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Regulations applicable to work at height

Various European organizations and companies have been working hard over the last 20 years to standardize norms on preventing accidents from falls from heights. European Standards are mandatory in all European Union countries. Depending on the country of application, the nomenclature of the European standard varies slightly: (UNE) in Spain, (BS EN) in the United Kingdom, (DIN EN) in Germany, or (UNI) in Italy. European Standards are being replaced or absorbed by International Standards (ISO). In many countries outside of Europe, European standards have been fully adopted or combined with national regulations. On this page, we clarify the main European standards on working at heights. Depending on each case, the standards may contain design, performance, marking, or testing requirements. At the bottom of each article, a link is provided to national standardization offices, as well as private entities with detailed information on the standards.

In the construction sector, there are various situations of risk of falls from people and objects at different levels. We highlight:

UNE-EN 13374:2013 Provisional edge protection systems. Product specifications. Test methods.

Developed by the AEN/CTN 81 Committee - PREVENTION AND MEANS OF PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE PROTECTION AT WORK.

Repeals UNE-EN 13374:2004.

Scope: This standard applies to provisional edge protection systems for horizontal or inclined surfaces and specifies the requirements for three classes of provisional edge protection:

  • Class A: Can be used when the angle is less than 10º.
  • Class B: Can be used when the angle is less than
    • 30º without height of fall limitation, or;
    • 60º and the height of fall is less than 2m.
  • Class C: Can be used if the angle is between
    • 30º and 45º without height of fall limitation, or;
    • 45º and 60º and the height of fall is less than 5m.

The complete standard can be purchased online at aenor.

UNE-EN 1263-1:2014. Temporary works equipment. Safety nets. Part 1: Safety requirements and test methods

Developed by the AEN/CTN 81 Committee - PREVENTION AND MEANS OF PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE PROTECTION AT WORK.

Repeals UNE-EN 1263-1:2004.

Scope: This standard applies to safety nets and their accessories, used in construction and assembly work, to protect people from falls from heights. It specifies the safety requirements and test methods.

The UNE-EN 1263 standard contemplates four systems of safety nets:

These standards contemplate four different systems of safety nets, according to their functionality and use. Thus, they would be classified into the following systems:

  • Safety net system S. Horizontal safety net with peripheral rope.
  • Safety net system T (safety net type tray). Horizontal safety net attached to consoles for horizontal use.
  • Safety net system U (safety net type tennis). Vertical safety net attached to a structure or support.
  • Safety net system V (safety net type fork). Safety net with peripheral rope attached to a fork-type support.

The complete standard can be purchased online at aenor.

UNE-EN-1263-2 Temporary works equipment. Safety nets. Part 2: Safety requirements for installation limits.

Developed by the AEN/CTN 81 Committee - PREVENTION AND MEANS OF PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE PROTECTION AT WORK.

Repeals UNE-EN 1263-2:2004.

Scope: This standard specifies the safety requirements for the installation of safety nets according to the manufacturer's instructions and product specifications and for the testing of systems S, T, U, and V safety nets according to EN 1263-1.

The complete standard can be purchased online at aenor.

Other regulations

UNE EN ISO 13688:2013 – Protective clothing. General requirements

The general requirements for protective clothing are specified in the standard, EN ISO 13688:2013, which specifies the general requirements for ergonomics, innocuousness, durability, aging, size designation, and marking of protective clothing and provides the information that the manufacturer must supply.

UNE EN ISO 20471:2013 High-visibility clothing. Test methods and requirements

This international standard specifies the requirements for protective clothing capable of visually signaling the user's presence, intended to make the user visible in risk situations with any type of daylight and when illuminated in the dark by vehicle headlights.

Classes

High-visibility clothing is grouped into three classes according to risk assessment. Each class must have minimum surfaces of visible materials constituting the garment according to Table 1. The garments must consist of the required surfaces of background material and retroreflective material.

Class 3 garments Class 2 garments Class 1 garments
Background material 0,80 0,50 0,14
Retroreflective material 0,20 0,13 0,10
Combined material – – 0,20

Table 1. Minimum surfaces of visible material in m 2

Marking

The marking requirements indicated in Standard ISO 13688 must be met.

The number next to the pictogram indicates the class of the garment according to Table 1. When choosing workwear and depending on the workplace, the following standards may also be applicable:

  • Garments for protection against cold environments (UNE-EN 14058:2004)
  • Protection against the elements (UNE-EN 343:2004+A1:2008)
  • Personal Protective Equipment. Safety footwear (UNE-EN ISO 20345:2012)
  • Gloves. General requirements (UNE-EN 420:2004 +A1:2010)
  • Gloves against mechanical risks (UNE-EN 388: 2004)
Posted in: Soluciones - Systema Safety, Soluciones - Systema Safety