EN
FUNDAMENTAL RULES FOR USING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
- personal protective equipment should be used only by people trained in operating it.
- personal protective equipment cannot be used by people whose health condition may influence
their safety during everyday use or emergency
procedures.
- there must be a rescue operation plan which can be used whenever needed.
- it is forbidden to perform any modifications of the equipment without the written consent of the
manufacturer.
- any repairs of the equipment may be performed only by its manufacturer or an authorised
representative of the manufacturer.
- personal protective equipment must be used in conformity with its operational purpose.
- personal protective equipment is considered personal equipment and should be used by a single
person only.
- make sure that all elements of the equipment that constitute the fall prevention system are
properly mated prior to use. Perform periodical inspections
of connections and mating of equipment in order to avoid unintentional loosening or disconnecting.
- it is forbidden to use protective equipment if one of its elements is hampered by another during
operation.
- all parts of the fall prevention equipment must be in accordance with appropriate regulations and
equipment operational instructions and binding
standards:
- EN 361 for full body harnesses
- EN 353-1, EN 353-2, EN 354, EN 355, EN 360, EN 362 for fall prevention systems
- EN 795 for equipment anchor points (permanent anchor points)
- EN 358 for work positioning systems
- carry out a careful inspection of personal protective equipment prior to each separate use in order
to check its condition and operation. Inspections
must be performed by the user.
- such inspections should check all equipment elements with particular attention paid to: any
defects, excessive wear, corrosion, points of tearing, cuts
and improper operation. Particular attention must also be paid to each individual device:
- full body harnesses and work positioning belts: buckles, adjustment elements, fastening points
(snap hooks), slings, seams, loops;
- energy absorbers: hitch loops, slings, seams, body and connectors;
- lanyards and textile guides: lanyards, thimbles, connectors, adjustment elements, plaits;
- lanyards and steel guides: lanyards, wires, clamps, loops, thimbles, connectors, adjustment
elements;
- retractable type fall arresters: lanyards or slings, correct operation of winding mechanism and
locking mechanism, body, shock-absorber,
connectors;
- guided type fall arresters: device body and its correct movement along the guide, operation of
locking mechanism, rollers, bolts and rivets,
connectors, safety shock-absorber;
- connectors (snap hooks): load-bearing body, riveting, main catch, operation of locking mechanism.
- personal protective equipment must be withdrawn from use and undergo a complete periodical
inspection at least once a year (after 12 months of
use). Periodical inspection must be carried out by a qualified person responsible for periodical
inspections of safety equipment in a given place of
work. Periodical inspections must be also carried out by the equipment manufacturer or an authori-
sed representative of the manufacturer. Such an
inspection should check all equipment elements with particular attention paid to: any defects,
excessive wear, corrosion, points of tearing, cuts and