Safety Harness Regulations & Standards You Must Know

Safety Harness Regulations in The UK

Understanding safety harness regulations is essential for employers and anyone working at height. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 set out strict harness regulations in the UK, ensuring that all workers using fall protection equipment are safeguarded against accidents. 

Failing to follow harness regulations can lead to serious injuries, fines, and even business shutdowns - but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. This guide will explain UK safety harness standards, compliance steps, and when to replace equipment.

Need expert advice? We offer free workwear consultations to help businesses choose compliant PPE, including safety harnesses.

What Are The UK’s Safety Harness Regulations?

When working at height, you can’t afford to guess when it comes to safety - which is why safety harness regulations exist. In the UK, these rules are primarily covered under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, designed to prevent falls and make sure the right safety measures are in place.

Here’s everything you need to know:

Work at Height Regulations 2005

WAHR is the most specific UK law concerning working at height. It requires employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent falls, and where elimination of risk is not possible, they must provide appropriate fall protection equipment, including safety harnesses.

Under WAHR, employers must:

• Assess risks before work begins—Every job should be evaluated to determine the best safety approach, prioritising collective fall protection (e.g., scaffolding) over individual measures like harnesses.

• Ensure workers wear a properly fitted and certified harness if fall risks cannot be eliminated.

• Implement a rescue plan - If a worker falls while wearing a harness, there must be a clear strategy to get them down safely.

• Provide training on safety harness use - Workers must be trained on how to inspect, wear, and secure their harnesses.

• Regularly inspect harnesses - A faulty harness is a life-threatening hazard. Employers must ensure that harnesses are checked before each use and undergo formal inspections at least every 6 months.

 In short, WAHR requires employers to prevent falls wherever possible and provide proper fall protection, like safety harnesses, when risks can’t be eliminated. 

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 

The HSWA is the cornerstone of workplace safety legislation in the UK. It sets out the broad duty of employers to ensure a safe working environment and the responsibility of workers to follow safety measures. While the HSWA does not explicitly mention safety harnesses, it applies to all forms of risk management - including fall protection.

Under HSWA:

• Employers must identify and control risks - If a job involves working at height, the employer is responsible for providing appropriate safety measures, such as harnesses, guardrails, or fall arrest systems.

• Failure to provide adequate fall protection can result in prosecution - If an employee suffers an accident due to a missing or faulty harness, the employer could be held liable under HSWA.

• Workers must take reasonable care of their own safety - If a safety harness is provided, workers must use it properly and report any defects or safety concerns.

In short, The HSWA covers all workplace safety, including working at height. Employers must assess risks and provide the right fall protection, such as harnesses, or face legal consequences if an accident happens. Workers also have a duty to use safety gear correctly and report any issues. 

PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998) 

PUWER applies to all work equipment used in the workplace, including safety harnesses, lanyards, and anchor points. The regulation ensures that all equipment provided to employees is safe, properly maintained, and used correctly.

Under PUWER, employers must:

• Ensure all harnesses and fall protection equipment are fit for purpose – Harnesses must be certified, undamaged, and suitable for the task at hand.

• Conduct regular inspections and maintenance – Safety harnesses should be inspected before every use and undergo formal checks at regular intervals.

• Train workers on correct usage – Workers must be trained on how to wear, adjust, and inspect their harnesses to prevent misuse.

• Replace faulty equipment – If a harness is worn out, damaged, or no longer meets safety standards, it must be replaced immediately.

In short, PUWER ensures that all work equipment, including safety harnesses, is fit for purpose, well-maintained, and used correctly. Employers must provide certified harnesses, train workers on their proper use, and carry out routine inspections to spot any damage.

LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998) 

LOLER is designed to prevent failures in lifting equipment - including lanyards, harness attachment points, and anchorage systems. This regulation applies to any equipment used to lift or lower a person while working at height.

Under LOLER, employers must:

• Ensure all lifting equipment is strong, stable, and suitable for the task – This includes harnesses, anchor points, and lanyards used for fall protection.

• Inspect lifting equipment at least every six months – Regular checks must be carried out by a competent person, and records must be kept.

• Ensure safe attachment points – Harnesses must only be connected to certified anchor points that can handle impact forces.

• Make sure lifting accessories (lanyards, ropes) are tested – Equipment like shock-absorbing lanyards and self-retracting lifelines must meet strict standards.

In short, LOLER applies to any equipment used to lift or secure workers at height, including harnesses, lanyards, and anchor points. Employers must ensure this equipment is strong, stable, and inspected at least every six months. Harnesses must be attached to certified anchor points that can handle impact forces safely.

EN 361 – Full-Body Harnesses

EN 361 is the primary safety harness standard for fall arrest harnesses. It ensures that a full-body harness can safely distribute the impact forces from a fall, reducing injury risk. These harnesses must have secure attachment points and be tested under simulated fall conditions. All fall arrest systems must use EN 361-certified harnesses.

• Designed for fall arrest protection.

• Must include at least one D-ring attachment point (typically on the back or front).

