Personal protective equipment for fall protection, or PPE for fall protection for short, is an important component of an effective safety concept. It is used in particular when technical or collective protective measures are not possible, are insufficient, or cannot be implemented consistently due to the specific working situation. KRAUSE’s PPE range complements the company’s tried-and-tested access technology with solutions for personal fall protection and supports users, managers and planners in organising work at height safely, practically and in compliance with regulations.
The selection of PPE begins with the risk assessment
The selection of suitable PPE does not begin with the individual product, but with the risk assessment. In accordance with the Industrial Safety Regulation and the Technical Rules for Industrial Safety, work equipment, access routes and working methods must be selected and used in such a way that employees are effectively protected. For work at height, the TRBS 2121, as well as the relevant DGUV rules and DGUV information, are among the applicable standards. DGUV Rule 112-198 describes the use of personal protective equipment against falls from a height, whilst DGUV Rule 112-199 deals with the use of personal fall protection equipment for rescue purposes.
In practice, this means that a fall arrest harness alone is not a safe solution. Only the coordinated combination of a fall arrest harness, lanyard, fall arrest device, suitable anchor point, correct use and rescue plan ensures that workers are protected in an emergency. It is therefore crucial for companies not to procure PPE in isolation, but to select it in accordance with the activity, access requirements, structural conditions and the existing work equipment.
A range for different application scenarios
The KRAUSE fall protection range is designed for various applications involving work and climbing in areas at risk of falls. It comprises not only personal equipment such as fall arrest harnesses and full-body harnesses, but also webbing fall arresters, lanyards, carabiners, helmets, rucksacks, as well as abseiling and rescue devices. In addition, KRAUSE offers system components for use on fixed ladders, including fall protection rails, approved fall protection runners and transition solutions for accessing roof surfaces or platforms.
This means that PPE for working at height is not regarded as a stand-alone product category, but as part of a coordinated system for accessing heights. A building cleaner who works at different sites has different requirements to a service technician who regularly accesses a roof to carry out maintenance on ventilation or air-conditioning systems. An industrial fitter often has to move between machines, plant and maintenance platforms. It is therefore essential for safety officers, occupational safety specialists, site managers and procurement officers to select equipment that is appropriate for the hazard, is accepted in day-to-day work and can be clearly tested and documented.
Handling, in particular, is a key factor. Fall protection equipment must be put on correctly, connected properly and used safely. If the equipment is too cumbersome for its intended use, too difficult to understand or not clearly designated, the risk of misuse increases. A practical selection therefore not only improves safety but also the efficiency of routine tasks.
Fixed ladders and fall protection equipment as a coordinated system
There is a particular relationship between fall protection equipment and fixed ladders. These are frequently used to safely access roofs, machine platforms, silos, shafts, maintenance platforms or technical installations. Depending on the climbing height, structural conditions, frequency of use and legal scope of application, different protective measures may be required. In addition to the requirements of the DGUV regulations and TRBS 2121, standards such as DIN 18799 or DIN EN ISO 14122 must also be taken into account, depending on the area of application.
KRAUSE offers a range of solutions for securing vertical ascent and descent when used in conjunction with ladders. Alongside the back protection cage, the fall arrest rail – including the fall arrest runner – plays a key role when using PPE for fall protection. The user is connected via their safety harness to a travelling fall arrest device, which is guided along the fixed rail and locks in the event of a fall. It is important to note that the fall arrest runner and guide rail are not interchangeable individual components, but form a tested and certified system designed for use together.
For planners, operators and safety officers, this system-based approach is crucial. A fixed ladder must not only provide structural access but also fit in with the intended safety concept. This includes the selection of fall-back protection or PPE for fall protection, the correct design of the fall protection rail, suitable personal equipment for users, and an emergency rescue plan. Early planning is particularly advisable for roof access points that are used regularly, so that access, safety measures and the subsequent work area are seamlessly integrated without any gaps in protection.
Safe transition from the ladder to the roof
The transition from the ladder to the roof surface is particularly critical. This is where the vertical ascent ends, whilst at the same time an area with new fall hazards often begins. KRAUSE offers system components for this purpose, such as the parapet transition for anti-fall rails and the curved transition for the anti-fall rail. The user remains guided by the safety rail, safety runner and safety harness until they reach the secured transition area.
The wide parapet transition facilitates the move from the top rung of the ladder to the platform next to the curved safety rail. Depending on the structural conditions, the transition can be mounted on the ladder side of the access ladder and secured to the parapet on the roof side, or set up freely on the roof surface using base plates and counterweights. This allows the transition to be planned in a practical manner, even with different roof structures.
It is important that the user does not move onto the roof surface without being secured. A self-closing access barrier can secure the person immediately after they have passed through it. Only once this secured area has been reached may the user detach themselves from the fall arrest lanyard and step onto the roof surface, provided that a side guardrail or other collective side protection is in place there. This provides a clear and practical illustration of the transition from personal fall protection on the fixed ladder to collective protection on the roof.
In this context, the KRAUSE guardrail system can also play a complementary role. Whilst it is not the main focus of the PPE Directive, it demonstrates how a secured ascent via a fixed ladder and fall protection system can be linked to a collectively protected work or traffic area on the roof.
Combining safety and efficiency in day-to-day work
Well-planned fall protection not only supports health and safety at work, but also promotes efficient workflows. When users know which equipment to use, where anchor points are located and how the safe working area is defined, tasks can be carried out in a more predictable manner. This reduces uncertainty, avoids improvisation and simplifies recurring maintenance, cleaning or installation work.
This creates clear structures for those in charge and inspectors. Equipment can be unambiguously assigned, checked and documented. Purchasing managers and operations managers benefit from solutions that can be integrated into existing processes and do not need to be reassessed for every use. Particularly in companies with multiple sites, different work areas or regularly recurring access to heights, this standardisation makes an important contribution to process reliability.
Inspection, training and rescue considerations
Personal fall protection equipment (PSAgA) is safety-critical equipment. It must be checked by the user before each use and inspected regularly by a competent or qualified person. Damage, wear and tear, incorrect storage or missing components can significantly impair the protective effect. Therefore, inspection and documentation are integral to the safe use of personal fall protection equipment.
Equally important is the training of users. Anyone using fall protection PPE must know how to put on the safety harness correctly, which lanyard is suitable, which anchor points may be used, and what hazards may arise from a pendulum fall, insufficient clearance or incorrect use. In addition, it must be clarified before work begins how a person can be rescued following a fall. Although a fall arrest system prevents a fall all the way to the ground, it is no substitute for a rescue plan.
KRAUSE therefore supports companies not only with suitable products, but also with practical services. KRAUSE SafetyServices include inspection services and seminars that assist companies with the safe use, monitoring and organisation of access equipment and PPE for fall protection. This adds an important organisational component to the product range: products, training, inspection and application are combined to form a transparent safety process.
Fall protection equipment as part of a coordinated KRAUSE safety concept
KRAUSE’s range of fall protection equipment expands on traditional access technology to include solutions for personal fall protection, thereby creating a vital link between safe access, safe use and regular inspection. This holistic approach is particularly evident when combined with fixed ladders, fall protection systems, parapet crossings and supplementary services.
For users, manageable and reliable equipment is key. Those responsible and inspectors require clear processes for selection, use, inspection and documentation. Decision-makers and planners benefit from solutions that can be integrated into existing workflows and combine safety with efficiency.
Further information on the PPE range, fixed ladders, the KRAUSE guardrail system and inspection and training services