EN353-1 Safety warning

Some readers may be aware that the EU Commission recently withdrew the presumption of conformity for EN 353-1 [Personal Protective Equipment against falls from height – part 1 guided type fall arresters including rigid anchor line] on safety grounds. What this means in simple terms, is that the standard being used to assess these products is inadequate.

This issue addresses the problem that EN 353-1 incorporates no tests to ensure that these products work adequately in “fall-back” situations. From a user perspective, this may not be a significant problem if the kit they are using has been assessed against EN 353-1 AND the Notified Body has insisted on additional testing to ensure that the product works in these “fall-back” situations. If it has not been subject to additional testing and is deployed in situations where “fall-back” can occur, accidents are a real possibility.

Adequate products do exist and there is no need for any panic. However, the BSIF urges every employer and worker at height using EN 353-1 type equipment where “fall-back” is a possibility, to check with their supplier to ensure that the equipment they are using is suitable for the work being performed.