EN 353-1 sets the requirements for systems where the fall arrester runs on a rigid anchor line. The line may be a rail, a channel or a tensioned steel cable, permanently installed on a ladder, mast, tank or chimney.
How it works
The worker attaches the arrester to the sternal point of the harness with a short connector. It travels freely up the line while climbing and locks instantly in a fall. Arrest distance is usually under 20 cm.
The critical rule: compatibility
The arrester and the line form a single certified system. Using another manufacturer's arrester on someone else's rail does not merely void the certificate — it may physically fail to work. This is the rule most often broken on sites with an old installation and a lost arrester.
The installation must be inspected by a competent person at least annually, with the rail fixings, welds and cable tension checked regularly.