(MTE Ordinance No. 3903 of December 28th, 2023)
1. Objective
1.1 To establish the requirements and preventive measures for the use of anchor systems as part of a fall protection system during work at height.
2. Scope
2.1 This Annex applies to the anchor system, defined as a set of components forming part of a personal fall protection system (PPPS), which includes one or more attachment points to which personal protective equipment (PPE) against falls can be attached, either directly or via another component, and which is designed to withstand the forces to which it is subject.
2.2 The anchor systems covered by this Annex have the following purposes:
a) fall arrest;
b) travel restriction;
c) work positioning; or
d) rope acess.
2.3 The provisions of this Annex do not apply to the following situations:
a) recreational, sports and adventure tourism activities;
b) arboriculture;
c) anchor systems for collectiive protective equipment;
d) anchor systems for fixing acess equipment;
e) anchor systems for vertical or horizontal transportation of persons or materials; and
f) anchor systems for professional caving and cave rescue.
3. Componenets of the anchor system
3.1 The anchor system may have its attachment points:
a) directly to the structure;
b) to the structural anchor; or
c) to the anchor device.
3.1.1 The integral structure of an anchor system shall be capable of resisting the maximum applicable force.
3.2 The structural anchor and fixings shall:
a) be designed and constructed under the responsibility of a legally qualified professional; and
b) comply with national technical standards or, in their absence, with applicable international standards.
3.2.1 The attachment points of the structural anchors shall be marked by the manufacturer or the responsible technical person with the following information:
a) identification of the manufacturer;
b) batch number, serial number or other means of traceability; and
c) maximum number of workers that can be connected simultaneously or the maximum applicable force.
3.2.1.1 The attachment points for anchors attached to a structure which have already been installed and which do not have the markings provided for in this item shall have their markings restored by the manufacturer or the person technically responsible.
3.2.1.1.1 If it is not possible to restore the information, the attachment points shall be tested under the responsibility of a qualified professional and shall be marked with the maximum number of workers that can be connected simultaneously or the maximum applicable force and an identification that allows the test to be traced.
3.3 The anchor device shall meet one of the following requirements:
a) be certified;
b) be manufactured in accordance with applicable national technical standards under the responsibility of a legally qualified professional; or
c) be designed by a legally qualified professional with reference to current national technical standards as an integral part of a complete personal fall protection system.
4. Requirement of anchor systems
4.1 Anchor systems shall:
a) be installed by qualified personnel; and
c) be subjected to initial and periodic inspections.
4.1.1 The initial inspection shall be carried out after installation, modification or change of location.
4.1.2 The periodic inspection of the anchor system shall be carried out at intervals not exceeding 12 (twelve) months in accordance with the procedure set out in item 6 of this Annex, taking into account the design of the anchor system and the assembly, the manufacturer’s instructions and the applicable regulatory and technical standards.
4.2 The anchor system, if temporary, shall:
a) meet the compatibility requirements for each place of installation according to the operating procedure; and
b) have attachment points defined by a legally qualified professional or selected by a qualified worker in accordance with a selection procedure established by a legally qualified professional.
4.2.1 It is the responsibility of the organization to formally authorize the trained worker to select the attachment points for the temporary anchor system.
4.3 The permanent anchor system shall be designed and installed under the responsibility of a legally qualified professional.
5. Design and specifications
5.1 The design, if any, and technical specifications of the anchor system shall:
a) be the responsibility of a legally qualified professional;
b) be prepared taking into account the operating procedures for the anchor system;
c) identify the structures to be used in the anchor system; and
d) include details and/or specifications of the anchor devices, structural anchors and fasteners to be used.
5.1.1 The design, if any, and the technical specifications shall include dimensioning to determine the following parameters:
a) the impact force that will arrest the fall of the worker or workers, taking account of the effect of simultaneous or successive impacts;
b) the stresses on each part of the anchor system resulting from the impact force; and
c) the required free fall zone.
6. Operating procedures
6.1 The anchor system shall have an operating procedure for assembly and use, which shall:
a) cover assembly, maintenance, modification, relocation and disassembly; and
b) be prepared by a qualified safety professional, taking into account the design requirements, where applicable, and the manufacturer’s instructions.
