Fall protection and the Working Environment AcT

Do you find it difficult to get a complete overview of which laws, regulations and demands applies to fall protection and protective equipment? We understand. As a matter of fact, in Norway there’s a whole range of them. We’ve gathered them all here, so you don’t need to look all over the place.

All use of protective equipment, fall protection equipment included, is regulated through a number of demands and requirements and also in the Working Environment Act. In addition to this, both employers and equipment manufacturers might have special demands.

This is the main principle behind the Working Environment Act:

• Collective measures must be prioritized before individual measures.
• Permanent measures must be prioritized before temporary measures.

• Ensure systematic safety work.
• Ensure risk mapping on a continuous basis.
• Implement necessary measurements.
• Make sure that workers are familiarized with hazards, and that they receive the necessary drills and training.

• Perform risk assessment and select equipment and methods on this basis.
• Ensure that selected PPE provides full protection.
• Give suitable and sufficient training and practical training in the use of PPE.
• Ensure adequate routines for storage, maintenance and control of PPE, including periodic control if required.

• Perform work in accordance with orders and instructions.
• Interrupt work that entails health hazards.
• Report hazardous conditions.
• Use PPE and all work equipment/material in a correct way.
• Report injuries and occupational related disease.

• Prioritize measures that prevent falls instead of measures capturing falls.
• Ensuring equipment is suitable is especially important.
• Rope-based positioning techniques require sound practical training.
• Positioning techniques place requirements for immediate rescue/emergency help.
• Positioning techniques place special requirements on preparations and equipment.

• Manufacturer name or logo.
• Product model or type designation.
• Product serial number or unique number.
• Remind user to read user guide.

• Active (Positioning/positioning restriction).
• Passive (interception).
• Rescue.

• Name and address of manufacturer or distributor.
• Safety classification of equipment and safety level provided.
• Correct use of equipment.
• Propper cleaning, maintenance and storage of equipment.
• Suitable additional equipment.
• Name, address and TKO number of technical control body.

• NS-EN 365; min. every twelve months.
• Manufacturer decides.
• To be carried out by competent personnel.
• Must be documented afterwards.

• When your employer has chosen PPE as a solution, it means you are faced with a danger that in the worst-case scenario has the potential to kill you.
• Make sure you get the training, equipment and support that you need!
• Procedures that do not work or are not respected must be changed, or they will eventually camouflage a practice that at worst may be mortally dangerous. It is your responsibility to report dangerous practices!
• Even though the fall protection equipment has recently had periodic control, it does not exempt the user from checking his/her equipment.
• The gravest defects are uncovered through day-to-day checks. The user’s control saves lives.

The key regulations are:

• Working Environment Act, Regulation on organization, management and involvement (701)
• Workplace regulation (702)
• Regulation on the performance of work (703)
• Regulation on the construction, production, and design of PPE (523).

Fall protection equipment is also regulated through a number of EN-standards. We’ve made an overview here, just scroll down to the chapter about «Personal fall protection equipment».

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