INRS and Work-at-Height Prevention: Official Resources and Guidance

The French National Research and Safety Institute (INRS) publishes technical resources to help organisations prevent occupational risks. This article presents key resources for preventing falls from height and explains their value for HSE professionals in Morocco.

Introduction

The INRS (Institut national de recherche et de sécurité) is a French organisation specialising in occupational risk prevention. Established in 1947, it contributes to preventing workplace accidents and occupational diseases through research, technical assistance, training and the dissemination of knowledge.

Its publications are widely used by occupational health and safety professionals, particularly in French-speaking countries. In Morocco, they can serve as technical references and sources of good practice, complementing applicable national legislation.

The main missions of INRS

INRS operates primarily in four areas:

Research: Applied studies on occupational health and safety.
Technical assistance: Support for organisations in preventing occupational risks.
Training: Development of skills among occupational risk prevention professionals.
Information and documentation: Publication of technical guides, practical fact sheets, brochures, posters and educational resources.

These activities help organisations identify workplace hazards, assess risks and implement appropriate preventive measures.

INRS prevention resources

INRS publications cover a wide range of occupational health and safety topics, including:

Personal protective equipment (PPE): Harnesses, helmets, gloves and other protective equipment.
Ergonomics: Prevention of musculoskeletal disorders affecting the back, neck and upper limbs.
Stairways and access routes: Prevention of falls and improvement of access safety.
Movement within workplaces: Prevention of slips, trips and falls.
Working at height: Scaffolding, mobile elevating work platforms and rope access.
Manual and mechanical handling: Prevention of handling-related accidents.
Chemical and biological hazards: Exposure assessment and preventive measures.
Noise and vibration: Prevention of harmful occupational exposure.
Lighting and working environments: Improvement of workplace conditions.

These resources provide practical information for employers, HSE managers, prevention specialists and workers.

INRS resources for working at height

1. Equipment and protective systems

INRS resources on working at height help professionals understand how to select, install, use and inspect equipment such as:

Guardrails: Technical characteristics, installation and protection of exposed edges.
Lifelines and anchor points: Selection and use of suitable fall protection systems.
Fall-arrest harnesses: Selection and compatibility with other system components.
Fall-arrest devices: Conditions of use, inspection and maintenance.
Mobile elevating work platforms: Prevention of falls and other hazards associated with their operation.
Scaffolding: Safe assembly, access, use and inspection.

Several European standards address personal fall protection equipment and systems, including:

EN 361: Full-body fall-arrest harnesses.
EN 363: Personal fall protection systems.
EN 354: Lanyards.
EN 355: Energy absorbers.
EN 360: Retractable-type fall arresters.
EN 365: General requirements for instructions, maintenance and periodic examination.

The applicable standard depends on the equipment concerned and its intended use.

2. Selecting personal protective equipment

INRS resources help employers and prevention specialists select PPE suited to the identified risks. Important considerations include:

Identifying hazards and determining the required level of protection.
Selecting equipment appropriate to the task and working environment.
Checking the applicable conformity documentation and regulatory marking.
Ensuring compatibility between the harness, lanyard, connectors, energy absorber and anchorage.
Establishing inspection, maintenance and replacement procedures.
Providing suitable storage conditions and clear instructions for users.

Within the European Economic Area, relevant PPE must meet applicable conformity requirements, including CE marking where required. In Morocco, the applicable regulatory and technical requirements must be verified according to the product and its intended use.

3. Assessing risks associated with working at height

Fall prevention requires a structured assessment of each work situation. This process includes:

Identifying fall hazards and unsafe access conditions.
Assessing the likelihood of an accident and the severity of its potential consequences.
Prioritising preventive measures.
Giving priority to collective protection, such as guardrails, wherever practicable.
Selecting appropriate personal fall protection equipment when necessary.
Documenting the assessment and reviewing it whenever working conditions change.

The objective is to eliminate hazards wherever possible and reduce residual risks through appropriate technical, organisational and individual protective measures.

INRS involvement in standardisation

INRS contributes its expertise to French and European standardisation activities, as well as to certain international initiatives relating to occupational health and safety.

Its areas of expertise include mechanical and chemical hazards, noise, vibration, optical radiation and waste management. European cooperation also involves specialist networks such as EUROSHNET, which facilitates exchanges between experts in prevention, standardisation, testing and certification.

This involvement helps connect scientific knowledge, practical experience and technical requirements. However, technical standards must not be confused with legal obligations. Applicable requirements depend on the relevant legislation, the equipment and the activity concerned.

Relationship with French and Moroccan legislation

In France

The French Labour Code requires employers to assess occupational risks and implement appropriate preventive measures, including measures to prevent falls from height.

Specific obligations depend on the work situation, the equipment used and the applicable regulatory provisions. INRS publications help organisations understand these requirements and select appropriate preventive measures, but they do not replace the legislation itself.

In Morocco

Moroccan Labour Code, Law No. 65-99, establishes a general framework for occupational hygiene and employee safety. Specific requirements applicable to working at height must be checked against the regulations in force for the activity concerned.

INRS resources can complement this framework by providing technical recommendations on risk assessment, collective protection, equipment selection, inspections and safe working procedures.

They are references for good practice, not substitutes for Moroccan legislation or a site-specific risk assessment.

How to access INRS resources

INRS publications are available through its official website:

Official French website: https://www.inrs.fr

Resources can be searched by topic, industry sector or document type, including technical guides, brochures, practical fact sheets, posters and videos.

For work-at-height prevention, relevant topics include falls from height, scaffolding, mobile elevating work platforms and personal fall protection equipment.

Conclusion

For HSE professionals working in French-speaking environments, particularly in Morocco, INRS is an important technical resource for occupational risk prevention. Its publications provide practical guidance for identifying hazards, assessing risks and selecting appropriate preventive measures for working at height.

When used alongside applicable national legislation, relevant technical standards and a site-specific risk assessment, these resources can help organisations strengthen their HSE procedures and improve worker protection.

Official sources and references

https://www.inrs.fr

https://www.osha.gov/fall-protection

https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/r/natlex/fe/details?p3_isn=67319