Frequently Asked Questions

Kerrect provides installation solutions across all of Australia. We have a national head office in Alexandria, Sydney (NSW) and a Queensland office in Burleigh Heads (QLD). Our teams can mobilise to all Australian states and territories, and we’ve successfully supported projects nationwide.

Yes. All of Kerrect’s height safety and access installations are fully compliant with relevant Australian Standards, codes of practice, and WHS legislation. We are a licensed contractor and ensure every system is designed, installed and maintained to meet or exceed these standards. In fact, Kerrect’s safety systems adhere to strict benchmarks (like AS/NZS standards for fall protection) and industry best practices, so you can be confident your solution is safe and legally compliant.

Absolutely. Kerrect offers comprehensive inspection, certification, and maintenance programs for all the systems we install. We help clients comply with mandatory requirements for annual inspections and testing of height safety systems, anchor points, harnesses, and other PPE. Our team can perform routine compliance inspections, proof-load testing, logging of equipment, and annual recertification to ensure your system remains safe and up to date.

Yes. Our crews are experienced in working on active construction sites, occupied buildings, and operational facilities without disrupting your business. Kerrect carefully plans projects to minimise interference with daily operations or other trades on site. Whether it’s a busy construction project or a functioning commercial building, we take measures to work efficiently and safely, so your site can continue running smoothly while we do our job.

“Safety installation solutions” refer to engineered systems that help prevent falls or accidents at height. These include a range of height safety and passive protection systems designed to reduce or eliminate fall risks for workers. Examples of safety installation solutions are fixed guardrails and handrails along edges, roof walkways and platforms to provide secure footing, anchor points and lifelines for fall arrest, ladder systems for safe roof access, and even safety nets or mesh barriers to catch falling objects. In essence, they are the installed safety measures (permanent or temporary) that keep people safe when working at heights or in other hazardous environments.

Fall protection is required whenever there is a risk of a person falling from height that could cause injury, regardless of the specific height. Australian WHS laws demand that any fall risk be eliminated or controlled so far as is reasonably practicable. In fact, the Work Health and Safety Regulations specify that if anyone could be injured by a fall from one level to another, appropriate control measures must be in place. While many people use a 2-metre rule as a guideline (since working at heights above 2 m is classified as high-risk construction work), the legal duty is to protect against falls at any height capable of causing harm. In short, if there’s an edge, opening, or elevated work area where a person could fall and be hurt, fall protection is needed on that site.

Kerrect designs and installs a wide range of height safety systems to protect workers at height. Our solutions include:

• Passive fall protection systems such as guardrails, handrails, walkways, platforms, and roof parapets that provide a physical barrier to prevent falls. These collective measures secure edges and access ways so workers can move safely without needing personal harnesses.
• Fall arrest and restraint systems including roof anchor points, static lines, and vertical or horizontal lifeline systems. These are used with certified harnesses and lanyards to either restrain workers from reaching a fall edge or arrest a fall in the event one occurs. We also install related Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) setups and energy absorbers as part of these systems.
• Roof access systems like fixed ladders (with cages or fall arrest lines if needed), internal/external access stairs, and controlled access points (hatches, etc.). These allow safe and compliant access to roofs, ceiling spaces, or elevated platforms for maintenance and inspection tasks.
• Customised engineered solutions for unique situations. Kerrect’s engineering team can create bespoke height safety systems tailored to a building’s specific structure or a project’s particular requirements. This might involve custom platforms, bridging systems, removable guardrails, safety nets or other creative safety measures to address complex height challenges.

All these systems are installed by Kerrect’s qualified technicians in accordance with Australian Standards and codes. With our decades of experience, we ensure that each height safety system is not only compliant but optimally designed for the site and the people who will use it.

Yes. Every height safety system Kerrect installs is fully customised to the site. We understand that no two buildings or work environments are the same. Our engineers conduct a detailed risk assessment and consider the site’s layout, structure, and how people will access and use the area. Based on those specific factors, we then design a system tailored to provide the best protection. Factors like roof type, anchor point locations, the presence of existing structures, frequency of access, and the tasks to be performed at height all influence the design. The result is a site-specific engineered solution that fits your building and needs. This custom approach ensures maximum safety and usability.

Height safety systems should be inspected regularly to ensure they remain safe and compliant. As a general rule, most permanent height safety systems (anchors, static lines, guardrails, ladders, etc.) require a comprehensive inspection at least every 12 months by a qualified height safety inspector. Australian Standards and manufacturer guidelines often mandate annual inspection and re-certification for critical components – for example, AS/NZS 1891.4 requires that anchor points and lifeline systems be certified every 12 months. In addition to yearly audits, routine visual checks should be done more frequently to spot any obvious damage, wear, or issues. If a system is used heavily or in harsh conditions, more frequent inspections might be prudent (e.g. every 6 months). Regular maintenance is key: timely inspections and recertification will catch any problems (like corrosion or fatigue in components) early and keep your height safety equipment in top working condition.

