The Lowdown On…THE NEW PERSONAL FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT STANDARD: BS 8681
Working at height remains one of the most dangerous activities in the UK workplace, accounting for a significant proportion of fatalities and serious injuries each year. With falls from height consistently topping the Health & Safety Executive’s (HSE) statistics, robust standards and rigorous training are crucial.
The arrival of BS 8681 – Personal fall protection equipment – Anchor systems – Specification for provider competence marks a major step forward for the industry. The Standard complements the existing BS 7883, moving beyond hardware and installation to address a critical element of safety: competence.
By setting benchmarks for the knowledge, skills and behaviours required at every stage—from design and installation to inspection and training, BS 8681 aims to raise standards across the industry and improve safety outcomes.
WHAT IS BS 8681?
BS 8681 is the first British Standard to focus specifically on the competence of providers working with personal fall protection systems.
It sits alongside BS 7883, which provides technical guidance on design and installation. Where BS 7883 focuses on the what, BS 8681 focuses on the who—ensuring that those involved in specifying, installing, and maintaining systems are properly trained and qualified.
The Standard defines the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders in the fall protection “safety chain” including:
• System designers
• Installers
• Inspectors
• Manufacturers and fabricators
• Trainers
• Duty holders, specifiers and architects
By embedding both technical competence and professional behaviours into each role, the Standard seeks to reduce accidents, improve collaboration, and provide clearer accountability.
DUTY HOLDER RESPONSIBILITIES
Under UK law, the duty holder has ultimate responsibility for ensuring that buildings, systems, and working practices are safe. This role is defined and reinforced through legislation including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
Duty holders must ensure that:
• Any work at height is properly planned and supervised.
• Equipment provided is suitable, correctly installed, and maintained.
• Those carrying out the work are competent to do so.
The Building Safety Act 2022 has raised the bar further, placing competence at the heart of building safety across design, construction, and maintenance. In this wider context, BS 8681 offers duty holders a practical framework to meet their obligations. By setting clear benchmarks for competence, it enables them to demonstrate due diligence when selecting providers, reducing both legal risk and potential liability in the event of an incident.
In practice, this means duty holders can now:
• Use BS 8681 checklists to verify competence when procuring services.
• Require providers to evidence qualifications, training, and experience.
• Rely on consistent standards of behaviour and technical knowledge across the fall protection supply chain.
For property owners, facilities managers, and principal contractors, this creates a stronger foundation of trust. Workers accessing roofs, façades, or elevated structures can have greater confidence that the systems they rely on have been designed, installed, and inspected by competent professionals, in line with both statutory requirements and best practice.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace fatalities in construction and facilities management. Too often, incidents are linked not just to equipment failure but to poor design choices, inadequate training, or incompetent inspection.
BS 8681 directly addresses these issues by:
• Raising industry competence: creating defined benchmarks for qualifications, training, and experience.
• Supporting procurement: providing checklists for duty holders to assess whether contractors are competent.
• Enhancing trust: ensuring those accessing or maintaining properties can have confidence in fall protection systems.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR INDUSTRY?
System designers—first defined in BS 7883—must now go further, ensuring designs are not only compliant but practical for long-term safe use, maintenance, and rescue.
Installers and inspectors will face more stringent expectations around training, record keeping, and auditing. A Level 3 NVQ and apprenticeship framework are being developed to professionalise the role of fall arrest technicians.
Manufacturers must continue rigorous testing and certification, ensuring their products can withstand the demands of real-world use.
Duty holders benefit from greater clarity: BS 8681 provides structured checklists and expectations that can form part of due diligence processes when appointing contractors.
A CULTURAL SHIFT
The new Standard is widely seen as a turning point for the industry. It establishes clear benchmarks for competence, introduces consistent expectations across the sector, and provides tools for assessing and assuring the capability of those delivering fall protection systems.
While the transition may present challenges, the long-term benefits including fewer accidents, clearer accountability, and improved professionalism, make it both necessary and achievable.
FACTBOX – BS 8681 AT A GLANCE
• Title: BS 8681 – Personal fall protection equipment – Anchor systems – Specification for provider competence
• Focus: Competence of providers across the fall protection chain
• Complementary Standard: BS 7883 (technical requirements for anchor systems)
• Key Roles Defined: Duty holders, manufacturers, designers, installers, inspectors, trainers, specifiers
• Core Requirements: Competence, supervision, mentoring, assessment, process auditing, management systems, record keeping, training standards
• Impact: Greater accountability, improved safety outcomes, professionalisation of the industry
WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING
• Review provider competence: Ensure all contractors meet the competence requirements outlined in BS 8681.
• Invest in training: Consider NVQ Level 3 and apprenticeship pathways for fall protection technicians.
• Audit systems regularly: Implement structured inspection and record-keeping processes aligned with the Standard.
• Update procurement processes: Incorporate BS 8681 checklists into due diligence.
• Engage with industry guidance: Access BSIF Height Safety Group resources and webinars for ongoing support.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
The BSIF Height Safety Group (HSG) has produced a detailed overview and a webinar featuring industry experts on BS 8681.
Visit: www.bsif-heightsafetygroup.org
Author: The BSIF Height Safety Group (HSG) brings together manufacturers, installers and distributors of safety equipment, alongside test houses, certification bodies and safety professionals, to promote safety, quality and competence throughout the UK height-safety sector.