Fall protection equipment in Germany: selection, instruction and annual inspection
Full body harness, energy absorber, retractable fall arrester: when personal fall protection equipment is permitted in Germany, what matters for selection and instruction, who inspects it how often and why every job needs a rescue plan.
Last updated on 7 min readAMS Go editorial team
Key points at a glance
- Personal fall protection equipment is only intended where edge protection such as guardrails and collective fall arrest such as safety nets are not possible – individual protective measures rank last (Section 4 no. 5 ArbSchG, ASR A2.1, TRBS 2121).
- Fall protection equipment belongs to risk category III of Regulation (EU) 2016/425; employees must be instructed before first use and at least every 12 months, with practical exercises (Sections 4 and 31 DGUV Regulation 1).
- Users check the equipment visually before every use; as needed, and at least every 12 months, a competent person (Sachkundiger) inspects it (DGUV Rule 112-198, no. 10.3).
- Every job needs a rescue plan: according to DGUV Rule 112-198, motionless suspension in a harness must not last longer than about 20 minutes.
What is personal fall protection equipment?
Personal fall protection equipment (PSA gegen Absturz, PSAgA) is personal protective equipment that protects employees from falling: a restraint system prevents them from reaching the edge, a work positioning system holds them at the workplace, and a fall arrest system catches a fall and limits the forces on the body. Every system consists of a harness worn on the body and a connecting system to a load-bearing anchor device.
Under the German workplace rule ASR A2.1, a fall hazard exists where the fall height is more than 1.0 metre. Regardless of height, protective measures must be considered where employees could fall into substances or sink into them. Typical uses for fall protection equipment are work on roofs without edge protection, on fixed ladders with a fall arrest system, on machines and installations, or in silos and shafts.
Collective protection comes first
Individual protective measures rank behind other measures (Section 4 no. 5 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, ArbSchG). ASR A2.1 and the technical rule TRBS 2121 therefore set a fixed order:
- 1
Edge protection
Protective devices that prevent a fall, such as guardrails, side protection or load-bearing covers over openings.
- 2
Collective fall arrest
If edge protection cannot be used for work reasons, safety nets, catch barriers or catch scaffolds catch people who fall.
- 3
Personal fall protection equipment
Only where neither is suitable or possible is personal fall protection equipment used. Suitable anchor devices are a prerequisite, and use must be limited to the necessary minimum.
TRBS 2121 requires the use of personal fall protection equipment to be assessed specifically in the risk assessment: select equipment suited to the conditions at the workplace, ensure clearance below the standing position, clarify the load capacity of anchor points and have a rescue plan ready.
Components and standards
Full body harness
StandardDIN EN 361
FunctionBody holding device in fall arrest and restraint systems
Work positioning belt
StandardDIN EN 358
FunctionWork positioning and restraint
Lanyard
StandardDIN EN 354
FunctionConnection between harness and anchor point
Energy absorber
StandardDIN EN 355
FunctionLimits the arrest force when a fall is caught
Retractable fall arrester
StandardDIN EN 360
FunctionSelf-retracting lanyard that locks in a fall
Guided type fall arrester
StandardDIN EN 353-1 / 353-2
FunctionTravels along a rigid anchor line (fixed ladder) or flexible anchor line (rope)
Connector (karabiner)
StandardDIN EN 362
FunctionJoins the components, secured against unintentional opening
Anchor device
StandardDIN EN 795
FunctionAttachment point for the system
Fall protection equipment is classified in risk category III of the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 – protection against risks with consequences such as death or irreversible damage to health. Only equipment with CE marking, which for category III carries the four-digit number of the notified body, and German-language instructions may be provided (Section 2 of the PPE Use Ordinance, PSA-BV, and DGUV Rule 112-198).
Inspection register in AMS GoRecord harnesses, lanyards and retractable fall arresters with their inspection interval, get reminded of the annual competent inspection in time and file inspection records directly with the equipment.Selection based on the risk assessment
DGUV Rule 112-198 “Use of personal protective equipment against falls from a height” lists the points to assess during selection. Employees must be consulted before equipment is provided.
- Clearance below the standing position: it must be sufficient to arrest a fall safely; the figures are in the manufacturer's instructions
- Edge loading: if the anchor point is level with the standing position rather than above it, use only equipment tested for edges
- Avoid pendulum falls, for example with anchor systems running parallel to the edge
- Load-bearing anchor devices or anchor points that can be used as intended
- Fit and ergonomics: harness to suit body shape and size, energy absorber and retractable fall arrester to suit the user's weight
- Environment: acids, alkalis, solvents, flying sparks, plus heat from about 60 °C for textiles and cold from about −10 °C for plastic parts
- Compatibility with other PPE, such as a safety helmet with chin strap, respiratory protection or a life jacket
Only physically fit people may be assigned to work with a fall hazard; the company doctor can advise on this.
