Safety Netting and Edge Protection on Construction Sites: What the Work at Height Regulations Require

The Legal Framework: Work at Height Regulations 2005

Falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace fatalities in the UK construction industry. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 establish a clear hierarchy of controls that employers and duty holders must follow when planning and executing any work at height:

1. Avoid work at height where it is reasonably practicable to carry out the work from ground level.
2. Prevent falls by using collective equipment that prevents a fall occurring—guardrails, barriers, working platforms with edge protection.
3. Mitigate the consequences of a fall where prevention is not reasonably practicable—safety nets, airbags, soft-landing systems.

Safety netting sits at the third level of this hierarchy. It is not a first-choice solution—it is used when prevention by guardrails or other physical barriers is impracticable. This is typically because the area below or around the work is too large to enclose with fixed barriers, or because the nature of the work means that fixed edge protection would obstruct operations.

When Safety Netting Is Appropriate

Safety netting is most commonly specified for:

• Roof construction and re-roofing where guardrails cannot be fixed to the structure
• Steel frame erection where there are no permanent floor structures to mount barriers
• Large-span construction—sports halls, warehouses, industrial units—where it is impracticable to provide guardrails at every working level
• Below work areas where materials or tools may fall onto people working at lower levels

In all cases, safety netting should be installed as early as possible in the construction sequence and remain in place until the risk it addresses has been permanently eliminated.

The Standard: BS EN 1263-1:2014

Safety netting used to protect workers from falls must comply with BS EN 1263-1:2014, which specifies the performance requirements for safety nets used in construction. The key requirements include:

• Mesh size: Maximum 100mm square. Smaller mesh sizes reduce the risk of body parts passing through the net on impact and of tools or small materials falling through.
• Energy absorption: The net system must absorb a minimum of 2,250 joules of energy—the minimum threshold to arrest a falling person without the net failing.
• CE marking: Nets must be CE marked to confirm conformity with the standard.
• Labelling: Each net must carry a label showing the standard, classification, manufacturer, date of manufacture, and any relevant test results.

Nets that do not meet BS EN 1263-1 should not be used for fall arrest purposes on construction sites, regardless of how they are marketed.

Types of Safety Net

Horizontal Safety Nets (Fall Arrest Nets)

Installed horizontally below a work area to catch people if they fall. Horizontal nets must be installed as close beneath the working level as practicable—BS EN 1263-2 limits the maximum unobstructed fall height to 6 metres. The net must extend at least 2 metres beyond the edge of the work area in all directions to account for the trajectory of a falling person, who may fall outward rather than straight down.

Vertical Safety Nets (Debris Containment)

Installed vertically around the perimeter of a structure or working area to contain falling tools, materials, and debris. These nets are not designed to arrest falls of persons and should not be confused with horizontal fall arrest nets. They are used to protect people at lower levels and on the ground from struck-by hazards.

Debris Netting

Lighter-duty netting designed specifically for debris containment rather than fall arrest. Typically finer-mesh and lighter than structural safety netting, debris netting is suitable for scaffolding enclosures, roof edge containment, and general construction site perimeter protection. Debris netting must not be used as a substitute for fall arrest netting—the two products are specified for fundamentally different purposes and should not be interchanged.

Installation Requirements

Safety netting must be installed by trained and competent riggers who understand the load calculations, anchorage requirements, and configuration limits of the specific net system being used. Key installation considerations include:

• Anchorage points: Must be capable of withstanding the loads generated by an arrested fall. Anchor points should be designed or verified by a structural engineer where the structure is not purpose-designed for net attachment.
• Clearance below the net: Sufficient space must exist below the net for it to deflect under a fallen person's weight without the person striking a lower structure. The required clearance depends on the net span and the energy absorption characteristics of the system.
• Connections between nets: Where multiple net panels are joined, the connection must be at least as strong as the net itself. Lacing cord or connecting hooks must be specified to the same standard as the net.

Inspection Requirements

Safety nets must be inspected:

• Before first use on site, to confirm the net is in good condition and correctly installed
• After any event that may have affected the net's integrity—including an arrested fall, significant impact from falling materials, or severe weather
• At regular intervals during use—weekly inspections are recommended as a minimum for nets in active use

Inspections should be carried out by a competent person and records kept. Any net that shows damage—broken mesh cords, damaged edge rope, missing labels, or deteriorated connections—must be taken out of service immediately.

The Rescue Plan and Suspension Trauma

A mandatory but often overlooked requirement when using safety netting is the pre-planned rescue procedure. If a worker falls into a net, they must not be left suspended for any longer than absolutely necessary. Suspension trauma (also known as harness hang syndrome) is a medical emergency that can develop within minutes of a person hanging passively in a net or harness without being able to move. Blood pools in the legs, the venous return to the heart is impaired, and death can follow.

Before any work begins where workers could fall into a net, a rescue plan must be in place that enables rapid recovery of a person from the net. This should be rehearsed, not merely documented.

Safety Netting and Site Equipment from Cocus

Cocus supplies safety netting and site perimeter fencing suitable for construction and industrial applications, as well as a broader range of construction site safety equipment. For specification guidance on which type of netting is appropriate for your application, refer to your principal contractor's work at height risk assessment and method statement.