In brief
Where collective protection cannot fully eliminate the risk of falling, the Regulation on OHS in Construction Work requires anchor points or lifelines suited to the work to be set up and used with a full body harness system. The anchor must be an anchor device tested to TS EN 795 or a structural element shown by calculation to provide this strength; its position must be chosen to shorten the fall distance, there must be enough clearance below it and the system must be inspected regularly.
What is an anchor point, and what does the legislation require?
A fall arrest system is a chain of three links: the anchor point, the connecting element (a lanyard with an energy absorber or a retractable fall arrester) and the full body harness. However good the harness, the system does not work if the point it is attached to cannot hold the fall. This is where the most common mistake on site lies: the hook is clipped to a pipe, guardrail or scaffold brace that "looks strong".
The Regulation on OHS in Construction Work applies the principle of priority for collective protection in Art. 5 of Law No. 6331 to work at height as follows:
The same logic applies to roof, platform and machine-top work in factories and warehouses; we explained the legislative framework of work at height in our article on what work at height is.
Anchor strength: TS EN 795 and how many kN?
Anchor devices are classified and tested according to the TS EN 795 standard. In the 2012 version of the standard, metal anchor devices must withstand a static load of 12 kN; for devices with non-metallic material in the load-bearing part whose durability has not been separately proven, this value is 18 kN. For devices that allow more than one person to be attached at the same time, the test load is increased for each additional user permitted by the manufacturer.
| Type | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A | Single anchor permanently fixed to the structure | Anchor plate fixed to concrete or steel with anchors or bolts |
| B | Portable, temporary anchor | Beam clamp, tripod, door frame anchor |
| C | Flexible horizontal lifeline | Steel cable or synthetic line tensioned between two end anchors |
| D | Rigid horizontal rail | Rail and trolley fixed to the ceiling or a beam |
| E | Deadweight anchor | Anchor block held by its own weight on a flat roof |
If there is no ready-made anchor device, a structural element (column, beam, reinforced concrete wall) can be used as an anchor; however, this must be assessed by an engineer and its strength demonstrated. Guardrails, pipes, cable trays, ventilation ducts, scaffold braces and roof gutters are not used as anchors without this assessment.
The position of the anchor point
The position of the anchor matters as much as its strength. The right position shortens the fall distance and prevents swinging.
- Keep it high: Where possible, the anchor should be above the user's dorsal attachment ring. The lower the anchor, the longer the free fall and the greater the load on the body.
- Keep it vertically in line: An anchor offset to the side of the work point causes a pendulum swing in a fall; the person hits the adjacent column or wall.
- Keep it away from sharp edges: If the connecting element slides over an edge during a fall, the edge can cut it. If work over an edge is necessary, equipment approved for this use is chosen.
- Make it suitable for rescue: When choosing the anchor, consider with what equipment and from where a suspended person will be reached.
Free fall distance and clearance calculation
A fall arrest system must stop the person before they hit the ground or an obstacle on the floor below. This requires sufficient clearance below the anchor. The example below is for a case where the anchor is at the level of the dorsal ring and a 2-metre lanyard with an energy absorber is used:
| Component | Example value |
|---|---|
| Lanyard length (free fall) | 2.00 m |
| Deployment of the energy absorber (maximum under TS EN 355) | 1.75 m |
| Distance from dorsal ring to soles of the feet | approximately 1.50 m |
| Safety margin | 1.00 m |
| Clearance required below the anchor | approximately 6.25 m |
What this calculation means on site is this: a worker on a 4-metre-high platform who attaches a 2-metre lanyard to a point at foot level will hit the ground before the fall is arrested. At such low heights, a retractable fall arrester, a shorter connecting element or a work positioning restraint system that prevents the person from ever reaching the fall edge is used. For flexible horizontal lifelines, the deflection of the line during a fall is also added to this calculation; the value is given in the manufacturer's instructions for use. The clearance value in the manufacturer's instructions always takes precedence.
Permanent and temporary lifelines
A lifeline system allows the worker to move along a line without detaching. Permanent and temporary systems are managed under different rules:
| Subject | Permanent lifeline | Temporary lifeline |
|---|---|---|
| Where? | Roofs, crane runways, maintenance platforms, facades | Construction sites, formwork, steel erection, short-term maintenance |
| Design | Included in the design, its connection to the structure is calculated | Set up again for each installation according to the manufacturer's instructions |
| Installation | Trained installation team; an installation certificate is issued | A competent person who knows the instructions; the installation is checked each time |
| Marking | Number of users, last inspection date and manufacturer information on the line | Label and instructions on the kit |
| Typical mistake | Never inspected after installation | End anchors attached to inadequate points |
The number of users of a horizontal lifeline is limited by the manufacturer's instructions; four people do not attach to a line whose instructions say two. On vertical lifelines, the person attaches to a rope grab that moves with them along the line; on scaffolds a separate line is set up for each worker. Among temporary anchor options, deadweight anchors are used only on the slope and surface permitted by the manufacturer, and beam clamps only on a suitable section size.
Post-installation and periodic inspection
After permanent anchors and lifelines are installed, they are inspected according to the manufacturer's instructions before being put into use; for anchors in concrete, the installation certificate and any pull-test result are requested. Keep this document in the health and safety file.
The tables in Annex III of the Work Equipment Regulation have no separate line for lifelines. For equipment not in the tables, the inspection interval is set according to the period specified by the manufacturer or, failing that, the risk assessment. TS EN 365, which gives general rules for personal fall protection equipment, provides for periodic examination by a competent person at least every 12 months in line with the manufacturer's instructions. For selecting harnesses, lanyards and connectors, see our article on PPE selection, and for vertical lines on scaffolds, our article on scaffold inspection.
Before each use, the worker carries out this visual check: is the anchor loose, cracked or rusty; are there cuts, wear or burns on the rope and webbing; do karabiners and hooks lock properly; is the label legible? You can track the annual examination dates of permanent lines with the OHS calendar tool.
Without a rescue plan, the connection is incomplete
A person whose fall has been arrested is left hanging in the harness. Hanging motionless in a harness can quickly lead to serious health problems; rescue must therefore be possible within minutes. The Regulation on OHS in Construction Work requires work at height to be planned in advance and the risk of falling to be included in the emergency plan. The plan should state in writing: who will carry out the rescue, with what equipment (rescue kit, platform, ladder), from where the suspended person will be reached and when this scenario will be practised. For training of those who will work at height see our article on work at height training, and for medical fitness, our article on the work at height health report.
As part of our OHS specialist services, we assess the on-site suitability of anchor points and lifelines at construction sites and factories, and plan inspections of scaffolds and lifting equipment through our periodic inspection service delivered with our solution partners. For statutory inspection intervals see periodic inspection intervals for work equipment, and for sector-specific issues our construction page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many kN must an anchor point withstand?
Under the 2012 version of TS EN 795, metal anchor devices must withstand a 12 kN static test, and those with a non-metallic load-bearing part 18 kN. For devices allowing more than one user, the test load increases with the number of users. If a structural element is to be used as an anchor, its strength must be demonstrated by an engineer's assessment.
Is it enough to clip the hook to a guardrail?
No. A guardrail is a collective protection element that prevents a person from falling; it is not an anchor designed to carry fall arrest loads. The connection is made to a tested anchor device or a structural element whose strength has been demonstrated.
How often is a lifeline periodically inspected?
There is no separate period for lifelines in the Annex III tables; the inspection interval is set according to the manufacturer's instructions or, failing that, the risk assessment. For personal fall protection equipment, examination by a competent person at least every 12 months is taken as the basis.
Does a fall arrest system work at low heights?
Not if there is insufficient clearance below the anchor; in the example calculation, a 2-metre lanyard with an energy absorber needs approximately 6.25 metres of clearance. At low heights, a retractable fall arrester or a restraint system that prevents reaching the edge is used.
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Bursa SİSTEMER OSGB Technical Team — written from the field experience of our OHS specialists and workplace physicians. Legal information is valid as of the publication/update date; contact us for an assessment specific to your business.