Rope access is a specialised method of working at height that uses ropes, harnesses, and other climbing equipment to reach difficult or high locations. In a rope access operation, technicians (often with IRATA certification) suspend or ascend on two ropes, a main working line and a safety backup line, to position themselves where needed. This technique allows safe access to hard-to-reach areas without using scaffolding, cranes, or heavy machinery. Essentially, rope access turns the worker into their own “human spider,” enabling them to rappel (abseil) down building façades, climb structures, or traverse complex industrial plants with minimal setup. Because of its flexibility, rope access is widely used for inspection, maintenance, installation, and repairs on structures like high-rise buildings, bridges, towers, and industrial facilities. It’s a proven method that emphasises safety while being very efficient in terms of time and cost compared to traditional access methods.

Yes. When performed by properly trained and competent technicians, rope access is one of the safest methods of working at height. The safety record of industrial rope access is excellent, thanks to rigorous training standards and strict safety protocols. Rope access technicians (such as those at Kerrect) undergo extensive training and certification (e.g. IRATA certification) and use a dual-rope system, meaning they are always attached to two independent ropes for redundancy. They also follow detailed procedures for rigging, climbing, and rescue, all of which are designed to eliminate single points of failure. Australian and international standards like AS/NZS/ISO 22846 set out best practices that Kerrect’s team adheres to on every job. In practice, this means every rope access job is carefully planned with risk assessments, gear checks, and backup systems. It’s this commitment to safety and oversight that makes rope access a reliable choice for working at height.

Rope access is often the preferred solution when traditional access methods like scaffolding or boom lifts or elevated work platforms (EWP) are impractical, too slow, or too disruptive. You should consider rope access when:

• Access is limited or complex: If the area you need to reach is in a tight spot, at extreme height, or on a structure where scaffolding can’t be easily installed (for example, an industrial stack or under a bridge), rope access technicians can get there with ease. Ropes can be rigged in almost any environment, giving workers the flexibility to reach awkward or confined locations that scaffolds might not feasibly cover.
• Speed and minimal disruption are required: Erecting scaffolding or heavy equipment can take days or weeks and might block building entrances or public areas. Rope access has a minimal setup time, technicians can often be set up and on the job in a short period, reducing project downtime significantly. There’s no need to close off large areas for long periods; rope access causes very little footprint or obstruction at ground level. This makes it ideal for quick inspections, emergency repairs, or any job where you need to keep the facility operational while work is ongoing.
• Cost or practicality is a concern: For short-duration or one-off tasks at height, installing an entire scaffold can be cost-prohibitive and unnecessary. Rope access usually proves more cost-effective because you pay for skilled labour rather than tons of equipment. It’s also more versatile, the same rope team can move around to multiple points on a structure, whereas scaffolding would need to be built in each location. When traditional methods are too expensive or not feasible (imagine a cliffside, a tall atrium, or a delicate heritage façade where scaffolds could cause damage), rope access is often the smartest choice.

In summary, rope access should be used when you have difficult-to-reach work areas, a need for fast deployment, or a desire to avoid the hassle and expense of scaffolds and machines. It’s a solution that offers efficient, safe access with minimal impact on the surrounding site.

Rope access is an extremely versatile technique almost any kind of work at height can be done via ropes if the situation calls for it. Common types of work Kerrect completes using rope access include:

• Installation and construction remedial works: Our rope access teams can install structural elements, fix building components, carry out welding or bolting tasks, and perform construction repairs in high or confined areas. Whether it’s fitting safety systems on a roof, repairing steelwork on a tower, or installing signs and banners on a high-rise, rope access can handle it.
• Building façade access (maintenance and cleaning): Rope access is often used for external building maintenance, things like pressure washing and window cleaning on skyscrapers, façade inspections, sealing leaks, painting exteriors, replacing cladding panels, repairing concrete or rendered finishes, or cleaning and restoring surfaces. Technicians can abseil down the sides of structures to reach every corner of the façade without needing cradle systems or scaffolds.
• Structural inspections and surveys: Engineers and inspectors use rope access to examine bridges, dams, towers, and other infrastructure up-close. Using ropes, Kerrect’s team can access structural elements to check for corrosion, cracks, or defects and even conduct non-destructive testing at height. We also inspect and certify existing height safety equipment (anchors, etc.) on roofs using rope techniques to reach them safely.
• Maintenance and repairs: Rope access allows routine or emergency maintenance on all sorts of installations – for example, servicing rooftop or façade mounted plant and equipment, repairing lighting or signage on tall structures, clearing gutters or roofs, and fixing hard-to-reach fixtures. In industrial settings, rope techs perform maintenance on silos, chimneys, offshore oil rigs, and pipework at heights.
• Confined space and specialist access tasks: In addition to high elevations, our rope access experts can also work in confined or difficult spaces like shafts, tanks, or elevator pits. Using rope systems and specialist rescue techniques, they can descend or ascend within tight vertical spaces to carry out cleaning, inspection, or repairs that would otherwise require major disassembly of structures.

In essence, rope access can be used for any work-at-height job that requires skilled hands in a tough-to-reach place. Its flexibility means we frequently adapt it to new challenges safely and efficiently.