Instruction with practical exercises
The employer must instruct employees in the safe use of PPE and keep the user information available in a form and language they understand (Section 3 PSA-BV). For PPE against fatal hazards or permanent damage to health, this information must be conveyed in instruction sessions with exercises (Section 31 DGUV Regulation 1). Under DGUV Rule 112-198, instruction takes place before first use and as needed, at least every 12 months, and must be documented. It is based on operating instructions (Betriebsanweisung) for the fall protection equipment.
- specific requirements of the equipment concerned
- the content of the operating instructions
- use as intended in line with the manufacturer's instructions
- correct anchoring
- proper storage
- recognising damage
The framework for the exercises and the requirements for trainers are set out in DGUV Principle 312-001. According to DGUV Information 204-011, a suspension test is required when fitting the harness.
Inspection: before every use and at least once a year
Visual check of condition and function
WhoUser
WhenBefore every use
Inspection by a competent person
WhoCompetent person
WhenAs needed, at least every 12 months
Inspection after a fall or damage
WhoCompetent person
WhenBefore any further use
Permanently installed anchor devices and fixed ladder fall arrest systems
WhoUser checks the record
WhenLast competent inspection no more than one year ago
More frequent inspections are needed where the conditions of use require them – for example at hot workplaces or with changing users (DGUV Rule 112-198, no. 10.3.2). People who have successfully completed a course under DGUV Principle 312-906 are considered competent. The competent person does not have to meet the requirements for a person qualified to carry out inspections under the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health (BetrSichV); for retractable fall arresters, manufacturers often require their own authorisation. Repairs may only be carried out by competent persons authorised by the manufacturer.
Inspections, maintenance and repairs must be documented for each item – with identification number, year of manufacture or expiry date, date of first use, inspection result and next inspection date. The manufacturer states when the equipment must be discarded, on the equipment or in the instructions.
Rescue plan and suspension trauma
Anyone suspended in a harness must be rescued without delay. Prolonged motionless suspension can lead to life-threatening circulatory shock, known as suspension trauma; according to DGUV Rule 112-198 it must not last longer than about 20 minutes. Public emergency services are usually not equipped for rescue at height. The employer must therefore provide rescue equipment and competent personnel itself (Section 24 (1) DGUV Regulation 1, DGUV Information 204-011).
- Define a rescue plan for each job; details on rescue systems are in DGUV Rule 112-199
- At least one second person on site who can start the rescue and call emergency services immediately
- Keep rescue equipment at the work location
- Practise rescue regularly
- After the rescue, call emergency services and an emergency doctor and give standard first aid; position the person as they wish, often lying flat – the former squatting position is no longer recommended
Checklist: personal fall protection equipment
- Edge protection and collective fall arrest checked and decision against them justified
- Fall protection equipment assessed in the risk assessment, anchor points and clearance clarified
- Equipment with CE marking and German-language instructions procured
- Harnesses fitted individually, employees consulted beforehand
- Operating instructions prepared
- Instruction with practical exercises documented before first use and every year
- Rescue plan defined, rescue equipment on site, rescue practised
- Visual check before every use organised
- Annual inspection by a competent person scheduled and documented
- Rule for withdrawing equipment after a fall or damage known
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Frequently asked questions
How often must fall protection equipment be inspected?
Before every use, users visually check the equipment for proper condition and function. In addition, a competent person must inspect it as needed, at least every 12 months (DGUV Rule 112-198, no. 10.3). Shorter intervals make sense under harsh conditions or with changing users, and after a fall an inspection is always required before further use.
Who may inspect fall protection equipment?
A competent person (Sachkundiger) with sufficient knowledge of fall protection equipment, the regulations and the standards. According to DGUV Rule 112-198, this applies in particular to anyone who has successfully completed a course under DGUV Principle 312-906 and received a certificate. They do not have to be a person qualified to carry out inspections under the BetrSichV. For retractable fall arresters, many manufacturers require their own authorisation.
Is instruction with exercises mandatory for fall protection equipment?
Yes. For PPE intended to protect against fatal hazards, Section 31 of DGUV Regulation 1 requires instruction with exercises. Instruction takes place before first use and at least every 12 months and must be documented. DGUV Principle 312-001 describes how the exercises are run and what qualifications trainers need.
From what height is fall protection equipment required?
Under ASR A2.1, a fall hazard exists at a fall height of more than 1.0 metre; between 0.2 and 1.0 metre and where people could fall into substances, it must be checked whether protective measures are needed. Personal fall protection equipment only comes into question, however, when edge protection such as guardrails and collective fall arrest such as safety nets are not possible.
This guide gives a general overview of German occupational safety law and does not replace legal advice. The regulations in force and the rules of the statutory accident insurance institutions are authoritative.
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