The EN standards on work at height equipment are European norms that show what purpose each product is designed for and which safety tests it has passed. For example, EN 361 defines the full body harness, EN 354 the lanyard, EN 355 the energy absorber, EN 362 the carabiner, and EN 360 the retractable fall arrest. The EN number and CE mark on a piece of equipment are proof that the product provides certified protection against a specific risk.

In this article, the most common EN standards in work at height are explained one by one, along with what the CE mark means and which numbers you should look for when choosing the right equipment.

Why Are EN Standards Important?

Equipment used against falls from height is a field with no margin for error; this is why how a lanyard or a harness is manufactured cannot be left to chance. This is exactly where EN standards come in: they define the minimum strength, test method, marking, and manufacturer information that each equipment type must meet.

When a piece of equipment carries a specific EN standard, it means that the product has passed the relevant tests and is safe for a defined purpose. Equipment without a standard number, or with the wrong standard, creates a vital risk in the field. For this reason, EN standards are not just a technical detail, but directly a matter of life safety.

Harness EN Standards

Harnesses carry different EN standards according to their intended use. The most critical distinction is whether the harness is designed for fall arrest or only for positioning.

EN 361 — Full Body Harness: The basic standard designed to arrest a fall. It has A-marked attachment points (D-rings) on the back and/or chest that hold the user during a fall. This is the standard that must be carried in all work with a risk of falling from height.

EN 358 — Positioning and Restraint: Used to position the worker at a specific point and to prevent falling; however, it is not sufficient for fall arrest on its own. It usually works with side D-rings at waist level.

EN 813 — Sit Harness: Defines harnesses with an attachment point at the abdomen level that allow work in a suspended, seated position.

In practice, many professional harnesses carry several of these standards at once (for example EN 361 + EN 358 + EN 813), providing both fall arrest and positioning. EKS Work Safety’s full body and positioning harnesses are manufactured aiming precisely at this combination.

Connection Equipment EN Standards

A harness is not a system on its own; the equipment that connects it to the anchor point must also have the correct standards.

EN 354 — Lanyard: Defines the technical requirements of the lanyard that connects the worker to the system.

EN 355 — Energy Absorber: The standard for the equipment that absorbs the force generated during a fall. An energy absorber produced according to this standard is designed to keep the impact force on the user’s body below 6 kN (about 600 kg). Energy absorbing lanyards under EN 355 are produced at a maximum length of 2 meters.

EN 362 — Carabiner (Connector): The standard for the connectors that join equipment to each other and to the anchor.

EN 360 — Retractable Fall Arrest: The standard for fall arresters that retract automatically and lock during sudden movement.

EN 795 — Anchor: The standard for the fixed or temporary attachment points to which the user connects. Lifelines are also evaluated within this scope.

It is essential that all of these standards work together compatibly. For example, an energy absorbing lanyard carries EN 354 (lanyard) + EN 355 (energy absorber) + EN 362 (carabiner) standards together; because the whole is made up of the correct combination of parts.

What Does the CE Mark Mean?

While EN standards show which test the equipment was produced to, the CE mark shows that the product meets Europe’s essential safety requirements and can legally be placed on the market. CE is the abbreviation for “Conformité Européenne” (European Conformity), and it is not a quality award but a mandatory conformity mark.

Protective equipment against falls from height is classified as Category III under Personal Protective Equipment Regulation 2016/425. Category III is the highest risk group, which can lead to death or irreversible health damage.

There is a critical rule for products in this category: next to the CE mark, a 4-digit notified body number must be present. This number shows that the product is continuously inspected by an independent and authorized body. In other words, it is not enough for work at height equipment to just say “CE”; there must also be a four-digit number next to it (for example CE 1234).

How to Read EN Standards When Choosing the Right Equipment

When buying a piece of work at height equipment or inspecting it in the field, following these steps guarantees a safe choice in terms of EN standards:

• Verify that there is a clear, legible, and indelible EN number on the equipment.
• Choose the standard suited to your work: EN 361 for fall arrest, EN 358 for positioning.
• Check that there is a 4-digit notified body number next to the CE mark.
• Make sure all parts of the system (harness, lanyard, energy absorber, carabiner, anchor) are in compatible standards with each other.
• Check the manufacturer’s user manual and the production/expiry date.

These checks make the difference between equipment merely “existing” and actually “protecting.”

EKS Work Safety and Standard Compliance

EKS Work Safety’s harnesses, lanyards and energy absorbers, carabiners, retractable fall arrests, and anchor systems are manufactured in compliance with the relevant EN standards. For example, lanyards are designed according to EN 354 and EN 355 norms; this certifies both the strength of the connection line and the force absorption during a fall.

The real value of standards emerges when the equipment comes together as a system. Parts that carry the correct EN standards but are set up incompatibly do not provide the expected protection in the field. This is why system design is as critical as equipment selection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between EN 361 and EN 358?
EN 361 is the full body harness standard designed to arrest a fall. EN 358 is only for positioning and restraint, and is not sufficient for fall arrest on its own.

Is the CE mark enough on its own?
Protective equipment against falls from height is Category III; therefore, a 4-digit notified body number must also be present next to the CE mark. The “CE” marking alone is not enough.

Why is the energy absorber limited to 6 kN?
The EN 355 standard requires that the force on the human body during a fall stays at a level that will not cause injury, that is, below 6 kN. The energy absorber absorbs this force.

Can equipment from different brands be used together?
The equipment must have the same standards and compatible connection types. Incompatible parts can compromise the safety of the system; therefore, the manufacturer’s compatibility information should be checked.

Standards Are the Common Language of Safety

EN standards are the common language that makes the safety of work at height equipment measurable and comparable. Norms such as EN 361, EN 354, EN 355, EN 362, EN 360, and EN 795 show what purpose each piece of equipment serves and what level of protection it offers. The CE mark and notified body number are the legal confirmation of this conformity.

With over 20 years of experience, EKS Work Safety provides work at height equipment compliant with the relevant EN standards within a unified system. To choose equipment fully compliant with standards and to design a system suited to your work area, you can contact EKS Work Safety.

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