EN 353-2 covers fall arresters that run on a flexible anchor line — a rope or webbing. The system is more versatile than EN 353-1 because the line can be rigged temporarily and taken down afterwards.
Where it is used
- Roof work and movement on sloping surfaces.
- Temporary ladders and scaffolds.
- Descent into shafts, tanks and wells.
- Construction work where a permanent installation is not justified.
Two common mistakes
- Adding an extra lanyard between the arrester and the harness. Only the connector supplied by the manufacturer is permitted — anything added increases the free-fall distance.
- Leaving the bottom of the rope free. There must be a stopper knot or a weight, or the arrester can run off the end.
As with EN 353-1, arrester and rope are certified together — the rope's diameter, construction and material must match the arrester exactly.