PPE Directive & Standards issues:Fall arrest products

The decision of the EU Commission to advise in the Official Journal that structural anchors are not PPE and the reluctance of the standards makers to amend EN 795 [now in process] has created much confusion over the past 10 years. More recently a similar decision to take away the harmonised status of EN 353-1 is also causing confusion when fall arrest products are selected and purchased.

UK manufacturers have been submitting all the anchors set out in EN 795 for PPE compliance testing and have CE marked their products. Because of the market confusion regarding these products, UK Notified Bodies have agreed not to accept any new structural anchors for PPE compliance testing on the basis that they are no longer PPE. The BSIF's advice to users and installers is that they should discuss any fall arrest anchors that are not CE marked with their suppliers to ensure that they will perform adequately.

It has been known for some time that products claiming compliance with EN 353-1 may not work in "fall back" situations but is it not always clear from the information provided by manufacturers which will and which will not. Again, BSIF advice is that users should confirm this with their suppliers if "fall back" protection is required.

Falls from height contribute to the highest number of deaths in work each year and there is evidence to suggest that some of these fatalities are caused by anchorages which are not fit for purpose and the use of inadequate "fall back" protection.