Height Safety

AIMS Industrial stocks over 100 height safety products covering the full personal fall-arrest chain — full-body harnesses, shock-absorbing and hot-work lanyards, self-retracting lifelines (SRLs/inertia reels), anchor points and anchor straps, horizontal anchorage lines, karabiners and connecting hardware, rescue and retrieval kits, and complete roofer's kits. The range is built around Austlift and B-Safe, Australia's two most widely specified height safety brands, with anchor points from Safetylink and Beaver, and dedicated tool-tethering gear from Ergodyne, Metabo, Sutton Tools and SmartStraps for crews working at height with power tools. We've put together a Safety Harness & Fall Arrest Guide if you'd like more detail before you buy.

Fall-arrest equipment is life-safety critical. Every component in a system — harness, lanyard, connector, anchor and, where fitted, an SRL — has to be individually rated and correctly matched to the others, and the whole system has to be assembled, used and maintained the way it was designed to be. Below we've set out what AIMS actually stocks, how the AS/NZS 1891 series of standards applies to each product type, and what to check before you buy.

Quick Reference — Height Safety Equipment We Stock

What AIMS Stocks — Category by Category

Full-Body Harnesses

The largest single category in this range: Austlift's Maxi harness family (Rigger, Tradesman, Premium, Cross Over, Pro Rigging, Pro All Purpose, Pro Electric Tower, Premium Comfort Restraint, Work Positioning and Prime Endure for water work) plus Kevlar full-body harnesses, alongside B-Safe's Evolve range (confined space, pole worker with quick-connect buckle, and dielectric pole work harnesses) and general-purpose fall-arrest harnesses with front and rear D-rings, side D-rings, and waist belts. Dorsal (back) D-rings are for fall arrest; front and side D-rings are for work positioning and restraint only — never for fall arrest unless the harness is specifically rated for it.

Lanyards & Shock Absorbers

Single and double-leg lanyards in webbing, elasticated tubular webbing and kernmantle rope, fitted with snap hooks, scaffold hooks or triple-action karabiners. The range includes flame-resistant "hot work" lanyards for welding and grinding tasks, and shock-absorbing designs that limit peak arrest force on the body. Elasticated lanyards reduce deployed length and trip-hazard risk during work positioning; fixed-length webbing lanyards suit general fall-arrest connection.

Self-Retracting Lifelines & Inertia Reels

Austlift and B-Safe inertia reel / SRL units, including mini blocks, wire rope and sharp-edge-resistant models. An SRL pays out and retracts line as the worker moves, then locks almost instantly if a fall occurs — arresting the fall within a short distance and reducing both fall clearance requirements and arrest forces compared with a fixed-length lanyard. Suited to mobile elevated work platforms, restricted headroom and horizontal or vertical access work.

Anchor Points, Straps & Horizontal Lifelines

Flat bar, edge, beam, concrete and corrugated-roof anchors in galvanised steel, stainless steel and aluminium alloy, plus reinforced webbing anchor straps and endless slings for wrapping structural members where a fixed anchor can't be installed. Safetylink's Froglink surface-mounted and RetroLink stainless roof anchors, and Beaver's low-profile purlin-mounted anchor for trapezoidal roof sheeting, sit alongside the Austlift anchor range. Temporary horizontal anchorage lines (2-person and 4-person) let multiple workers move along a roof or beam on a single engineered line instead of re-anchoring at fixed points.

Karabiners & Connecting Hardware

Steel karabiners with quarter-turn and triple-action locking gates, captive-pin designs and aluminium snap hooks. Triple-action gates require three separate movements to open, reducing the chance of accidental release in vibration or dynamic-load environments. Never substitute a rock-climbing or recreational carabiner for height safety hardware — the rating, gate strength and certification are different.

Rescue, Retrieval & Roofer's Kits

Austlift's Core Rescue Kit (with and without rescue pole) and B-Safe's rope-and-descender rescue kits support retrieval of a suspended worker after a fall-arrest event. Basic, Core and Premium Roofer's Kits bundle a harness, lanyard and anchorage into a ready-to-use set for roofing and general trade access, alongside scoop stretchers, lifting bridles, davit kits and canvas tool bags for site-based rigging and retrieval work.

Tool Tethering & Dropped-Object Accessories

Ergodyne Squids tool lanyards, coiled cable lanyards and padded tool belts, Metabo tool safety belts and battery-pack lanyards, a Sutton Tools stack-in tool lanyard, and SmartStraps carabiner hooks and quick-change holders. These aren't personal fall-arrest PPE — they're dropped-object controls that stop hand tools and batteries falling from height, an increasingly common site requirement alongside personal fall protection.

