Fall Protection Equipment
Fall protection equipment is typically made up of 3 major components: Body Harnesses, Connecting Devices and Anchoring Points.
Body Harnesses
Body harnesses are the first component of fall protection. This is the body wear worn by the worker which gets attached to a connecting device to stop their fall. As off 1998, body belts are no longer considered an acceptable form of personal fall arrest equipment because of greater likelihood of internal injury from the concentrated impact on organs (by the belt) and the greater likelihood of slipping out of the belt. As a result, full body harnesses are used today to help make sure the worker remains held by the safety gear and to hep distribute the forces of the fall more evenly throughout the body.
Lanyards or Connecting Devices
The second component of a fall protection system is a connecting device, also referred to as self-retracting lanyards or lifelines. This piece connects the body harness to the anchor point. It is a critical part of the fall arrest equipment not just because it connects the worker to the anchor but also because it bears the greatest amount of the force during a fall. It absorbs energy and helps safely stop the worker's downward momentum. It is important this piece be made of high quality material that can sustain a great force. Traffic Safety Warehouse offers only high quality fall protection gear and if you need help selecting the best equipment for your purposes don't hesitate to give us a call.
Anchor Point
The last component of the personal fall arrest protection is the anchor point, also called anchorage or anchorage connector. The anchorage connector is the secure attachment point for the lanyard or connecting device. Your choice of anchoring device will be dependent upon the type of job and the surface it needs to connect to (roof, concrete, steel etc.). The anchor point must be located high enough off the ground so that no contact occurs and OSHA standards require that it be able to sustain a force of at least 2,250 pounds
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References:
1. United States Department of Labor: OSHA: Commonly Used Statistics
2. United States Department of Labor: OSHA Regulations (Standards - 29 CFR, Part: 1926)
3. U.S Bureau Department of Labor: Fall Protection Information