FALL PROTECTION
The right system for each area of application.
// General
Vital protection against deadly hazards
Falls are amongst the most frequent causes of accidental death at the workplace. In most countries they can even account for 50 percent of all fatal accidents at work.
With fall protection as part of personal protective equipment (PPE), you can protect your employees from numerous hazards. These include:
- Insufficient training of the users and those who train others in working at a height.
- Risk of slipping due to wet surfaces and steep inclines.
- Trip risk on uneven surfaces.
- Internal injuries due to jerks on catching by restraint systems.
At least one person a day in Europe has a work accident involving a deadly fall – usually from a height of two to three metres.
// SELECTION AID
What to take into consideration when selecting products
When selecting the appropriate personal protective equipment against falls from a height, the application area, fall height and wearing comfort play decisive roles.
The right system for each application area
In order for personal fall protection to function perfectly, the individual components of the restraint or capture system must be perfectly coordinated to one another. Additionally, they can only be used in the manner which was intended for them, as each individual component fulfils specific requirements which are defined by the corresponding standards. Manufacturers provide information for their products regarding which conditions the respective systems can be used in. In this regard, the following factors play a role:
- Area of application
- Size and weight of the wearer
- How long the fall protection must be worn for (now and again or continuously)
- Environmental conditions (e.g. high temperatures)
| The goal of PPE is always to limit the fall distance. Without a fall damper, even a fall of 0.5 m creates a force on the person equivalent to a drop weight of up to 1.2 t. With a fall damper, the force is equivalent to a maximum of up to 600 kg. This weight determines the force of the arrest shock, which can cause serious injuries to the wearer. |
| If you have to wear fall protection in your work on an ongoing basis, wearing comfort is crucial. In this regard, back padding on the belts as well as elastic and adjustable straps ensure that the equipment is comfortable to wear. |
|
Employees have the responsibility to check the personal protective equipment for fall protection for defects before every use and also replace it if necessary. Furthermore, the fall protection must be checked once a year by a trained professional, who documents the results in an examination logbook. Belts should be replaced every six to eight years, and connectors, every four to six years, as long as the products do not exhibit any flaws during this time. Items from production year 2019 onwards have a service life of ten years, provided that they pass the annual inspection. |
// SELECTION AID
Attachment devices
Safety harnesses
Safety harnesses
Height security harnesses
Attachment devices
Safety harnesses
Connectors
Height security harnesses
Attachment devices
Anchor devices
Connectors
Height security harnesses
Tool protection
Anchor devices
Connectors
Tool protection
Tool protection
Anchor devices
// SERVICES
Maintenance and repair
As well as correct usage, conducting regular inspections of personal protective equipment for fall protection is obligatory. This inspection must be performed at regular intervals, but at least once a year, by a qualified professional. Checking for damage, wear and checking the function is included in the framework of the UVV (German Accident Prevention Regulation) checks. Our certified specialist partner is qualified to inspect personal protective equipment for fall protection from all manufacturers, and to approve ongoing use through documentation in inspection log books. The inspection can also be carried out on site.
// Norms and standards
Specific standards for fall protection
Before selecting and using personal protective equipment against falls, the employer must perform a hazard analysis. The hazard analysis determines which hazards cannot be eliminated or reduced by technical or organisational measures.
-
The personal protective equipment used for fall protection must satisfy the applicable regulations for protection of health and safety:
EN 353-1: Guided type fall arresters including a rigid anchor line
EN 353-2: Guided type fall arresters including a flexible anchor line
EN 354/362: Connectors
EN 355: Fall dampers
EN 360: Height safety devices
EN 361: Safety harnesses
EN 795: Anchor devices
EN 353-1: Guided type fall arresters including a rigid anchor line
EN 353-2: Guided type fall arresters including a flexible anchor line
EN 354/362: Connectors
EN 355: Fall dampers
EN 360: Height safety devices
EN 361: Safety harnesses
EN 795: Anchor devices