Understanding AS/NZS 1891 — the Fall-Arrest Standards Family

Industrial fall-arrest equipment in Australia sits under the AS/NZS 1891 series, split into four parts by equipment type, plus a related standard for anchor devices:

• AS/NZS 1891.1 — Harnesses and ancillary equipment. Covers full-body harnesses, lanyards, karabiners and other connecting hardware.
• AS/NZS 1891.2 — Horizontal lifeline and rail systems. Covers engineered horizontal anchorage lines for multiple-worker access.
• AS/NZS 1891.3 — Fall-arrest devices. Covers self-retracting lifelines, inertia reels and similar auto-locking devices.
• AS/NZS 1891.4 — Selection, use and maintenance. The "how to use it correctly" part — covers selecting the right system, planning rescue, and inspecting and retiring equipment. It was updated in 2025.
• AS/NZS 5532 — Manufacturing requirements for anchor devices. A separate standard (not part of the 1891 series) covering the manufacture and testing of single-point and horizontal-lifeline anchors. It was also updated in 2025, alongside AS/NZS 1891.4.

Austlift and B-Safe branded harnesses, lanyards, SRLs, connectors and anchors in this range are designed against the relevant AS/NZS 1891 part or AS/NZS 5532 for that equipment type — check the specific product's label, tag and datasheet for its certification before use, and confirm current compliance with the supplier if the application is critical or non-standard.

Choosing the Right Harness, Lanyard & Anchor

Match the system to the work, not just the budget:

• Fall restraint — a lanyard or lifeline set short enough that the worker physically can't reach an unprotected edge. The safest option, because no fall occurs at all.
• Fall arrest — used where restraint isn't practical. A full-body harness, shock-absorbing lanyard or SRL, and a rated anchor work together to safely arrest a fall that has already occurred.
• Work positioning — holds a worker in place at a task (e.g. pole or tower climbing) using front or side D-rings, typically backed up by a separate fall-arrest or restraint connection.

Beyond system type, consider the task environment: confined space entry needs a harness with a compatible retrieval attachment; hot work (welding, grinding) needs flame-resistant webbing; tower and pole work suits a dielectric or quick-connect-buckle harness; and any anchor point needs a rated capacity suitable for the fall-arrest load involved — don't anchor to unrated points such as light roof sheeting, fascia or ductwork.

Inspection & Service Life

Fall-arrest equipment is safety-critical PPE and needs an ongoing inspection regime, not just a check at purchase:

• Visually inspect webbing, stitching, hardware and labels before every use.
• Have equipment formally inspected by a competent person at a set interval — many Australian height safety providers work to a six-monthly cycle as good practice, with more frequent checks where equipment is exposed to UV, chemicals, heat or abrasive dust; the correct interval for your equipment should follow the manufacturer's instructions and your risk assessment.
• Withdraw and retire any harness, lanyard or SRL immediately after it has arrested a fall — energy-absorbing components are single-use and can't be safely reused even if they look undamaged.
• Follow the manufacturer's stated service life for retirement, regardless of inspection outcome — webbing and stitching degrade with UV and use in ways that aren't always visible.
• Keep inspection records for commercial and multi-user equipment.

A documented rescue plan should be in place before any fall-arrest work starts — suspension trauma can become serious within minutes of a worker being left hanging in a harness, so a rescue and retrieval capability (self-rescue or assisted) matters as much as the arrest system itself.

Applications & Industries

This range is used across roofing and construction, telecommunications and tower climbing, electrical and pole work, scaffolding, confined space entry, general trade and maintenance access, rope access and rigging, and any site task carried out above ground level where a fall hazard exists. Dropped-object tethering from Ergodyne, Metabo, Sutton Tools and SmartStraps is increasingly specified alongside personal fall protection on managed sites, particularly where work is carried out over people, plant or public areas below.

Brands We Stock

Austlift is the core of this range — Australian-focused height safety and rigging equipment spanning harnesses, lanyards, SRLs, anchors, kits and rescue gear. B-Safe supplies harnesses (including the Evolve pole-work and confined-space range), lanyards, SRLs and anchor hardware. Safetylink and Beaver supply purpose-built roof and structural anchor points. Ergodyne and Metabo, along with Sutton Tools and SmartStraps, cover tool-tethering and dropped-object accessories for crews working at height with power and hand tools.

A Note on Safety

Height safety equipment protects against fatal and serious injuries — correct selection, correct fit and correct inspection all matter, every time. AIMS Industrial supplies genuine height safety equipment from established Australian and international brands, but we don't design fall-arrest systems, certify installed anchor points, or replace the judgement of a qualified height safety engineer or rigger. For system design, engineered anchor certification, or any application you're not confident about, talk to our team and we'll help you find the right product or point you to the right specialist.

