Permanent and non-permanent fall arrest systems ensure the safety of workers working at height.
Ensuring the safety of those working at heights above two metres from the ground is not only a moral obligation but also a legal one , regulated by national and regional laws that establish the responsibilities of all those involved.
National laws specify the fields of application, including activities that:
“concern the execution of construction, maintenance, repair, demolition, conservation, rehabilitation, restructuring or equipment works, the transformation, renewal or dismantling of fixed, permanent or temporary structures, made of masonry, reinforced concrete, metal, wood or other materials, including electrical lines and systems, road, railway, hydraulic, maritime, hydroelectric, land reclamation, forestry and earthworks”
(Article 105 of Legislative Decree 81/2008). Article 1117 of the Civil Code grants regions the freedom to legislate on labor and safety matters.
According to UNI EN 795:2012, the lifeline manufacturer must provide, when selling the material, a certification of product conformity.
Non-permanent anchoring devices that can be used by a single person must be certified by the manufacturer in accordance with UNI EN 795:2012. Please note that certification according to this standard requires the user to dismantle the product after use, as it is one of the products specified in the PPE Directive 89/686/EEC.
Permanent anchoring devices that can be used by one or more people must be certified by the manufacturer in accordance with UNI 11578:2015 and UNI CEN/TS 16415:2013.
The declaration of conformity is issued by the manufacturer and is the only truly indispensable document, as it cannot be reproduced by the technician or installer. Without this document, the system cannot be used.
UNI EN 795:2012 also requires the manufacturer to provide the product's technical manual with instructions for installation, proper maintenance, and use of fall arrest systems "in the original language(s) of the destination country." The manual must also comply with EN 365:1993.
According to Legislative Decree 81/2008, art. 22 , "designers of workplaces, workplaces, and systems must comply with the general principles of prevention regarding health and safety at work when making design and technical choices and must select equipment, components, and protective devices that comply with the relevant legislative and regulatory provisions."
In the area of fall prevention, the designer must be a qualified technician and is responsible for designing and creating a graphic document describing the risks and methods of use of the fall arrest system. The design and graphic document must enable the employer to provide users with "detailed information on the specific risks existing in the environment in which they are intended to operate and on the prevention and emergency measures adopted in relation to their activity" (Legislative Decree 81/2008, art. 26).
It must highlight the routes to be followed based on the anchor placement. The factors that influence anchor placement, which are essential when analyzing roofing risks, are the following:
Based on the results of the risk analysis, the most suitable type of fall arrest system and the PPE suitable for the system are defined.
The designer is also required to verify, through calculations, the strength of the supporting structure to assess its ability to withstand the loads induced by a possible fall of the operator, and then prepare the calculation report that must be included in the Technical Covering Document (ETC). If the "technical characteristics of the element constituting the load-bearing structure are unknown, it is necessary to conduct separate static and dynamic strength tests on a sample of the structure with an anchor sample" (UNI EN 795).
Please remember that each region has been given the freedom to legislate more specifically on this matter.
The installer of fall protection systems is responsible for properly installing the system, performing a test to verify the strength of the fastening (UNI EN 795:2012 - Appendix A), and issuing a declaration of correct installation. This is a mandatory document and, thanks to the information it contains, essential for ensuring continued roof safety over time. According to Appendix A.2.2 of UNI EN 795:2012, it should state:
To competently fulfill their obligations, pursuant to Legislative Decree 81/2008, it is essential that installers be properly trained to understand the characteristics of the fall arrest system, potential problems, and possible solutions before proceeding with the installation. This allows them to verify that the structural characteristics of the roofing comply with the project specifications and that the quality of the materials used for installation is excellent. After carrying out the appropriate checks, the installer can proceed with assembly, strictly adhering to the requirements of the project provided by the designer and the specifications reported in the product's technical manual. For the requirements necessary for the performance of installer activities and the levels of competence, please refer to the UNI 11900:2023 standard.
In the event of a worker falling from a height, the parties considered legally liable are the employer, the property owner, or the condominium administrator. In fact, with reference to Article 111, paragraphs 1 and 2 of Legislative Decree 81/2008: "The employer, in cases where temporary work at height cannot be performed safely and under adequate ergonomic conditions from a suitable location, shall select the most suitable work equipment to ensure and maintain safe working conditions, in accordance with the following criteria:
The employer chooses the most suitable type of access system for temporary workstations at height based on the frequency of use, the height difference, and the duration of use. [...] Moving from one access system to platforms, scaffolding, or walkways and vice versa must not pose additional risks of falling [...]”.
Article 115, paragraph 1, emphasizes that, if collective protection measures are not implemented, workers must use personal protective equipment (PPE) suitable for the specific use, secured directly to the lifeline or to stable parts of fixed structures using connectors.
The inspection of lifelines is regulated by the UNI EN 11158 technical standard and the ISPESL guidelines, which require the system to be inspected by the worker before use. The standard and guidelines also require the intervention of competent personnel before commissioning and, subsequently, "at least once a year if in regular service or before reuse if unused for extended periods" (UNI 11158:2005, point 9.1.6). The UNI 11560:2022 standard stipulates that the interval between two periodic inspections cannot exceed two years. Inspections must be performed by an intermediate installer or qualified technician, who assumes responsibility for carrying out the checks set out in Tables 1, 2, and 3 of UNI 11560:2022, and in accordance with the instructions of the designer and manufacturer of the fall arrest systems.
