Personal Fall-Arrest Systems
Workers on suspended scaffolds should use a fall arrest system as protection against the failure of the scaffold or its components. This system will usually consist of a full body harness, lanyard, rope grab, independent vertical lifeline and an independent lifeline anchorage.
How to Select the Best Harness
Anchorage: It is important to remember that fall protection is only as good as its anchorage. The anchorage points are independent points on structures where lifelines are securely attached. These points should be able to support at least 5,000 pounds per employee and preferably 5,400 pounds for a fall of up to 6 feet or 3,000 pounds for a fall of 2 feet or less.
Harness: The full body harness is a belt system designed to distribute the impact energy of a fall over the shoulders, thighs and buttocks. A properly designed harness will permit prolonged worker suspension after a fall without restricting blood flow, which may cause internal injuries. Rescue is also aided because of the upright positioning of the worker.
Lanyards: Personal fall-arrest systems used on scaffolds should be attached by a lanyard to a vertical lifeline, horizontal lifeline, or structural member that will hold at least 5,000 pounds. A lanyard connects the safety harness to the rope grab on the lifeline. Materials should be made of 5/8-inch nylon rope or nylon webbing. Lanyards should be kept as short as possible to limit fall distance or rigged such that an employee can never free fall more than 6 feet.
Rope Grabs: Rope grabs contain a cam device that locks onto a lifeline when there is a hard tug or pull on the lanyard. Care should be taken to ensure that rope grabs are properly connected to lifelines so the cam will work correctly. Rope grabs should be placed at the highest point on the lifeline to reduce the fall distance and unintentional disengagement.
Lifelines: Retractable lifelines (single or dual) are wound on reels and automatically extend or retract to take up slack in the line as the worker moves about. A sudden extension in the line activates a locking mechanism that typically includes a deceleration device. Some self-retracting lanyards can be set to restrict the distance traveled and so can also function as part of a properly designed fall restraint system.
Double Self Retracting Lanyards/ Lifelines: Commonly known as 100% tie-off, "Y" type, twin leg, or double lanyards; these energy absorbing lanyards can be used to provide continuous fall protection while ascending, descending, or moving laterally. With one lanyard leg attached, the worker can move to a new location, attach unused lanyard leg, and disconnect attached leg. This procedure is repeated until a new location is reached. (DBI SALA)
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
4-4. Lanyards should be kept as short as possible to limit fall distance or rigged such that an employee can never _____.
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