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Useful guides

European Standards for fall protection

A variety of personal fall protection systems are used by workers who have to work at height either to define their position, to limit their movements or to protect them in the event of a fall.

A fall arrest system is used when there is a risk of a free fall from a height.

We will introduce the main personal fall protection systems and their general construction, their characteristics and their role, focusing on fall arrest systems.

In addition, we will mention the European Regulations and Standards applicable to the manufacture of these products or their use in the work environment.

Functions of Personal Protective Equipment against falls from a height

Statistics prove that working from height is a difficult working condition, regardless of the height. The most common accidents are falls from height and injuries that can cause wounds and bone fractures or ruptures of internal organs, or even cause major internal bleeding that can be fatal.

In order to prevent accidents involving falls from height, collective protection measures (such as scaffolding) should be a priority. Where collective protection measures cannot be provided or where the cost is prohibitive, personal protective equipment (PPE) should be used, either to prevent the fall or to arrest the fall and keep the user in a safe position.

For PPE to be suitable, the maximum stopping force should be 6kN according to European (and 8kN according to American) Standards. Only certain components, or a combination of components, meet these requirements and can be used where there is a risk of falling from a height.

In addition, fall protection equipment must be adapted to the wearer's body and the working environment. They should be comfortable for the wearer under normal conditions and should be comfortable for at least a short period of time in the event of a fall.

There appear to be 5 main reasons for the high accident rates:

  • Improper design of the working environment
  • Failure of access support
  • Requirement for the worker to work beyond the limitations of the safety system
  • Inadequate, poorly designed or absent edge protection (where someone had to work)
  • Constraints of the working environment are ignored because they cannot be practically implemented.

Definitions relating to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment is definedas any equipment designed to be worn or carried by the worker to protect him/her from one or more hazards likely to threaten his/her health and safety at work, as well as any attachment or accessory designed for this purpose.

To ensure protection against falls from a height, various products and accessories are available on the market which can be assembled by users in such a way as to avoid the risk of injury from a fall. Αυτού του είδους τα εξαρτήματα ΜΑΠ είναι: συσκευές κρατήματος του σώματος (ζώνες ενός ή περισσότερων σημείων, ιμάντες μηρών, ζώνες μέσης), ή αξεσουάρ που σκοπό έχουν να προσδένουν ένα άτομο σε μία κατασκευή (μικρά σχοινιά πρόσδεσης/lanyards, γάντζοι, κινητοί ανακόπτες πτώσης, απορροφητές ενέργειας, σύνδεσμοι, συγκεκριμένοι τύποι σημείων αγκύρωσης/πρόσδεσης) ή δυναμικά ορειβατικά είδη (όπως πχ. ropes, harnesses, rope link clamps, rock anchoring devices).

A personal fall protection system is a set of components designed to protect the user from falls from height, consisting of:

  • Harness that holds and restrains the body - a single or multi-point belt for the whole body, a belt for working in a seated position, a waist belt for positional restraint, a rescue belt, a rescue loop; and
  • A tethering system comprising an anchorage device that can be connected to a reliable anchorage point.

The main types of personal fall protection systems and their roles are:

  • • Positional restraint systems: prevent the user from reaching an area where there is a risk of falling from a height
  • • Work positioning systems: prevent a free fall while allowing the user to work at height either in tension or suspended
  • • Rope access systems: allow the user to gain access to and from the work area in such a way as to prevent or arrest a free fall, using a work harness and a safety harness, which are separately attached to reliable anchorage points - can be used for work positioning or rescue
  • • fall arrest systems: stop the fall and at the same time reduce the impact forces exerted on the user's body
  • • Rescue systems: ensure that a person can rescue themselves or other persons in such a way that a free fall is prevented.

A fall arrest system, also called a fall arrest system or fall arrest arrest system, is a personal fall protection system that prevents the user from colliding with the ground, a structure or any other obstacle in the event of a free fall and reduces the impact force on the user's body during the arrest of the fall.

