🇬🇧 UK & European Fall Protection Requirements.

A clear overview of key legal obligations and safety standards across the UK and selected European countries.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom – Legal Requirements.

Working at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR).

The Working at Height Regulations are the primary UK legislation governing any work where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause injury.
They apply to all workplaces and require employers to:

• avoid working at height where possible
• prevent falls where work at height cannot be avoided
• minimise the consequences of a fall where the risk cannot be eliminated
• ensure equipment is inspected, suitable, and properly maintained
• ensure workers are competent and trained

Full guidance: www.hse.gov.uk

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM).

CDM places duties on everyone involved in a construction project, including:

• clients
• designers
• principal contractors
• contractors
• planning supervisors (pre-2007 terminology)

Key requirements

Designers must, so far as is reasonably practicable, avoid or reduce risks related to:

• construction activities

• maintenance and cleaning

• using the structure as a workplace

• demolition or dismantling

• people who may be affected by these activities

The 2007 update unified earlier regulations and strengthened the duty of designers and architects to eliminate hazards at the design stage.

HSG33 – Health and Safety in Roof Work.

HSG33 provides practical guidance for safe roof work in:

• new construction
• repair and maintenance
• cleaning
• refurbishment
• demolition

It includes advice on planning, equipment selection, safe access, fragile surfaces, and fall protection.

Available from: books.hse.gov.uk

🇪🇺 European Requirements (Selected Countries).

Below is an overview of relevant fall-protection legislation across several EU member states.

🇫🇷 France.

Decree 65-48 (modified by Decree 95-608)

Requires fall protection when workers are exposed to a fall of 3 metres or more.

Code du Travail – Article L230-3

Employers must take all necessary measures to ensure safety and protect the health of employees.

🇳🇱 Netherlands (Holland).

Key regulatory requirements include:

• Arbowet Article 5 – mandatory Risk Inventory & Evaluation (RI&E)
• Arbobeleidsregels 3.16 – requirements for work above 2.5 metres
• Arbeidsomstandighedenbesluit Article 2.29 – duties of designers and application of best available techniques
• Arbobesluit for Construction Articles 2.6 and 2.31 – duties of clients and project originators

These rules emphasise risk assessment, design-stage prevention, and safe working practices at height.

🇪🇸 Spain.

Royal Decree 2177/2004

Key fall-protection requirements include:

• 4.1.3 – Rope-access systems allowed only when a risk assessment shows the work can be carried out safely and no safer alternative is justified.
• 4.1.4 – Fall arrest systems must be installed where necessary.
• 4.2.3 – Work above 3.5 metres requiring movements that affect stability must use personal fall arrest systems or alternative fall arrest equipment.

Labour Risk Prevention Law – 31/1995

Requires employers to guarantee worker health and safety, with updates in Law 54/2003.

Royal Decree 773/1997

Minimum safety requirements for the use of PPE at work.

Royal Decree 1215/1997

Minimum requirements for work equipment used by employees.

NTP 448

Guidelines for working on light or fragile roofing materials.

Summary.

Across the UK and Europe, fall-protection law is built on three universal principles:

• Avoid working at height whenever possible
• Use collective protection before personal protection
• Where PPE is required, ensure correct equipment, competence, and regular inspection

Despite differences between countries, the underlying approach is the same:
identify risks, prevent falls where possible, protect workers when prevention is not feasible, and ensure ongoing maintenance and compliance.