A complete guide to safety harnesses and head protection
- Load Straps & Slings
- 6 days ago
- 8 min read
As disclosed by RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations), 124 workers lost their lives in work-related accidents in Great Britain in 2024/25.
And while every industry carries inherent risks, working at height remains one of the most hazardous activities.
Thankfully, when used and maintained appropriately, modern PPE (personal protective equipment) and safety systems offer a higher level of protection, helping to reduce both the likelihood and severity of workplace injuries.
Whether you’re the principal contractor on a construction site, a self-employed window cleaner who services high-rise buildings, or a tree surgery specialist, getting to grips with the various harnesses and head protection solutions is vital for working at height safely and responsibly.
Essential reading for both employers and employees, our complete PPE head protection and safety harness guide covers everything you need to know – from the legal requirements to the different types of harnesses and their functions.
Contents:
What counts as working at height?
According to the HSE, working at height refers to carrying out work in any place where, “if precautions were not taken, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury.”
Examples of working at height include working above floor level, working where there is a possibility of falling from an edge, and working where there’s a chance of falling through a hole in the ground.
Are safety harnesses and head protection essential for working at height?
Yes. A key part of The Work at Height Regulations 2005 is the provision and inspection of suitable fall protection and head protection equipment, where a risk assessment has deemed PPE essential.
This makes harnesses and helmets not just advisable, but often legally necessary - especially when there is a risk of falling from two metres or more.
A strong emphasis is also placed on conducting risk assessments, applying the hierarchy of controls, and ensuring work is properly planned and organised.
What are the legal regulations around working at height in the UK?
In accordance with the UK’s legal regulations for working safely at height, employers and employees must take precautions when working in these risky environments.
These precautions help to prevent death and serious injury from falls – the most common cause of fatal workplace accidents in Great Britain, according to the HSE.
Employers must:
Plan: Working at height safely requires proper planning, organisation, and supervision.
Conduct risk assessments: Employers must carry out comprehensive risk assessments to ensure the appropriate safety measures are in place for working at height.
Implement hierarchy of controls: A method for reducing or eliminating risk, it starts with first attempting to eliminate the hazard, then substituting it for a less hazardous activity, separating people from the hazard, changing how work is done, and then using PPE, like harnesses and head protection as the last line of defence.
Ensure competency: Employers must ensure all individuals working at height possess the necessary training and competence.
Provide equipment: Correct and suitable equipment must be used and inspected at regular intervals by a competent individual.
Consider additional risks: Risks posed by both falling objects and fragile surfaces must be controlled.
Consider weather conditions: For outdoor work, weather conditions that could pose a risk to workers must be taken into account.
Put emergency procedures in place: In case of emergencies when working at height, employers must make sure the relevant procedures are in place to ensure a quick and effective response.
Employees must:
Take reasonable care: When approaching any work, employees should take reasonable care of both their own health and safety and that of others.
Cooperate: Cooperating with employers on all safety matters can ensure a more coordinated and comprehensive approach to workplace health and safety.
Report appropriately: Any equipment defects or activities that could pose a threat to the employee’s health and safety or that of others should be reported to a supervisor.
Choosing the most suitable harness for the job
There are many different types of safety harness, varying in design, number of attachment points, and features according to their function.
However, a harness alone cannot protect a worker – proper connection to a suitably strong anchor point via an appropriate lanyard is essential.
Although anchor points are the secure spots where a worker’s harness system is attached (such as structural beams or temporary tripods, lanyards are used to connect the harness to the anchor, and they typically fall into one of three categories:
Fall arrest – designed to stop and absorb the impact of a fall that is already in process.
Fall restraint – designed to prevent a fall by keeping a worker from reaching the hazard.
Work positioning – used to hold a worker in place at a certain height and position to support hands-free working.
Once you have a clear understanding of why you require a harness, you can identify the most suitable lanyard and harness combination.
Lanyard category | Suitable harness types by number of attachment points | Typical uses | Key function and features |
Fall arrest | 1-point, 2-point, 3-point, 4-point, 5-point | Construction work, roofing, scaffolding, telecom engineers | Designed to stop a fall in progress and reduce impact forces.
Must include a dorsal (rear) D-ring. |
Fall restraint | 1-point, 2-point, 3-point, 4-point | Maintenance work, warehouse operations | Prevents the user from reaching a fall hazard.
Often used with fixed-length lanyards. |
Work positioning | 3-point, 4-point, 5-point | Tower climbing, utilities, telecoms, tree surgery, rescues | Allows user to work hands-free.
Usually has side/hip D-rings for stability. |
Correct inspection, care, and maintenance of harnesses
Alongside using the most suitable harness, lanyard, and anchor point solution for the job, all this essential safety equipment must also be properly maintained.
