When collective protection cannot be implemented, workers protection must be ensured by PPE against falls from a height.
Is considered a PPE all devices or means intended to be worn or held by a person to protect him from one or more risks likely to threaten its health or its safety on the workplace.
Directive 89/686 deals with the design of PPE and set up the marketing conditions, the essential requirements in terms of design, manufacture and test methods. This one will be replaced by the regulation 2016/425 of march 9 of 2016 and applicable by april 21 of 2018.
It classifies the PPE in three categories of risk. The PPE against falls from a height are part of category 3 "lethal risk".
European harmonized EN standards
Are the technical requirements to which the products must comply with. Conformity to the EN standards gives presumption of conformity to the Directive and allows CE marking.
The CE type examination certificate and the declaration of conformity
Before marketing a PPE, the manufacturer must send his product to a test laboratory in charge of issuing a CE type examination certificate.
The declaration of conformity is the manufacturer commitment to supply a product complying with the regulation in force.
Production control procedure
In order to ensure the conformity of its production, the manufacturer of the fall protection equipment must submit all products either to a final product control or to a production process control. This compulsory control is carried out by a Notified Body.
Directive 89/656 relevant to the use of PPE. It determines the obligations of the employer. These obligations are as follows: