What is BS 8437 - Personal fall protection systems and equipment about?

Accidents from height are one of the major causes of fatalities in the workplace. BS 8437 gives guidance on best practice in choosing, operating, and maintaining various personal fall protection systems and equipment.

Who is BS 8437 - Personal fall protection systems and equipment for?

BS 8437 on personal fall protection systems and equipment can be adopted by:

• Employers, employees and self-employed persons who use personal fall protection systems and equipment
• Designers e.g. architects and structural engineers, including those responsible for the design of safe access routes on buildings and structures
• Those who commission work at height e.g. building owners and contractors
• Those involved in training persons for work at height

What does BS 8437 - Personal fall protection systems and equipment cover?

BS 8437 gives recommendations and guidance on the selection, use and maintenance of personal fall protection systems and equipment for use in the workplace to prevent and/or to arrest falls from a height, including systems and equipment suitable for use in rescue.

It also gives guidance on rescue of persons working at a height in the event of an accident and includes a discussion on the basic principles of fall protection.

NOTE: BS 8437 doesn’t apply to collective fall protection systems, for example work platforms and fall arrest nets. It is not intended to apply to personal fall protection systems and equipment for use in leisure activities or in professional or private sports activities. It is also not intended to apply to personal fall protection systems and equipment for use in arboriculture. Recommendations and guidance on the use of rope access methods are given in BS 7985.

Why should you use BS 8437 - Personal fall protection systems and equipment?

BS 8437 on personal fall protection systems and equipment has many benefits. These include:

• It enhances workplace safety
• It supports an HSE Priority Programme on falls from height and the Work at Height Regulation 2005
• It’s considered the UK benchmark standard for the selection, use and maintenance of workplace personal fall protection systems and equipment
• It may be used in support of litigation
• It can help users develop their expertise and strengthen their risk management

Its use increases user efficiency and stakeholder confidence

BS 8437 contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 on good health and well-being and Goal 9 on industry, innovation, and infrastructure.

What’s new about BS 8437 - Personal fall protection systems and equipment?

This is a revision of BS 8437:2005+A1:2012. BS 8437:2022 has been produced to keep the document relevant and reflective of:

1. The introduction of other new/updated British Standards (e.g. BS 8610 and BS 7883) and BS ENs (e.g. BS EN 795)
2. Developments in the testing and use of equipment (e.g. self-retracting lifelines, twin-retractables, etc.)
3. The change from the PPE Directive to the PPE Regulation
4. The introduction of the UKCA mark (post Brexit)