Companion Ranges

Height safety works alongside broader site PPE and access control: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Safety Equipment & PPE, Hard Hats, Lockout Tagout (LOTO), and Antislip Safety Solutions for walkway and access surfaces.

Order from AIMS Industrial

Need help specifying a harness, lanyard, SRL or anchor for a specific job, or pricing a full roofer's or rescue kit? Call our team on (02) 9773 0122, contact us online, or request a quote and we'll get back to you with genuine product advice and fast dispatch from our Australian warehouse.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between fall restraint, fall arrest and work positioning?

Fall restraint physically stops a worker reaching an edge or hazard, so no fall can occur. Fall arrest allows a fall to happen but safely stops it using a harness, energy-absorbing lanyard or SRL, and a rated anchor. Work positioning holds a worker in place to do a task, using front or side D-rings, and is normally backed up by a separate restraint or arrest connection rather than relied on alone.

Which AS/NZS 1891 part applies to my equipment?

AS/NZS 1891.1 covers harnesses, lanyards and connecting hardware (karabiners, snap hooks). AS/NZS 1891.2 covers horizontal lifeline and rail systems. AS/NZS 1891.3 covers self-retracting lifelines and other fall-arrest devices. AS/NZS 1891.4 covers how the equipment should be selected, used and maintained. Anchor points themselves are manufactured to AS/NZS 5532, a separate but related standard.

Can I use the dorsal D-ring and the front D-ring for the same purpose?

No. The dorsal (back) D-ring is the fall-arrest attachment point on a full-body harness. Front and side D-rings are for work positioning or restraint only, unless the specific harness model is rated otherwise by the manufacturer — check the harness label before connecting a fall-arrest lanyard or SRL to anything other than the dorsal D-ring.

What's the difference between a fixed lanyard and a self-retracting lifeline (SRL)?

A fixed-length lanyard is a set length of webbing or rope with a shock absorber; the worker's fall distance is roughly the deployed length of the lanyard plus stretch. An SRL pays line out and retracts it as the worker moves, then locks almost instantly on a fall — typically arresting it within a much shorter distance, which matters where headroom or fall clearance is limited.

What anchor points are acceptable for fall-arrest connection?

A proper fall-arrest anchor is a purpose-built point manufactured to AS/NZS 5532 with a marked rated capacity, installed and used according to AS/NZS 1891.4 — for example a bolted roof anchor, a rated beam or purlin anchor, or an engineered horizontal lifeline. Unrated points such as light roof sheeting, guttering, ductwork or handrails are not acceptable anchors and can fail under fall-arrest load.

How often should harnesses, lanyards and SRLs be inspected?

Do a visual pre-use check every time equipment is used. In addition, have it formally inspected by a competent person on a regular schedule — many Australian providers work to a six-monthly interval as good practice, with more frequent inspection in harsh conditions — but follow the specific manufacturer's instructions and your own risk assessment for the exact interval. Any equipment that has arrested a fall must be withdrawn from service immediately.

Do you stock replacement parts, or just complete harnesses and kits?

This range includes complete harnesses, lanyards, SRLs, anchors, karabiners and kits from Austlift and B-Safe. For a specific spare part, component compatibility question, or an item you can't find in the collection, contact our team — we can source most genuine Austlift and B-Safe components.

What's the difference between a height safety harness and a tool lanyard?

A height safety harness and fall-arrest lanyard are personal protective equipment designed and rated to catch a falling person. A tool lanyard (from brands like Ergodyne, Metabo or Sutton Tools in this range) is a dropped-object control designed to stop a hand tool or battery pack falling — it isn't rated for, and must never be used as, personal fall-arrest equipment.

Can I use a rock-climbing carabiner instead of an industrial karabiner?

No. Rock-climbing and recreational carabiners are tested to a different standard and loading regime to industrial height safety karabiners. Use only karabiners and connectors rated for industrial fall-arrest use — the locking mechanism, gate strength and certification are not interchangeable with recreational climbing gear.

Do you help design height safety systems for a specific site?

AIMS Industrial supplies genuine height safety equipment and can advise on product selection, but engineered system design and anchor point certification for complex or permanent installations should be carried out by a qualified height safety engineer or rigger. Get in touch and we'll help you find the right products and, where needed, point you toward the right specialist.

What's included in a roofer's kit?

Austlift's Basic, Core and Premium Roofer's Kits bundle a harness, lanyard and anchorage solution suited to roof access work, saving you specifying each component separately. Kit contents vary by tier — check the individual product listing for exactly what's included before ordering.