The most common questions on the Web about anchoring to work at height

The Most Common Questions on the Web About Work-at-Height Anchor Points

The questions people ask most about fall-protection anchor points centre on the legal requirements, load capacity, required signage and system maintenance. We have gathered the main questions and their answers in one place.

Work at heightAnchor pointsEN 795EN 365SignagePeriodic inspectionFAQ

1. What strength / load is required of a work-at-height anchor point?

This is the most common question, and the answer varies with the role of the point:

• Fall prevention — under the American standard, an anchor point must withstand 22 kN per connected worker, or meet a safety factor of 2 times the force generated in a fall. The European standard speaks of between 12 and 18 kN depending on the type of connection.
• Fall arrest — it must withstand a load of at least 4.4 kN under the American standard.
• Work positioning — a capacity of 1.3 kN is required under the American standard.
• A simple comparison — to picture the strength, you can ask: “Could this point hold a small truck?”

2. Who is qualified to install and certify work-at-height anchor points?

Israeli law requires the involvement of professionals:

• Installation — must be carried out by a “competent person” in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and the relevant standards.
• Certification — the design and certification of permanent anchor points on a structure must be done under the supervision of a structural engineer.

3. What is the difference between a work-at-height anchor point and a lifeline?

• Anchor point — intended for a single worker in a relatively confined area, where the worker connects to one point and carries out the task.
• Lifeline (anchor line) — intended for situations where the work requires movement along a route. It is a system comprising several anchor points connected to one another by a cable or rail.

4. How often must a periodic inspection be carried out?

The maintenance question is critical to safety:

• Anchor systems and lifelines require periodic inspection and maintenance, usually every 6 to 12 months.
• In addition, the worker must carry out a visual inspection of the point before every use.

5. Can two people be connected to a single anchor point?

• As a rule, a standard anchor point is intended for one worker only at any given time.
• Connecting more than one person is possible only if the point was specifically designed and approved for it in advance.

6. Is it permitted to use anchors without the EN 795 standard for work-at-height anchor points?

• No. You must use only an anchor point carrying the EN 795 standard, and require the certificate of the standard from the supplier.
• Using non-standard anchors creates a clear risk to the user and is forbidden.

7. EN 365 — is it mandatory to hang a sign next to every work-at-height anchor point?

Yes. EN 365 (and, for permanent anchor points, EN 795:2012) requires that every anchor point be clearly and permanently marked with a sign or label that includes at least the following:

• Maximum number of users — how many workers may be connected to the point at once.
• Permitted load direction — whether the anchor is intended for pull-out, shear, or any direction.
• Installation date and next inspection date.
• Manufacturer / supplier name and the component’s serial number.
• Reference to the standard (EN 795 / EN 795 Type A/B/C/D/E) and to the instructions for use.

The sign must be weatherproof and remain legible throughout the system’s entire life.

8. EN 365 — what information must appear on the sign next to a work-at-height anchor per EN 365?

EN 365 defines a minimum list of details that must appear on the label/sign of every fall-prevention system, including anchor points:

• Name and/or trademark of the manufacturer.
• Model number / catalogue number.
• Serial number, for traceability and history tracking.
• Year of manufacture.
• Reference to the relevant European standard (EN 795, EN 795 Type, EN 364, etc.).
• Maximum working load (SWL / WLL) or maximum number of users.
• Installation date and next inspection date.
• Name of the installer / certifying body.
• Basic maintenance instructions or a reference to the instruction document.

9. EN 365 — what are the EN 365 requirements for periodic inspection of anchor points?

EN 365 states that every fall-protection device must undergo a periodic inspection by a competent person, at a frequency no greater than:

• Once every 12 months at most, unless the manufacturer’s instructions, the conditions of use, or the inspection results require a higher frequency.
• After any fall event in which the system bore a load, regardless of when the last inspection was.
• After a structural change to the building, a change to the system configuration, or exposure to extreme conditions (high wind force, earthquake, physical damage).

The inspection results must be documented, and the inspection record kept throughout the system’s life.

10. EN 365 — what happens if the sign next to an anchor point is erased, damaged or missing?

Under EN 365, an anchor point that is not marked as required may not be used until the sign is replaced and the correct information verified:

• It is forbidden to use an anchor point whose safety information is illegible or missing.
• The body that performed the installation/inspection should be called in to verify the point’s details and renew the signage.
• If the history cannot be verified, a full inspection by the competent person is required before returning to use.

11. EN 365 — is a separate sign required for each anchor, even if several anchors are on the same roof?

• Yes. Under EN 365, every single anchor point must be independently marked — a single “general” sign for the whole roof is not enough.
• Each anchor is a unique component with its own serial number, its own inspection date and its own defined working load.
• In a lifeline system, every anchor point at the line’s ends and mid-points must be separately marked, in addition to an overall system sign.

12. What is the difference between EN 795 and EN 365 in the context of anchor points?

The two standards complement each other and you do not choose between them:

• EN 795 — the standard defining the product requirements: strength, mechanical performance, categories (Type A–E) and acceptance testing of the anchor point itself. “Is the anchor strong enough and certified?”
• EN 365 — the standard defining the requirements for using, maintaining and documenting fall-prevention systems after installation, including periodic inspections, signage, user training and record-keeping. “How is the system managed and maintained over its life?”

A product that meets EN 795 but is not managed under EN 365 is a fit product held unlawfully.

13. Does EN 365 also apply to temporary (non-permanent) anchor points?

• EN 365 applies to every fall-protection device actually in use, including temporary equipment such as portable anchor posts, portable roof frames and portable hooks.
• For personal equipment (harnesses, lanyards, extension poles), EN 365 defines the periodic inspection requirements and the “competent person” obligation.
• For temporary Type A anchors (EN 795) attached to a structure for a specific job and then removed — the same documentation and inspection rules apply.

14. What does an “inspection by a competent person” include under EN 365?

EN 365 defines a “competent person” as someone with the appropriate knowledge, experience and training to carry out the inspection. The inspection usually includes:

• A visual and physical inspection of all system components — anchors, bolts, substrate.
• Documentation check: comparing serial numbers, verifying the installation date against the sign.
• Checking the durability of the signs and the integrity of the information on them.
• Assessing wear, corrosion, material fatigue damage or physical damage.
• Preparing a signed inspection report with recommendations for action and the next inspection date.

15. EN 365 — what is the maximum service life of an anchor point, and when should it be replaced?

• EN 365 does not define a uniform service life — the manufacturer sets the product’s expected life and states it in the instructions for use.
• In practice, most anchor-point manufacturers define a life of 10–25 years for stainless-steel anchors under standard conditions, and 5–10 years for plastic/nylon components or in aggressive environments.
• An anchor point should also be replaced before the end of the product’s life if severe corrosion, significant wear, damage from a fall event is found, or if the inspection history cannot be verified.
• After any use in an actual fall — immediate replacement.

Summary: EN 365 signage requirements — the key list

• A unique sign for every anchor point — not an overall sign for an area.
• The sign must include: manufacturer, serial number, year of manufacture, maximum load/users, installation date, next inspection date.
• A missing sign → the anchor point is unfit for use.
• Periodic inspection by a competent person — at least once every 12 months.
• Full documentation of every inspection throughout the system’s life.

Sources

• EN 795:2012 — Personal fall-protection equipment: anchor devices.
• EN 365 — Personal protective equipment against falls from a height: general requirements for instructions for use, maintenance, periodic examination, repair, marking and packaging.
• OSHA fall-protection load requirements (fall prevention, arrest and positioning).