The fall from a height is the second cause of deadly accidents, after the ones from driving.
The regulation is clear however : protections do exist (collective or individual protections), but this doesn't prevent the professionals to behave everyday with risk.
500 000 serious injuries and more than 1 000 death per year in the European Union (3 persons per day !)
The risk of fall from a height represents a high and serious risk.
It exist in numerous professions.
 Safety and regulation
In the field of harmonization of the regulations of the CEE members as far as health and safety is concerned, two European Directives, related to PPE (personal protective equipment) have been adopted, and written in the work code :
- The Directive 89-686 dated 29/12/1989, transcribed by the 29/07/1992 Decree, about the conception of the PPE
- The 89-656 Directive dated 30/11/1989, transcribed by the 11/01/1993 Decree, about the use of the PPE by the workers. |
Extract from the Decree n°2004-924 dated 01/09/2004
"The temporary works at height must be done from a working space that is done, installed or equiped in order to guarantee the safety of the workers.
The fall from height prevention must be done by guardrails, integrated or fixed in a safe way, rigid and with the appropriate resistance.
When such collective protection devices are not available, the protection of the workers must be done by an appropriate fall arrest mean". |
Articles R,233-1-1 ; R,233-157 et R,232-1-12 from the working Code
"The anchorage device, as it is, must be checked and maintained yearly, as per the provider / installer's instructions. |
European standards related to work at height :
EN 363 - Personal Protective Equipment against falls from a height, including a fall arrest harness and a fall arrest lanyard.
EN 361 - Fall arrest harness
EN 355 - Shockabsorbers
EN 360 - Self retractable fall arrest à sangle ou à câble
EN 353-2 : Mobile fall arrresters on flexible anchor line
EN 795 Classe A : Fix anchorages à demeure
EN 795 Class B : Temporary and transportable anchorages
EN 795 Classe C : Mobile anchorage device on a flexible anchor line
EN 795 Classe D : Mobile anchorage devices on a rigid anchor line
EN 795 Classe E : Ballast anchorages
EN 353-1 : Mobile fall arrester on a flexible anchor line
EN 358 : Work suspension
EN 362 : Conectors
EN 341 : Descending devices |
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