construction and installation of fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders that are intended to provide safe access to places used by operating, inspection, maintenance and servicing personnel. AS/NZS1657 is also referenced in the National Construction code (formerly the BCA), which making it a legislation.
AS/NZS1891 Designed to cover industrial fall-arrest systems and devices. The standard comprises four parts:

  • Part 1 details the manufacturing and testing standards for full-body harnesses, lanyards, connectors and ancillary equipment
  • Part 2 covers horizontal lifeline and rail, both prescribed and proprietary
  • Part 3 covers fall-arrest devices
  • Part 4 details equipment selection, use and maintenance (fundamentally the primary standard referred to by users)
AS/NZS 4488.2:1997 Provides requirements for the specifications, selection, safe use and maintenance of industrial rope access system components and assemblies.
AS/NZS 2865:2001 Sets out requirements and risk control measures in eliminating or minimizing the need to enter confined spaces and in avoiding hazards which may encountered. Contains Sections dealing with risk identification and assessment, monitoring prior to entry, education and training as well as emergency response.

DISCLAIMER: Safemaster has compiled a range materials to assist you better understand the OH&S, WHS Regulations/Act and Codes of Practice. This article is not an instruction manual, and should not be considered a substitute for competent instruction.