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Work carried out where there is a risk of falling from height is subject to specific requirements regarding both work equipment and personal protective equipment. These requirements are primarily established through occupational health and safety regulations and are intended to ensure that work can be performed safely.
Employers are responsible for selecting appropriate equipment, ensuring it is used correctly, and verifying that it complies with applicable safety requirements.
Requirements for Safe Work Equipment
Work equipment used for working at height must be suitable for the task and safe to use.
This means that employers must ensure:
- The correct type of equipment is selected for the task.
- The equipment is stable and safe.
- The equipment is suitable for the working environment.
The selection of equipment should be based on a risk assessment and adapted to the nature and duration of the work.
Selecting Work Equipment for Working at Height
When work is performed at height, the equipment that provides the safest working environment should be chosen.
This means employers should consider:
- The duration of the work.
- How frequently the work is performed.
- The layout and conditions of the workplace.
- The possibility of using collective protective measures.
For example, a work platform or scaffold may be more appropriate for longer-duration or more extensive work activities.
Hierarchy of Protective Measures
Occupational health and safety regulations clearly state that collective protective measures must be prioritised over individual protective measures.
This means employers should first consider measures such as:
- Guardrails.
- Work platforms.
- Scaffolding.
Personal fall protection equipment should be used when such solutions are not possible, not sufficient, or cannot reasonably be implemented.
Personal Fall Protection Equipment
Personal fall protection equipment is used when risks cannot be eliminated or adequately controlled through other protective measures, or when alternative measures would be unreasonable.
This means that personal fall protection equipment is generally not the first choice, but rather a supplementary protective measure when collective protection is not sufficient.
In some situations, personal fall protection equipment may provide the safest solution, even though collective protection should normally be prioritised.
The choice of work method should always be based on a comprehensive risk assessment that takes factors such as the duration of the work and site-specific conditions into account.
Personal fall protection equipment may be an appropriate solution, for example, when:
- The work is short-term or temporary.
- Installing or removing collective protection would create a higher level of risk.
- It is not reasonably practicable to use collective protective measures.
Protective measures must never introduce new hazards.
This means that where the installation or removal of collective protection creates a greater overall risk, the use of personal fall protection equipment may be justified.
Requirements for the Use of Personal Protective Equipment
When personal fall protection equipment is used, it must:
- Be correctly selected for the task.
- Be properly installed and used.
- Be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
Employers must also ensure that workers have the knowledge and training necessary to use the equipment safely.
European Standards (EN Standards)
Personal fall protection equipment must comply with relevant European Standards (EN standards), which define the technical requirements for the equipment.
Examples include:
- EN 361 – Full Body Harnesses.
- EN 362 – Connectors.
- EN 363 – Personal Fall Protection Systems.
- EN 365 – Requirements for Inspection, Maintenance and Instructions for Use.
These standards help ensure that equipment has been tested and meets harmonised safety requirements throughout the European Union.
Adapting Protective Measures to the Work Environment
The selection of equipment and protective measures should always be based on a risk assessment.
This means that:
- Different work activities require different solutions.
- Protective measures must be adapted to the specific situation.
- Both technical and organisational controls may be necessary.
Sources and Regulatory References
AFS 2023:11
Chapter 2, Section 4 An examination and risk assessment shall be carried out to determine whether the selected work equipment is suitable for the work to be performed, or whether it has been appropriately adapted so that it can be used safely [...].
Chapter 15, Section 4 Employers shall ensure that personal protective equipment is only used when general technical protective measures or organisational measures do not sufficiently eliminate or reduce the risk. Collective protective measures shall be prioritised over individual protective measures.
Chapter 15, Section 12 Employers shall ensure that personal protective equipment is used only for its intended purpose and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, which must be available and understandable to employees.
Chapter 15, Section 16 Employers shall ensure that personal protective equipment is maintained, inspected, repaired and stored so that its protective function and hygienic condition are preserved. Damaged equipment, or equipment that may no longer provide adequate protection, must not be used.
Appendix 2 – 4.1.1 The most suitable means of access to a temporary workplace at height shall be selected with regard to the frequency of access, the height involved and the duration of the work [...].
Appendix 2 – 4.1.2 Depending on the type of work equipment selected, appropriate protective measures shall be implemented [...].
Swedish Work Environment Act (1977:1160)
Chapter 3, Section 2 Employers shall take all measures necessary to prevent employees from being exposed to ill health or accidents [...].