Resources —

Remember the 3 C's of netting

These Best Practice Guidelines for Working on Roofs are published by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and have been prepared in association with the Roofing Association of New Zealand (RANZ). The purpose of these guidelines is to provide practical guidance to employers, contractors, employees, and all others engaged in work associated with working on roofs. It offers examples on how duty holders can meet their obligations under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 2015 and its associated regulations. Accordingly, compliance with these best practice guidelines is recommended.

Safety Nets NZ was actively involved in the preparation of the Best Practice Guidelines for 'Working on Roofs', working alongside WorkSafe NZ and the Roofing Association of New Zealand to help shape the industry standards that our systems are built to meet.

A fall from height is the most serious hazard associated with roof work.

Preventing falls from roofs is a priority for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. The Ministry expects principals, employers, and contractors with staff working on roofs to actively manage any potential for falls.

50%

of falls are from less than three metres

$24M

estimated cost of these falls per year

20%

of falls by roofers were over three metres in height

40%

of falls by roofers were from permanent structures such as roofs

• Do the nets have a serial number, test meshes and a unique ID label?
• Is the net "in test," i.e. has it been tested and certified to confirm compliance?
• Are the nets/border ropes/tie ropes free from damage?
• Are the brackets free from damage?
• Are the screws in good condition?
• Do not overdrive screws when installing brackets.
• Are there any repairs present in the nets?
• Have repairs been carried out correctly?
• Has each repair been tagged correctly?
• Are the walls/support points suitable?
• Are there sufficient bracings @2.5m centres max?
• Are the braces kept to a minimum and, wherever possible, kept clear of the "safe zone"?
• Are ceiling battens in place? If so do not install nets.
• Have nets been installed as close as possible to the working level?
• Are tie spacings for nets at no more than 2.0m centres?
• Is the net tied in every corner of each room?
  

• Is there sufficient clearance to allow for net deflection: Rule of thumb — net deflects 1/2 of the shortest span. Therefore, in-house construction, our rule is that no span can be greater than 3m. If the minimum span is greater than 3m, you must install additional cross ropes. If not, advise Client of any issues.
• Nets overlapped a minimum of 2m or were correctly laced?
• Has a Handover Certificate been provided?
• Has the Handover Certificate been completed correctly?
• Are there any areas that have not been netted and need further measures taken?
• Are any unprotected areas clearly identified on the Handover Certificate?
• Is the Client aware of recovery procedures? Has the document been included with the Handover Certificate?
• Is the client aware of inspection requirements? Has the document been included with the Handover Certificate?
• Are there any gaps greater than 100mm?
  

What are the 3 C's of safety netting?

The 3 C's of netting are: Compliant product, Compliant rigging, and Certified installers. These three principles ensure that the safety net system meets the required standards and is installed safely and correctly.

What is the purpose of the Best Practice Guidelines for Working on Roofs?

Published by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment in association with RANZ, these guidelines provide practical guidance to employers, contractors, employees, and all others engaged in work associated with working on roofs. They offer examples on how duty holders can meet their obligations under the Health and Safety in Employment Act.

How common are falls from roofs?

A fall from height is the most serious hazard associated with roof work. Investigations show more than 50 percent of falls are from less than three metres, most from ladders and roofs. The cost of these falls is estimated to be $24 million a year.

What should be checked when inspecting a rigged safety net system?

Key inspection items include checking the net has serial numbers and test meshes, that nets and ropes are free from damage, brackets and screws are in good condition, tie spacings are no more than 2.0m centres, there are no gaps greater than 100mm, and that a Handover Certificate has been provided and completed correctly.