Fall Protection and its Safety Standards

Fall Protection and its Safety Standards

Fall protection is essential to anybody that works at height, including roofers, scaffolders, tree surgeons and window cleaners. Falls are responsible for a great number of serious injuries and deaths, which are preventable by using the correct harnesses and lanyards.

What exactly is a personal fall protection system?

A personal fall protection system consists of a combination of different separable or inseparable components. The components must be suitable for the respective area of application and may only be used in combination according to the manufacturer's specifications.

Here is a list of the basic components:

• Body suspension device (e.g. safety harness)
• System to which users can attach themselves (e.g. connectors, self-retracting lifelines, retaining cables, connector elements, guided type fall arresters, etc.)
• Permissible anchorage device (e.g. single anchorage points, lifeline or rail safety systems, tape slings, etc.)

Caring for your fall protection

Equipment should be checked before use and regular inspections should be fully documented. Even minor safety harness defects can cause a significant reduction to the performance of fall arrest gear, for example a one millimetre deep nick or cut in the edge of a webbing lanyard can result in between 5 to 39 per cent loss of strength. Ingress of dirt and UV can also cause damage to the fibres of the webbing, resulting in a similar loss of strength.

Fall protection could be damaged in several ways. Here's a list of some of the ways your fall protection could be damaged:

• Abrasion along the lanyard’s edges
• Abrasion to webbing and loops
• Cuts and nicks in ropes and stitching
• Knots in lanyards that are not part of the original product’s design

Safety standards applicable to fall protection PPE

• EN341 - Personal protective equipment against falls from a height - descender devices
• EN353-1 - Personal protective equipment against fall from a height - guided type fall arresters including a rigid anchor line
• EN353-2 - Personal protective equipment against falls from a height - guided type fall arresters including a flexible anchor line
• EN354 - Personal protective equipment against falls from a height - lanyards
• EN355 - Personal protective equipment against falls from a height - energy absorbers
• EN358 - Personal protective equipment for work positioning and prevention of falls from a height - Belts for work positioning and restraint and work positioning lanyards
• EN360 - Personal protective equipment against falls from a height - retractable type fall arresters
• EN361 - Personal protective equipment against falls from a height - full body harnesses
• EN362 - Personal protective equipment against falls from a height - connectors
• EN363 - Personal protective equipment against falls from a height - fall arrest systems
• EN364 - Personal protective equipment against falls from a height - test methods
• EN365 - Personal protective equipment and other equipment for protection against falls from a height - general requirements for instructions for use, maintenance, periodical examination, repair, marking and packaging
• EN517 - Prefabricated accessories for roofing-roof safety hooks
• EN565 - Safety requirements and test method
• EN1497 - Rescue equipment, rescue harnesses
• EN1498 - Rescue equipment, rescue loops

Fall protection at Total Workwear

At Total Workwear we have a range of top quality, affordable fall arrest gear to keep you safe whilst working at height or on scaffolding. Here is a list of some products that all conform to a safety standard applicable to fall protection.

	Portwest 1 Point Harness - FP11 1 Point Harness - FP11 Contrasting webbing colours for easy inspection Metal buckles Leg adjustment points Rear D ring Conforms to EN361 Click Here To View The Product
	Portwest Single Rope Restraint Lanyard - FP24 Superb dynamic performance Fall protection solution Working at height safety Retail box CE-CAT III Conforms to EN354 & EN358 Click Here To View The Product
	Portwest Web Fall Arrest Block - FP40 Snap Hook Steel carabiner Max Load:100KG Conforms to EN360 & EN364 Click Here To View The Product

S U M M A R Y

In conclusion, fall protection is crucial for anyone working at heights to prevent injuries and deaths. Personal fall protection systems consist of various components, including a body suspension device, system to which users can attach themselves, and permissible anchorage device. It is essential to care for fall protection equipment and conduct regular inspections to avoid any damages that could reduce the performance of fall arrest gear. There are several safety standards applicable to fall protection PPE, including EN341, EN361, and EN363. At Total Workwear, there is a range of high-quality and affordable fall arrest gear that conforms to safety standards applicable to fall protection.

to view our range of fall protection safety gear