[Introduction] Section 1 ③

4.Other

The “Standard for Safety Belts” has been revised, and those based on the old standard that do not meet the requirements of the new standard (“Standard for Fall Arrest Equipment”) are not allowed to use after January 2, 2022.

Therefore, the use of old- standard products, regardless of whether they are body belts or full harnesses, are prohibited in work.

[How to distinguish between new and old standards]

Items labeled with the term “safety belt” such as “product conforming to the Safety Belt Standard” are based on older standards.

The term for products based on the new standards is “”fall arrest equipment””.

It is expected that both new and old standard products will be sold for the time being, so caution is necessary when purchasing.

New standards

Old standards

New standard lanyard requirements

Lanyards have also been standardized and are now fitted with shock absorbers to soften the impact of a fall and are labeled “Standard for Fall Arrest Equipment”.

※ Other major changes in standards, etc.

• The type for U-shaped suspension only is not classified as fall arrest equipment.
• Fall arrest equipment used at locations with a height exceeding 6.75 m must be the full harness type.
• The upper limit of the impact load was revised from the previous 8 kN to 6 kN (full harness type; in line with international standards) or 4 kN (body belt type; standard specific to Japan), and with this change, a shock absorber became essential.
• The standard has been raised to 100 kg, from the previous value of only 85 kg.
  (Previously, in a fall test with an 85-kg weight, force was required to be 8 kN or less, but the new standards require the force to be 6 kN or 4 kN for 100 kg.)
• It was decided standards should also be indicated for shock absorbers.