Safety netting is a form of collective fall protection used to catch people or objects that fall from height, thereby preventing serious injuries and property damage. In construction and industrial works, safety nets are typically installed below or around work areas to provide a “soft catch” if a worker trips or a tool is dropped. For example, if workers are building a high-rise or installing a new roof, netting can be rigged underneath the work zone to arrest any falls and stop debris. Besides personnel fall arrest, nets are also used for debris containment, catching loose materials, off-cuts, or tools that might otherwise fall and endanger people below. This makes netting a vital solution for protecting both workers at height and anyone underneath from the dangers of falls or dropped objects from above.

Safety netting is commonly used in a variety of settings where there’s a risk of falls or falling objects, including:

• Construction and roofing projects: Nets are ideal for multi-level construction where workers are labouring at height and there’s activity below. You’ll often see safety nets on construction sites, for example, stretched beneath roof trusses during roofing installations, around the perimeters of multi-story building projects, or below floor openings and voids. Roofers, bridge builders, and high-rise construction crews frequently rely on nets for fall protection.
• Industrial facilities: Many industrial environments (warehouses, manufacturing plants, mines, shipyards) use netting for overhead safety. For instance, nets can be installed under conveyor systems, cranes, or loading bays to catch any equipment or debris that might drop. Maintenance tasks inside factories (like working atop machinery or structures) can also utilise temporary safety nets as a precaution.
• Infrastructure works: Projects on infrastructure such as bridges, tunnels, and platforms often employ safety nets. Bridge maintenance or construction may feature large nets under the spans to prevent tools or materials from falling onto roads or water below or even as temporary work platforms (our specialised tension netting systems). Similarly, in rail or road projects, nets can protect workers and the public in adjacent areas from falling debris.
• Areas with risk of falling objects or personnel: Anytime work is done at height above a place where people could be present, safety netting is a consideration. This could include stadiums or arenas (where nets protect spectators or workers during roof work), atriums and building voids (to safeguard people working or passing underneath), and demolition sites (catching rubble). Even event and stage rigging use nets in some cases (for example, in theatres or outdoor concerts to catch equipment). Essentially, if there’s a hazard of items or persons falling in a given area, installing safety netting is a common safety measure.

Kerrect installs a wide range of safety netting solutions to suit different safety needs on site. Our offerings include:

• Fall arrest safety nets: High-strength personnel nets that are installed horizontally (often just below a work area) to catch workers in the event of a fall. These nets are engineered and installed to meet stringent fall-arrest standards (e.g. BS EN 1263 in absence of a specific Australian standard), providing a soft landing and preventing injuries from high-level falls.
• Catch and debris netting: This usually refers to nets used to catch falling tools, construction debris, and other materials. Debris nets can be hung vertically or at angles (like along scaffolding or building edges) or laid beneath work zones. They often have a finer mesh or an added liner to contain small objects, ensuring that nothing dangerous drops onto people or property below.
• Containment and encapsulation netting: These are net systems designed to wrap around a structure or scaffold to fully contain debris, dust, or overspray. Kerrect provides containment netting (sometimes combined with fabric or mesh sheeting) used during sandblasting, painting, or demolition projects to prevent materials from escaping the work area. Essentially, we can encapsulate a work zone in netting to keep the environment safe and tidy.
• Overhead and perimeter netting: Overhead netting systems are installed above or around areas to guard against falling items from higher levels. For example, an overhead net might be stretched over a public walkway or a building entrance during facade works, acting like a horizontal “safety canopy.” Perimeter nets are placed along the edges of roofs or high platforms to catch falls or debris at the sides (they’re often seen as vertical nets on building floors under construction). Kerrect supplies and installs both types, creating protective barriers wherever needed.
• Tensioned Access Platforms: Horizontal Tension Netting systems provide a work area for a range of trades or inspection personnel enabling maintenance work to be carried out without the need for specialist access techniques or equipment. For example, Kerrect’s tension netting access platforms can be installed beneath a bridge or atrium instead of expensive birdcage scaffolding
• Custom engineered netting solutions: Not every project is standard, so Kerrect also delivers bespoke netting setups for special scenarios. This could involve designing nets for unusual structures, integrating nets with rope access systems, or creating removable net systems that can be adapted as work progresses. Our team of experts can engineer netting configurations to solve unique height safety challenges whether it’s a one-off stunt setup, a complex architectural space, or an industrial application requiring special materials.

All the netting we provide is installed by qualified safety net riggers and is compliant with applicable standards and guidelines. We ensure proper tensioning, anchorage, and certification of every net system we put in place, so you can trust that the chosen netting solution will perform effectively when needed.

Yes, regular inspection of safety netting is essential. Safety nets must be checked during installation, after any event, and on a routine basis to ensure they remain secure and effective. When our team installs netting, we inspect and certify it on the spot, verifying that the net is correctly fitted, has no tears or damage, and has the proper sag and tension.

Ongoing inspections should then occur at appropriate intervals: for long-term projects, nets should be formally inspected at least every 3 to 6 months to check for wear from UV exposure, weather, or mechanical damage. It’s also crucial to examine the net after any fall or significant object drop.

Kerrect offers maintenance and inspection services for safety netting we install; we’ll help monitor the condition of your nets and make any adjustments or replacements needed to keep them compliant over time.