CE marking and personal protective equipment against falls from a height

Personal Protective Equipment against falls from a height belongs to Class III (for protection against risks that can have very serious consequences, such as death or irreversible damage to health) according to European Regulation 2016/425 (Annex 1) and must be CE marked to be legally placed on the European market.

It should be noted that some types of equipment for working from height are not considered PPE. These are known as 'Category 0' and include:

  • Anchorage points that are embedded in a structure or rock surface, such as anchorage points of type A, C, D and E according to EN 795:1996
  • Equipment for approaching or leaving places at height (winch seats, etc.)
  • Hammers, climbing equipment and other similar climbing equipment
  • Support equipment (harnesses, etc.) designed for use in parachutes, gliders, etc. and cannot be used for other purposes.

Systems used in professional or amateur sporting activities are not considered PPE. Category 0 items do not need to be CE marked

European harmonised standards relating to Personal Protective Equipment against falls from a height

There are currently at least 40 European harmonised standards covering:

  • General requirements for personal protective equipment and for instructions for use, maintenance, periodic inspection, repair, marking and packaging (EN 365: 2004)
  • Specific requirements for accessories: belts (EN 358:1999) and full body harnesses (EN 361:2002), attachments (EN 362:2004), small lanyards, energy absorbers (EN 355:2002), descent devices (EN 341:1992+ EN 341:1992/A1: 1996), retractable fall arresters (EN 360: 2002), guided fall arresters including anchor harness (EN 353-2: 2002), fall arrest systems (EN 363: 2008), cable for climbing equipment (EN 564:2006), anchor devices (EN 795:1996/A1: 2000), seated belts (EN 813:2008) and others
  • Test methods (EN 364:1992).

The list of European Certification Standards relevant to the implementation of Directive 2016/425 is updated and renewed from time to time.

European standards for fall arrest systems, components and main characteristics

A fall arrest system, also known as a fall arrest system, includes:

  • A suitable body support device, i.e. a single or multi-point belt
  • An energy absorbing element: an energy absorber, a retractable fall arrest device, a guided fall arrest device comprising a robust anchor strap, a guided fall arrest device comprising a flexible support
  • An anchor strap
  • An anchorage point
  • Links/hooks
  • Small mooring ropes/lanyards

Types of fall arrest systems and main parts

Components:

  • Body harness (B in Figure 2)
  • Short lanyard (C in Figure 2)
  • Energy absorber (D in Figure 2)
  • Anchor point (A in Figure 2)
  • Hooks and connectors (optional, for linking components)

This type of fall arrest system (also known as a fall energy absorption system) is used where an anchor point is located above the user, with sufficient free space below.

Components:

  • Body harness (B in Figure 3)
  • Lanyard (C in Figure 3)
  • Energy absorber (D in Figure 3)
  • Mobile anchor point on a flexible horizontal anchor line (A in Figure 3)
  • Connectors

This system is suitable for platforms without guardrails, where overhead anchoring is not possible. Its main advantage is that it allows free movement along the horizontal anchor line, while movement forward or backward from the anchor point is limited to the total length of the energy absorber and lanyard.

Components:

  • Body harness (B in Figure 4)
  • Retractable lanyard (part of the fall arrester) (C in Figure 4)
  • Retractable fall arrester (D in Figure 4)
  • Anchor point (A in Figure 4)
  • Connectors

A retractable fall arrester is a cable mechanism housed in a casing, ensuring the cable remains taut. Available in lengths up to 60 meters, it includes an integrated energy absorber, arresting falls within less than one meter. Extension of the unit is prohibited without the manufacturer’s approval, and attaching energy-absorbing lanyards is strictly forbidden. These devices must be used strictly in vertical applications, with the anchor point above the user's head. Incorrect usage can result in severe or fatal accidents. Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Components:

  • Anchor point (A in Figure 5)
  • Body harness (B in Figure 5)
  • Lanyard (C in Figure 5)
  • Guided type fall arrester (D in Figure 5)
  • Flexible anchor line (E in Figure 5)
  • Connectors

The flexible anchor line is a lanyard or rope secured to an anchor point above the user’s head, stretching downwards. These systems are temporarily installed and should be used with harnesses that have front or rear attachment points. The user has limited lateral movement based on the lanyard’s length, but the fall arrest distance increases accordingly.

