Height PPE
HERMEQ supplies fall arrest equipment for work at height on scaffolds, scaffold towers, roofs, slab edges and steelwork. The range covers full body harnesses with one to four attachment points, shock absorbing, forked and restraint lanyards, retractable fall arrest blocks, anchors and connectors, with freestanding fall arrest systems for jobs where there is no structure to tie on to.
The Portwest fall arrest kit puts a harness, a shock absorbing lanyard and a carry bag together for one operative, and the 4 point full body harness adds lateral D-rings for work positioning. Harnesses, lanyards, blocks and anchors are each certified to their EN standard, and the whole range is available to buy online with nationwide delivery.
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HOPE - Gravity Y Forked Shock Absorbing Kernmantle LanyardAs low as £49.25 £59.10Quick 5 Day Delivery
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Harnesses, lanyards and fall arrest blocks
A fall arrest kit suits one operative tying on to an anchor above, while separate components let each set be matched to the job, the wearer and the anchor.
Fall arrest kits
The Portwest fall arrest kit is the usual issue for scaffolders and general operatives who clip on to scaffold tube or a fixed point above them, and its bag keeps the harness and lanyard paired between jobs.
Full body safety harnesses
The number of attachment points decides what a harness can do. A single dorsal D-ring between the shoulder blades covers straightforward fall arrest on scaffolds and in MEWPs, which makes the single point full body harness and the 1 point standard harness the common choice of scaffold harness. A sternal point at the chest adds a connection for climbing ladders, vertical work and rescue, as on the 2 point comfort harness and the padded extra comfort 2 point harness for full shifts at height.
The 3 point harness adds a ventral point for ladder and vertical systems, and the 4 point harness adds lateral D-rings for work positioning in telecoms, rigging, roofing and on scaffold towers. The rescue harness carries a rescue strap with its own top point, so a casualty can be lifted upright out of a confined space.
Shock absorbing and forked lanyards
A shock absorbing lanyard, also called an energy absorbing lanyard, connects the harness to the anchor, and its absorber extends in a fall to limit the force on the body. The shock absorbing webbing lanyard and the rope lanyard with scaffold hook are for work from one anchor point, and the kernmantle rope lanyard is the lighter option on ladders and scaffold. A twin tail lanyard, sold as a forked lanyard in webbing or a Y lanyard in kernmantle rope, keeps one leg clipped on while the other moves past a standard or tie, so the operative stays connected while climbing or traversing.
Retractable fall arrest blocks
A fall arrest block, which the trade also calls an inertia reel or self retracting lifeline, pays out and retracts as the operative moves and locks within a short distance once a fall starts. The webbing fall arrest block is light and compact for short reach above the work, and the wire rope fall arrest block covers longer drops on towers, roofs and industrial access. Where the line could run over an open edge, choose the fall arrest block for horizontal use, which is certified for both orientations. The fall arrest block with recovery winch adds a manual lift and lower, so a fallen worker can be retrieved without anyone else going in.
Fall arrest, fall restraint and work positioning
The three methods differ in the moment they act: fall restraint stops the operative reaching the edge, fall arrest stops a fall that has already begun, and work positioning holds the operative in place with both hands free. Restraint is the first choice wherever an anchor and a fixed length of line can keep the wearer back from the drop, and a restraint lanyard does this without a shock absorber because no fall takes place.
Fall arrest is for work where the operative has to reach the edge, climb or lean out, and it depends on a harness, an energy absorbing connection and enough clearance below. A work positioning lanyard clips between the lateral D-rings of a positioning harness so the operative can lean into the work on poles, towers and steelwork, and it must always be backed by a separate fall arrest system wherever a fall is possible. Where the edge can be guarded for the whole team, edge protection and fall prevention systems come before any personal equipment.
Anchor points for fall arrest
An anchor for fall arrest must be certified to EN 795 for the number of people using it, and the right type depends on the structure. Scaffold tube and open beams take a sling, concrete and steel take a fixed or quick-release anchor, and a steel flange the operative has to move along takes a trolley.
Anchorage slings for scaffold tube and beams
An anchorage sling wraps round scaffold tube, a beam or a structural member and is choked back on itself to give a temporary anchor that goes on and comes off with the job. The polyester webbing spreads the load round the member and has no metal in it, which makes it the choice near electrical hazards.