This includes ensuring a competent individual carries out both pre-use checks and periodic inspections. The individual must have received the relevant training for the specific types of equipment they’re inspecting.
In accordance with BS EN 365, a typical safety harness must be inspected at least once every 12 months. If there are significant signs of damage or wear, such as rips, tears, burns, or broken hardware, it must be immediately retired.
Most harness manufacturers recommend replacing the system after five years. However, this can vary depending on the harness type, how it’s used, and whether there are signs of damage.
Head protection: when is it legally required on UK construction sites?
Yes, in accordance with the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at Work Regulations 1992, it is a legal requirement in the UK for workers to be provided with and wear head protection if there is a foreseeable risk of head injury.
For example, if a risk assessment finds that there’s a hazard of falling objects, which is common on construction sites where various work is taking place at the same time, head protection is often a legal necessity.
What are the standards for helmets used at height?
In the UK, helmets for working at height must meet the BS EN 12492 standard which specifies the safety requirements for mountaineering and climbing helmets.
These helmets are specially designed to absorb impact and provide protection from multiple directions (front, side, rear, and top). They also include a strong chin strap retention system that prevents the helmet from coming off during a fall.
By contrast, BS EN 397 is the standard for traditional industrial safety helmets commonly used in general construction. These helmets mainly protect against top impact and have a chin strap designed to release under force to reduce strangulation risk on the ground.
Both types of head protection must also be CE marked and fit for purpose.
However, even certified PPE head protection is unlikely to offer the required protection if it’s ill-fitting or poorly adjusted to suit the user. Similarly, harnesses, lanyards, and other PPE must also be compatible with the helmet and each other to ensure compressive protection.
Inspection and replacement of head protection
Before use, all types of head protection must be thoroughly inspected for signs of damage or distress, such as cracks, dents, discolouration, and brittleness.
These inspections should also include checking the straps, buckles, and suspension system for any fraying or wear that could impact the effectiveness of the head protection, as well as ensuring the helmet’s expiry date hasn’t passed.
When retiring helmets, you should follow the manufacturer's recommended replacement schedule, with most suggesting replacement after three to five years. However, this varies depending on the severity of the conditions the helmet is exposed to and the amount of wear it’s suffered.
In the event of a significant impact, such as a fall, helmets must be immediately retired – regardless of whether there’s any visible damage.
Risk assessment & working at height planning: integrating harnesses & helmets into control measures
When working at height, there are several stages you must carefully work through to ensure safety and compliance - from risk assessment to application of hierarchy of controls and then PPE implementation.
Conduct risk assessment
All potential hazards should be identified, including where falling objects could pose a risk, where falls could occur (edges, fragile surfaces, openings), and who could be affected.
Apply the hierarchy of controls
- First, determine whether working at height can be avoided.
- If not, consider less hazardous alternatives, such as using scaffolding or barriers.
- Next, determine whether risks can be minimised, either by separating people from the hazard or changing how work is done.
- Finally, use PPE when higher-level controls are insufficient or impractical.
Integrating PPE
Depending on the application, a specific combination of relevant harnesses coupled with fall restraint, fall arrest, or work positioning lanyards can be implemented.
All workers involved in the work must have received the appropriate training and possess the necessary competence to wear, adjust, and inspect their harness systems.
If there is a risk of injury from either falling from a height or falling objects, helmets must also be worn, complete with securely fastened chin straps. These head protection solutions must also provide a secure fit and be compatible with other PPE being worn.
Compliance
To ensure compliance with the UK regulations, proper documentation of working at height systems (the types of PPE they require as well as how they will be used, inspected, and maintained) must be kept, reviewed, and updated as required.
Emergency plans should also be in place, such as rescue planning in the event of a fall arrest scenario or injury. With the relevant supervision and training, employers can help workers to use the appropriate PPE and follow safe procedures when working at height.
Safe and compliant harnesses and head protection solutions
At Load Straps & Slings, we stock a wide range of reliable height safety kits, harnesses, fall arrest systems, and lanyards, alongside head protection products suitable for all kinds of professional applications.
From 1-point standard body harnesses suitable for basic fall arrest purposes to 3-point models that support positioning and hands-free operations, we provide safe, compliant, and comfortable solutions to working at height.
Every harness on our site meets the relevant UK and European safety regulations. In line with the harness type and intended use, our harnesses abide by various British Standards, including BS EN 361, BS EN 358, and BS EN 813.
For help choosing the most appropriate height safety system for your application or to learn more about our range of harnesses, lanyards, and head protection systems, contact our helpful team today:
Email: sales@loadstraps.co.uk
Phone: 020 3978 2137