Components:

  • Body harness (B in Figure 6)
  • Lanyard (C in Figure 6)
  • Guided type fall arrester (D in Figure 6)
  • Fixed anchor point (A in Figure 6)
  • Connectors

These systems are permanently installed, often on tall radio towers, chimneys, or antenna masts. The anchor line is typically a fixed rail bolted to the structure or a tightly secured steel cable, designed to limit lateral movements. They must be used with body harnesses featuring front attachment points, connected directly via hook—with or without a lanyard. Such systems allow minimal lateral movement and generally have short arrest distances.

The body harness (full body harness) is the primary component of a fall arrest system, designed to securely hold and protect the user’s body during and after a fall. Only harnesses with one or more certified attachment points should be used in fall arrest systems.

A body harness consists of straps made from webbing, buckles, attachment elements, and other components, adjustable to fit the user’s body. It must include at least one strap below the pelvis and shoulder straps. It may also include thigh straps, chest straps, and/or a positioning belt with or without lumbar support.

To ensure safe body positioning after a fall, attachment elements should be located above the user’s center of gravity, typically on the sternum, back, or shoulders. These elements can also be integrated into protective clothing.

The harness must be properly adjusted to the user’s body, without any risk of the body slipping out due to rupture or elongation. To make wear and tear clearly visible, stitching should be in a contrasting color to the fabric material.

If you need more information or advice on choosing the right components for a fall arrest system, please contact us and our knowledgeable staff will solve all your questions.