Concrete and steel anchors
For a permanent point, the stainless steel anchor point is chemically fixed and sits flush once installed, for roof access and facade maintenance. For temporary works, the concrete anchor locks into a drilled hole with a pressure button, and the toggle anchor does the same through a hole in steelwork. Both come out when the task is finished and move on to the next pour or bay.
Beam anchor trolleys
A beam anchor trolley clamps to the flange of a steel beam and runs along it, so the operative stays tied on while moving along steel frames, gantries and loading bays.
Fall arrest systems for slab edges, formwork and steelwork
A freestanding fall arrest system brings its own overhead anchor to places where the structure has none to give.
Column fall arrest systems
A column system seats its post in the concrete and carries a retractable block on an arm above the operative, giving 360 degree cover over working areas of up to 230m² across the range. It is the system for decking, slab edges, formwork and rebar cage work, where the floor is being built and nothing above it exists yet. The aluminium column fall arrest system is light enough for one person to set up and move without a crane, and the heavy duty fall arrest system installs without tools for demanding decking and formwork operations.
Portable fall arrest post
The portable fall arrest system stands a post on its own base plate and needs no crane or overhead fixture. It gives an anchor above the work on commercial rooftops, beams, exposed frames and steelwork where no permanent fixing exists, and it comes as a complete set that moves from site to site. Choose a column system where the anchor can go into the slab, and the portable post where the surface is finished or made of steel.
Fall arrest bags for housebuilding and trailers
Fall arrest bags are collective protection: they fill the space below the work so that anyone who falls lands on a cushion, with no harness or anchor involved. In housebuilding the fall arrest bags are laid in internal voids and across floor areas during shell works and between scaffold phases, and on flatbed trailers they cover the deck while the load is worked on. They are tested to PAS 59 for falls of up to 3.1m, clip together without specialist tools and stack for storage. Bags are chosen over harness-based protection where several people need to move freely across a whole floor or deck with no anchor above them.
Checks before buying a personal fall arrest system
A personal fall arrest system works only when every part suits the drop below the work and the weight of the operative.
Clearance below the work
A shock absorbing lanyard needs more free height below the work than a retractable block, because the operative falls the length of the lanyard before the absorber starts to extend, while a block locks within a short distance. On low lifts and platforms where the drop is short, a block anchored overhead is the safer connection. Measure from the anchor to the nearest obstruction below, which is often a lower lift, beam or stack of materials before it is the ground.
User weight across every component
A system is rated to its lowest-rated part. The harnesses and fall arrest blocks in the range take a maximum user weight of 140kg, while the energy absorbing lanyards are rated to 100kg, and that figure includes clothing, tools and kit. A heavier operative, or one carrying a loaded tool belt, pairs the harness with a retractable fall arrest block so that every component is rated for the load.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How often does fall arrest equipment need inspecting?
The wearer checks harnesses, lanyards and blocks before every use for cuts, worn stitching, damaged hardware and a deployed fall indicator. A competent person also carries out a periodic detailed inspection and records it, at the intervals the manufacturer and the risk assessment set. Any harness, lanyard or block that has arrested a fall, or whose fall indicator shows, is taken out of use until it has been inspected or replaced.
What is a fall factor?
Fall factor is the distance a person falls divided by the length of line available to arrest the fall, and the higher it is, the harder the fall. An anchor above the dorsal D-ring keeps the factor low, while an anchor at foot level gives a factor of 2, the most severe case. The column fall arrest systems hold the block overhead and lock at once, which gives a fall factor of zero.
Which harness and lanyard are used in a cherry picker?
The usual set is a full body harness, such as a single point harness, with a short restraint lanyard clipped to the anchor point the MEWP manufacturer provides in the basket. The lanyard is kept short enough that the operative cannot be thrown out of the basket, so the aim is to restrain rather than arrest.
What does ATEX rated mean for fall arrest equipment?
ATEX certification means a product is approved for use in potentially explosive atmospheres, such as fuel tanks, chemical plants and some sewers, where a spark could ignite gas or dust. In this range the fall arrest block with recovery winch, the confined space tripod and the beam anchor trolley are ATEX certified.
Do you need a rescue plan when using fall arrest equipment?
Yes. The Work at Height Regulations require planning for emergencies and rescue, and a person left hanging in a harness after a fall needs to be recovered quickly because suspension restricts circulation. The plan names who carries out the rescue and with which equipment, such as a block with a recovery winch or a rescue harness, and it is in place before work starts.