Falls from heights remain one of the most common and serious types of workplace accidents in Austria. The Austrian Workers' Compensation Board (AUVA) plays a central role in preventing these accidents by establishing safety standards, providing training, and monitoring compliance. This article covers all essential information about legal requirements, fall protection systems, and their installation and maintenance.
(EU) Regulation 2016/425 on personal protective equipment ensures that personal protective equipment (PPE) complies with European standards. Employers are required to provide this equipment if necessary and instruct employees accordingly. In the DACH region, there are additional laws in place that stipulate further conditions. Employees are entitled to PPE free of charge and share the responsibility for their own safety. Using the equipment correctly is vital for accident prevention.
Thermal separation, combined with fall protection and the posts required to be anchored in the roof, is decisive when it comes to the longevity of buildings. Effective thermal separation is the only way to prevent what are known as thermal bridges. This is important, otherwise cold is conducted to the warmer parts of the building which are underneath, creating condensation which in turn can cause serious structural damage.
Numerous fall protection systems protect against serious fall injuries only when combined with personal protective equipment against falls from a height (anti-fall PPE). Here, although appropriate selection and correct use play a central role, regular inspection and maintenance of the harness and accessories are also an absolute MUST. In this post you will find details about this, and also about specialist training, rescue and storage.
In a variety of work areas, from industry to building maintenance, anchorage equipment is indispensable for safety during the static and mobile handling of loads. However, securing people - rather than materials - is subject to distinct conditions. The selection of the most suitable anchorage equipment and fasteners is crucial for the protection of employees. Learn more about the variety and correct application of this safety equipment.
Optimisation of roof surfaces for PV installations is an important topic in the area of renewable energy. Clearance areas for fall protection systems therefore become increasingly relevant, in order to ensure safety and optimum positioning. Our wiki...
Falls from heights remain one of the most common and serious types of workplace accidents in Austria. The Austrian Workers' Compensation Board (AUVA) plays a central role in...
(EU) Regulation 2016/425 on personal protective equipment ensures that personal protective equipment (PPE) complies with European standards. Employers are required to provide this...
Thermal separation, combined with fall protection and the posts required to be anchored in the roof, is decisive when it comes to the longevity of buildings. Effective thermal...
Numerous fall protection systems protect against serious fall injuries only when combined with personal protective equipment against falls from a height (anti-fall PPE). Here,...
In a variety of work areas, from industry to building maintenance, anchorage equipment is indispensable for safety during the static and mobile handling of loads. However, securing...
Today the energy revolution is a central issue. Increasing numbers of countries are backing the development of renewable energy sources, such as wind, water power and photovoltaics....
The substructure for photovoltaic systems creates the foundation for safe installations. It allows modules to be installed on various substructures, such as roofs and facades.
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What is the role of the photovoltaics in the development of the building? And how do you protect workers effectively during installation and servicing at heights where there is a...
Protective railing, also known as a guardrail system, is a form of collective protection and plays a decisive role in accident protection. In our wiki post we examine the function of...
The Global Wind Organisation (GWO) was founded as a non-profit organisation by leading wind turbine manufacturers and wind farm operators. Its objective is the continuing improvement...
Certified industrial climbers are experienced specialists who play an important role in the maintenance and safety of modern infrastructure. From towering skyscrapers to bridges and...
A transition is a structure which enables people to move from a (raised) surface to another surface or over an obstacle. Transitions are necessary for reaching platforms or roofs. If...
Optimisation of roof surfaces for PV installations is an important topic in the area of renewable energy. Clearance areas for fall protection systems therefore become increasingly...
The fall factor carries crucial meaning in the field of fall protection. It describes the ratio of the fall height to the released rope length. This wiki post sheds light on the fall...
Protecting the roof from damage makes good sense, so that it remains watertight and no subsequent harm arises. However, penetration of the roof is sometimes necessary, although not...
CEN/TS 16415 defines safety standards and test procedures for anchorage devices used in personal fall protection equipment. These apply to the simultaneous use of a system by...
Securing pillars are safety devices which protect users against falling. They serve as anchor points for personal protective equipment against falls from a height (PPE), and are...
DGUV regulation 112-198 is the German provision for protective equipment against falls. It includes four types of fall arrest systems: having mobile or fixed anchorage line, fall...
When used correctly, shock absorbers reduce the falling forces acting on a person equipped with personal protective equipment. Part of the energy is absorbed by the tearing of the...
EN 795 is a European standard for anchorage devices and their components in fall protection systems. These include fixed and mobile anchorage points, as well as personal protective...
Through its approval for the German market, the Deutsche Institut für Bautechnik (DIBt - German Institute of Construction Technology) ensures quality and safety of construction...
In Austria the Construction Workers Protection Regulation - or BauV for short - is a legal foundation for the use of fall protection systems on construction sites. Overall, it is...
This concise post will fill you in on why a lightning rod alone does not constitute an appropriate lighting protection system, on who is responsible in the event of damage, on what...
In Germany, the ASR A2.1 is often named in the same breath with fall protection. It ranks among the essential technical rules and thus legal regulations intended to protect employees...
When using a fall protection system, both as an employer and as an employee, it is necessary to comply with the applicable law and the individual rules of the workplace. In EU...
Industrial protection is synonymous with all measures taken to achieve safe working, i.e. industrial safety. Employers are responsible for their employees being able to perform their...
The fall height denotes the height from which the fall victim hits the ground or a different surface during a fall. The selection of the right dimensions for the suitable fall...
Dreaded as a possible consequence of a fall, suspension trauma may lead to a life-threatening condition through unconsciousness. While statistically rare, suspension trauma and its...
The STOP principle is applied to determine, establish, and implement protective measures for workplaces having high risk potential, and it forms part of a risk assessment. Each...
The only way to neutralise exposed workplaces and make them safe is through a professional, watertight safety concept. And that is also the legally mandated obligation of the...
Collective fall protection reliably secures all people located on a flat roof (maximum inclination 20 degrees) or on the upper surface of a flat machine. It neutralises the danger...
A fall edge is an area from which a person can fall downwards from an elevated level. Examples include the edge of a building, machine, or vehicle. In many industries, working near a...
If just one person is protected against falling, this is called individual protection. The person wears personal protective equipment against falls from a height (anti-fall PPE)....
After a person using a fall protection system has fallen, they are usually in a hanging position at height. In order to prevent further physical damage (including suspension trauma),...
A pendulum fall is a dangerous consequence of a protected fall from a height. The person who has fallen swings to and fro like a pendulum and can crash into obstructions and scrape...
Fundamentally, employers are responsible for the safety of their employees. They are also legally obliged to perform a solid, complete risk assessment of all workplaces, in order to...
As a rule, a safety concept that is insufficient for the onsite requirements provides no safety at all. This is what we call the illusion of safety. And this is a type of Russian...
While a restraint system protects the user from a fall by preventing him from even accessing the fall-risk areas, a fall arrest system intercepts the user if he does actually fall.