Resources

  1. Article link: https://oshwiki.eu/wiki/Fall_arrest_systems
  2. EC – European Commission, PPE guidelines – Guidelines on the application of Council Directive 89/686/EEC of 21 December 1989 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to personal protective equipment, 2010, Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/mechanical/documents/guidance/personal-protective-equipment/index_en.htm
  3. Ellis W., Fall Arrest Equipment, Health and Safety International Magazine/Working at height Health and Safety International Magazine, October 2002. Retrieved 24 April 2011, from: http://www.hsimagazine.com
  4. Bomel Ltd, Falls from height – Prevention and risk control effectiveness, Health and Safety Executive Research Report 116, HSE Books, 2003. Available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr116.pdf
  5. Wearing S., Peebles L., Jefferies D., Lee K. & Ebenezer Anjorin E., System Concepts Limited for the Health and Safety Executive, First evaluation of the impact of the work at height regulations First evaluation of the removal of the ‘two metre rule’, 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2011, from:http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr521.pdf
  6. Thomas D., Fall arrest equipment. The science behind the myth, Health and Safety International Magazine, October 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2011, from: http://www.hsimagazine.com
  7. HSE – Health and Safety Executive, Survivable Impact Forces on Human Body. Constrained by Full Body Harness, HSL/2003/09, 2003. Retrieved 24 April 2011, from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/hsl_pdf/2003/hsl03-09.pdf
  8. Council Directive 89/686/EEC of 21 December 1989 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to personal protective equipment, OJ L 399, 30.12.1989, pp. 18-38.
  9. EN 363:2008 ’Personal fall protection equipment – Personal fall protection systems’, CEN 2008.
  10. Directive 2001/45/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2001 amending Council Directive 89/655/EEC concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work, OJ L 195, 19.07.2001, pp. 46.
  11. EU-OSHA – European Agency for Safety and Health at Work Non-binding guide to good practice for implementing Directive 2001/45/CE (Work at height), 2006. Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=738&langId=en&pubId=140&furtherPubs=yes
  12. EC – European Commission, PPE guidelines – Guidelines on the application of Council Directive 89/686/EEC of 21 December 1989 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to personal protective equipment, 2010, Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/mechanical/documents/guidance/personal-protective-equipment/index_en.htm
  13. HSE – Health and Safety Executive (2004), Determination of rope access and work positioning techniques in arboriculture. Retrieved 28 May 2011 from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/pdf/wahreport.pdf
  14. Jump up↑WAHSA – The Work at Height Safety Association, Technical Guidance Notes 1-7, WAHSA TGN 01-TGN 7. Retrieved 24 April 2011, from: http://www.wahsa.co.uk/component/option,com_docman/task,cat_view/gid,5/Itemid,8
  15. WAHSA – The Work at Height Safety Association, Technical Guidance Notes 1-7, WAHSA TGN 01-TGN 7. Retrieved 24 April 2011, from: http://www.wahsa.co.uk/component/option,com_docman/task,cat_view/gid,5/Itemid,8
  16. Commission communication in the framework of the implementation of the Council Directive 89/686/EEC of 21 December 1989 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to personal protective equipment (Publication of titles and references of harmonised standards under the directive) (2010/C 118/02), OJ C 118, 6.4.2010, pp. 10-40. Available at: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2010:118:0010:0040:EN:PDF
  17. Jarvis, S., Fall arrest. Then, now and tomorrow, Health and Safety International Magazine, January 2008, Bay Publishing Weymouth, 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2011, from: http://www.hsimagazine.com
  18. M., Safety at Height. The challenges facing the height safety industry, Health and Safety International Magazine, April 2009. Available at: www.hsimagazine.com
  19. CEN: EN 365:2004 Personal protective equipment against falls from a height. General requirements for instructions for use, maintenance, periodic examination, repair, marking and packaging.
  20. WAHSA Technical Guidance Note 3, “Guidance on inspecting personal fall protection equipment”. Available at: http://www.wahsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/WAHSA-TGN03-Guidance-on-inspecting-personal-fall-protection-equipment.pdf
  21. Witheridge, P., Inspection of Height PPE. Just how competent does a person need to be?, Health and Safety International Magazine, January 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2011, from: http://www.hsimagazine.com
  22. Curtis, D., Workers high safety. The risk factors and inspection regime, Health and Safety International Magazine, July 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2011, from: http://www.hsimagazine.com

Useful links for further information
- Council Directive of 30 November 1989 on the minimum health and safety requirements for the use by workers of personal protective equipment at the workplace (third individual directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (89/656/EEC), OJ L 292, 30.12.1989, pp. 17-28.
- EN 365:2006 ’Personal protective equipment against falls from a height- General requirements for instructions for use, maintenance, periodic examination, repair, marking and packaging’, CEN 2006.
- EU-OSHA – European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, EUROSTAT-Health and safety at work in Europe (1999-2007)’, 2010 edition. Available at: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/product_details/publication?p_product_code=KS-31-09-290
- EU-OSHA – European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, EUROSTAT-Health and safety at work in Europe (1999-2007)’, 2010 edition. Available at: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/product_details/publication?p_product_code=KS-31-09-290
-EU-OSHA – European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Sector page on construction (Publishing date not available). Retrieved 21 June 2011 from: http://osha.europa.eu/en/sector/construction
- EU-OSHA – European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Factsheet 49: Safe roof work. Available at http://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/factsheets/49/view
-HSE – Health and Safety Executive, “Preventing falls’ (publishing date not available). Retrieved 28 May 2011, from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/topics/falls.htm
- Guidelines for the Prevention of Falls, Occupational Health and Safety Service, Department of Labour, Wellington, New Zeeland, April 2000, Available at: http://www.osh.dol.govt.nz/order/catalogue/pdf/falls.pdf

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