Raising standards

FALL PROTECTION equipment plays a crucial role in safeguarding workers from the risks associated with working at height, which remains one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities and injuries in the UK. The use of proper fall protection systems, combined with rigorous training and adherence to safety standards, is essential in mitigating these dangers.

The introduction of the new British Standard, BS 8681, marks a significant step forward in this area. Officially titled " BS 8681 - Personal fall protection equipment – Anchor systems – Specification for provider competence" this standard sets out clear guidelines for the industry, emphasising competence and safety across all aspects of fall protection systems. By focusing on the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience required at every stage of fall protection—from design to installation, inspection, and training—BS 8681 aims to enhance safety and reduce the high number of accidents and fatalities associated with working at height.

A complement to BS 7883

BS 8681 has been designed to work in tandem with the existing BS 7883 standard, which focuses on the technical aspects of designing, installing, and inspecting personal fall protection anchor systems. While BS 7883 addresses the hardware and structural integrity of these systems, BS 8681 broadens the focus to include the competence of all professionals involved. This new standard emphasises that every person in the safety chain—from system designers to installers, inspectors, and trainers—must have the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to ensure that fall protection systems are safe and effective.

BSIF has produced an overview of BS 7883 to help the understanding of best practice for those designing, installing, maintaining and inspecting anchor devices and systems. This can be viewed visiting www.bsif-heightsafetygroup.org

Competence and responsibility

One of the key objectives of BS 8681 is to raise the competence levels across the industry. The standard aims to ensure that those involved in the design, installation, and inspection of fall protection systems are thoroughly qualified. For instance, system designers, whose role was first introduced in BS 7883, are now expected to take on even greater responsibility. They must ensure that the systems they design are not only compliant with safety standards but also fit for purpose throughout their operational life. This includes considering factors such as safe construction, use, rescue, and inspection.

Manufacturing and testing

Manufacturers also play a crucial role under BS 8681. The standard provides clear guidelines on the necessary steps to ensure that anchor devices and other components meet stringent safety requirements. This involves rigorous testing, certification, and documentation to guarantee that these products can withstand the demands of real-world use in high-risk environments.

Training and qualifications

Training and competency are central themes in BS 8681. The standard supports the development of qualifications, such as the Level 3 apprenticeship for permanent fall arrest technicians, which is part of a broader effort to professionalise the industry. This initiative, driven by the BSIF Height Safety Group, aims to close the skills gap and ensure that all workers in the fall protection industry are equipped with the necessary knowledge and experience to perform their roles safely.

Inspection and auditing

BS 8681 emphasises the importance of thorough inspection and auditing processes to maintain the integrity of fall protection systems. Inspectors must be highly skilled and knowledgeable, capable of identifying potential hazards that could compromise safety. Regular audits, both internal and external, are recommended to ensure ongoing compliance with the standard, thereby ensuring that systems remain safe throughout their operational life.

Summary of BS 8681 key features

• The duty holder:

The duty holder has the right to expect that their property is designed, built, and maintained in a way that is safe. Persons who need to access and maintain parts of the property need to have confidence and trust in the providers responsible for manufacturing/fabricating, specifying, designing, installing, inspecting and training the access equipment and that safety is a priority.

• Competence:

Competence of all who provide services and products throughout the life of a building is key to achieving this outcome. This British Standard formulates minimum bench marking for duty holders to establish providers capability and competence.

• Behaviours:

The role of all involved in fall protection (i.e. the providers) is about behaviours as much as competency. The approach taken in BSI Flex 8670, which is reflected in this British Standard, is to embed behaviours in the functions, activities and tasks that are required to manage the provision of personal fall protection systems.

• The Functional Roles:

Each of the functional roles are defined with the requirements and responsibilities including competence and behaviours, to fulfil their roles. These are defined under the following headings:-

a) duty holders;

b) manufacturers and fabricators;

c) system designers;

d) installers;

e) inspectors;

f) Trainers; and

g) other interested parties, e.g. specifiers, architects and structural engineers, and those who are responsible for the design of safe access and egress on buildings and structures.

• Requirements:

There are a number of requirements within the Standard. A selection of just a few are listed below:

a) Competence;

b) Supervision;

c) Mentoring;

d) Assessment;

e) Process Audit;

f) Management System;

g) Record Keeping;

h) Trainers;

i) Assessment and certification of trainees on completion of the course;

j) Minimum information to be given on the certificate, or other documentary evidence, issued for the course.

A positive impact on the industry

The introduction of BS 8681 is expected to have a profoundly positive impact on the fall protection industry. By setting higher standards for competence and safety, it aims to drive a cultural shift towards greater accountability and professionalism. Duty holders can now have greater confidence that they are working with competent professionals who can deliver safe, compliant, and effective fall protection systems. 

Alan Murray is CEO of the British Safety Industry Federation. For more information, visit www.bsif-heightsafetygroup.org/