• Tested under drop-test conditions to ensure impact absorption.

• Required for construction, scaffolding, and high-risk work at height.

In short, EN 361 sets the safety requirements for full-body harnesses, ensuring they effectively distribute the force of a fall to minimise injury. These harnesses must have at least one secure D-ring attachment point, usually located on the back or chest.

EN 355 – Shock Absorbing Lanyards

This safety harness standard covers lanyards with built-in energy absorbers, which are used to reduce the force exerted on the worker during a fall. EN 355 ensures lanyards limit impact forces to a maximum of 6 kN (kilonewtons).

• Essential for fall arrest systems when working at height.

• Absorbs fall energy, reducing the impact on the body.

• Must limit fall impact forces to below 6 kN.

• Required for roofing, scaffolding, and high-rise construction work.

In short, EN 355 covers lanyards equipped with energy-absorbing components that limit the force experienced during a fall. These lanyards ensure that the impact force remains below 6 kN, reducing strain on the body.

EN 358 - Work Positioning and Restraint Harnesses

The EN 358 safety harness standard applies to harnesses that are not designed for fall arrest, but instead hold workers in place while working at height. These harnesses allow hands-free movement and must have side-positioning D-rings for connecting to a lanyard.

• Used for work positioning and restraint, NOT fall arrest.

• Features side D-rings for lanyard attachment.

• Helps workers stay in place while performing tasks at height.

• Commonly used by tree surgeons, telecom workers, and utility technicians.

In short, EN 358 applies to harnesses designed to hold workers in place while they perform tasks at height, rather than arresting a fall. These harnesses include side-positioning D-rings for attaching lanyards, allowing workers to maintain stability while keeping their hands free.

Employer Responsibilities

Employers are legally required to ensure that all workers at height are protected from falls. This includes:

• Conducting risk assessments before any work at height.

• Providing the correct fall protection equipment (harnesses, lanyards, anchor points).

• Ensuring regular harness inspections and replacing faulty equipment.

• Delivering proper training on harness use, fitting, and maintenance.

• Keeping records of all safety checks, inspections, and training sessions.
  
  

Employee Responsibilities

Workers also have a role to play in staying safe when working at height. If you wear a safety harness, you must:

• Use the correct type of safety harness for the job.

• Carry out pre-use checks before putting on a harness.

• Report any damage, wear, or concerns to a supervisor immediately.

• Ensure the harness is properly fitted and adjusted before starting work.

• Follow all safety procedures when working at height, including using lanyards and fall arrest systems correctly.

For more information, check out our guide on the different PPE Regulations in the UK.

When Do Safety Harnesses Need to Be Inspected?

A safety harness might look fine at a glance, but even minor wear and tear can reduce its effectiveness. Regular safety harness inspections are legally required to ensure the equipment is fit for purpose and complies with UK regulations.

Daily Pre-Use Checks (By Workers)

Before putting on a safety harness, workers must visually inspect it for any obvious damage. This includes:

• Straps & Webbing – Check for fraying, cuts, burns, or excessive wear.

• Buckles & Fastenings – Ensure they lock and unlock smoothly without stiffness.

• D-Rings & Metal Parts – Look for corrosion, cracks, or anything that doesn't look right.

• Labels & Markings – Ensure the harness meets UK safety standards (e.g., EN 361, EN 355, EN 358). 

Note: If anything looks off, DO NOT USE the harness. Report it immediately.

Formal Inspections (By Employers)

According to PUWER 1998, employers must carry out regular, thorough inspections to ensure all harnesses remain safe and compliant. This includes:

• Every 6 months – When frequently used.

• Every 12 months – For occasional use in lower-risk settings.

These detailed inspections must be recorded and performed by a competent person (someone trained in harness safety).

Post-Incident Inspections

If a harness has been subject to a fall arrest, it must be removed from service immediately. Even if there’s no visible damage, it could have structural weaknesses that make it unsafe.

Want to learn more about harness inspections? Read our full Safety Harness Inspection Guide.

Which Of Our Harnesses Matches Which Safety Standard?

Different work environments demand different levels of fall protection, and with multiple regulatory standards (EN 361, EN 358, etc.), it can be confusing to know which harness is best for the job. 

To make things easier, we’ve mapped out all of our safety harnesses, highlighting their best industry applications and which UK & European standards they comply with:

Find The Right Safety Harness For Your Industry

Final Thoughts

Understanding the UK’s safety harness regulations isn’t just about compliance - it’s about keeping workers safe in environments where falls are a real risk. The right harness, lanyard, and fall protection system can mean the difference between a minor slip and a life-threatening accident.

Whatever industry you’re in, choosing the correct fall protection equipment ensures legal compliance and, more importantly, protects lives. Employers have a duty to provide fit-for-purpose safety harnesses, while employees must ensure they’re inspecting and wearing them correctly.

Need expert advice on choosing the right safety harness? We offer free workwear and PPE consultation to help you select compliant, high-quality safety gear that fits your specific workplace needs.