Standards Development

Scope

This British Standard gives recommendations and guidance on the selection, use and maintenance of personal fall protection systems and equipment for use in the workplace to prevent and/or to arrest falls from a height, including systems and equipment suitable for use in rescue. It also gives guidance on rescue of persons working at a height, in the event of an accident.

It is intended for use by employers, employees and self-employed persons who use personal fall protection systems and equipment. It is also intended for use by designers, e.g. architects and structural engineers, including those who are responsible for the design of safe access routes on buildings and structures, by those who commission work at a height, e.g. building owners and contractors, and by those involved in training persons for work at a height.

The standard is not applicable to collective fall protection systems, for example work platforms and fall arrest nets. It is not intended to apply to personal fall protection systems and equipment for use in leisure activities or in professional or private sports activities. It is also not intended to apply to personal fall protection systems and equipment for use in arboriculture.

Purpose

Falls from a height are one of the largest causes of death and injury in the workplace. It is therefore essential that measures are taken to protect workers against falls from a height. These can include measures taken at the design stage, for example in the design of a new building, collective fall protection measures such as barriers and guard rails, and the use of personal fall protection systems and equipment. It is equally essential that the fall protection measures adopted are appropriate to the particular situation, that any fall protection system or equipment is correctly maintained and that users have appropriate training.

The present standard deals with personal fall protection systems in the context of a hierarchy of fall protection measures. It provides details of the types of fall protection systems and equipment available and gives guidance on their selection, use and maintenance, and on the training of users.

The standard is intended for use by employers, employees and self-employed persons who use personal fall protection systems and equipment. It is also intended for use by designers, e.g. architects and structural engineers, including those who are responsible for the design of safe access routes on buildings and structures, by those who commission work at a height, e.g. building owners and contractors, and by those involved in training persons for work at a height.

The original standard (published in 2005) supported an HSE Priority Programme, Falls from Height and supported the introduction of the Work at Height Regulation 2005 (and commended by HSE).

A revision is required to update the document and keep it relevant.