SIST EN 361:2002

SIST EN 361:2002 is the Slovenian adoption of EN 361:2002 from CEN for personal protective equipment against falls from a height. It specifies the requirements, test methods, marking, manufacturer information and packaging for full body harnesses used as body support in fall arrest systems.

What does SIST EN 361:2002 specify?

SIST EN 361:2002 covers full body harnesses intended to support the whole body during a fall and after fall arrest. It also allows other body support types, such as those covered by EN 358, EN 813 or EN 1497, to be incorporated into the harness.

The document is organized into clauses on scope, normative references, terms and definitions, requirements, test methods, marking, manufacturer information and packaging. It also includes Annex ZA, which links the standard to EU Directive 89/686/EEC, and a bibliography entry for EN 1497.

What are the key requirements of SIST EN 361:2002?

SIST EN 361:2002 focuses on how the harness is built, how it is tested, and what users must be told before use. In practice, the standard is about making sure the harness can be identified, checked, fitted, and used safely in a fall arrest system.

Materials and construction

SIST EN 361:2002 requires webbing and sewing threads to be made from virgin filament or multifilament synthetic fibres suitable for the intended use. The synthetic fibre breaking tenacity must be at least 0.6 N/tex, and sewing threads must be visually distinguishable from the webbing so inspection is easier.

The harness must have straps or similar elements in the pelvic area and on the shoulders, fit the wearer, and prevent straps from migrating or loosening by themselves. Primary straps must be at least 40 mm wide and secondary straps at least 20 mm wide. Buckles must assemble correctly, and metallic fittings must meet the corrosion protection requirement taken from EN 362:1992.

Strength and fall performance

SIST EN 361:2002 requires static strength testing at each attachment element according to EN 364:1992, using forces of 15 kN and 10 kN. The harness must not release the torso dummy during these tests.

For dynamic performance, the harness is tested at each fall arrest attachment element with a 100 kg torso dummy. It must withstand two successive drop tests with an adjusted free fall distance of 4 m - one feet first and one head first - without releasing the dummy. After each drop, the dummy must end up head-up, with the dorsal plane within 50° of vertical.

Compatibility with other functions

If the full body harness also includes elements for work positioning or restraint, those elements must comply with EN 358 and/or EN 813. That matters because a single product may be used in more than one way, but each function still has to meet the relevant standard.

Marking, instructions and packaging

Marking must follow EN 365:1992 and include a pictogram telling the user to read the manufacturer information, a capital A at each fall arrest attachment element, the model or type identification, and the number EN 361. Manufacturer information must also follow EN 365:1992 and cover fitting, use conditions, anchor points, connection to other components, compatibility, rescue, cleaning, lifespan, transport, hazards and training needs.

Full body harnesses must be supplied wrapped in material that gives some resistance to moisture. This helps protect the product before first use and during storage or transport.

What terms does SIST EN 361:2002 define?

• Full body harness - a body support mainly used for fall arrest, designed to support the whole body and restrain the wearer during and after a fall.
• Primary straps - straps intended by the manufacturer to carry the body or exert pressure on it during and after a fall.
• Secondary straps - the other straps in the harness that are not primary straps.
• Attachment element - a specific connecting point for components or subsystems.
• Fall arrest system - the system context for the harness, as used in EN 363.
• Work positioning - a use mode where the harness may be combined with positioning elements covered by EN 358.
• Restraint system - a use mode where the harness may be combined with restraint elements covered by EN 358.

Who uses SIST EN 361:2002?

SIST EN 361:2002 is used by harness manufacturers, test laboratories, conformity assessment bodies, and suppliers of personal protective equipment against falls from a height. It is also used by buyers, safety managers, and employers who need to specify or check full body harnesses for work at height.

In practice, these users rely on the standard when designing products, testing prototypes, checking markings, writing user instructions, and selecting harnesses that fit a fall arrest system.

What changed in SIST EN 361:2002 from the previous edition?

SIST EN 361:2002 supersedes EN 361:1992. The foreword says this edition keeps the old text of the standard and adds urgent amendments intended to provide additional information and clarify inconsistencies.

Which standards are used with SIST EN 361:2002?

• EN 358 - covers belts and lanyards for work positioning and restraint; it applies when those elements are incorporated into the harness.
• EN 362:1992 - covers connectors and supplies the corrosion protection requirement used for metallic fittings.
• EN 363:2002 - covers fall arrest systems and provides the general design and ergonomics requirements referenced in Clause 4.1.
• EN 364:1992 - covers test methods and supplies the static strength and dynamic test apparatus and procedures.
• EN 365:1992 - covers general requirements for instructions for use and marking.
• EN 813 - covers sit harnesses, which may be incorporated into the full body harness.
• EN 892 - covers dynamic mountaineering ropes and is used for the dynamic performance test rope.
• EN 1497 - covers rescue harnesses and is listed as another body support standard that may be incorporated.

What does the SIST EN 361:2002 document contain?

The document contains two example figures showing full body harness layouts, including harnesses with back attachment and with front and back attachment for fall arrest. It also contains the static strength and dynamic performance test setups and methods, so the same checks can be applied in testing.

Annex ZA maps clauses of the standard to essential requirements of EU Directive 89/686/EEC. That makes the relationship between the product requirements in the standard and the directive clear for compliance work, technical files, and conformity assessment.