In the event of a worker falling from a height, the parties considered legally liable are the employer, the property owner, or the condominium administrator. In fact, with reference to Article 111, paragraphs 1 and 2 of Legislative Decree 81/2008: "The employer, in cases where temporary work at height cannot be performed safely and under adequate ergonomic conditions from a suitable location, shall select the most suitable work equipment to ensure and maintain safe working conditions, in accordance with the following criteria:
The employer chooses the most suitable type of access system for temporary workstations at height based on the frequency of use, the height difference, and the duration of use. [...] Moving from one access system to platforms, scaffolding, or walkways and vice versa must not pose additional risks of falling [...]”.
Article 115, paragraph 1, emphasizes that, if collective protection measures are not implemented, workers must use personal protective equipment (PPE) suitable for the specific use, secured directly to the lifeline or to stable parts of fixed structures using connectors.
The inspection of lifelines is regulated by the UNI EN 11158 technical standard and the ISPESL guidelines, which require the system to be inspected by the worker before use. The standard and guidelines also require the intervention of competent personnel before commissioning and, subsequently, "at least once a year if in regular service or before reuse if unused for extended periods" (UNI 11158:2005, point 9.1.6). The UNI 11560:2022 standard stipulates that the interval between two periodic inspections cannot exceed two years. Inspections must be performed by an intermediate installer or qualified technician, who assumes responsibility for carrying out the checks set out in Tables 1, 2, and 3 of UNI 11560:2022, and in accordance with the instructions of the designer and manufacturer of the fall arrest systems.
