The Work At Height Regulations require Contractors to take steps to prevent materials from falling from height. Safety net attachment equipment and devices falling from high level structures is a risk that must therefore be adequately controlled as the consequences of falling items can be severe, particularly in city centre sites where the structure being erected is close to the perimeter of the site.

To reduce the risk and prevent attachment devices from coming loose during rigging or derigging it is common for them to be attached to the border rope of the net itself. There are several ways in which this can be achieved, including:

• Securing the attachment device to the border rope using a cable tie
• Using an attachment device fitted with a spring clip to secure the device to the border rope
• Commence installation at the perimeter of the building where possible, thus limiting the chance of devices coming loose

Method Statements and Risk Assessments should consider whether securing attachment devices to the safety nets is necessary, and if so, how this will be achieved. If they are attached using cable ties, care should be taken to ensure the safety net / border rope is not damaged when the devices are removed.

Consideration should also be given to the security of any device used to position the attachment device, such as a hand held pole and locating head. A pre-use inspection of the equipment should be undertaken to ensure the equipment head remains secure and able to hold the attachment device during rigging and de-rigging. Consideration should also be given to the requirement to tether the equipment to guard against accidental loss of control, leading to it falling from the perimeter.