Tag Archives: self retracting lifeline

Protecta Pro 1340125 Shock Absorbing Lanyard

Shock Absorbing Lanyard Limitations

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There is an all too common situation where a shock absorbing fall protection lanyard does not meet fall protection requirements.

Protecta Pro 1340125 Shock Absorbing Lanyard    Miller T5111 Shock Absorbing Lanyard

Miller Fall Protection puts it like this, “when using a shock absorbing lanyard, it is important to understand how to calculate potential fall distance to avoid contact with a lower level“. A lower level can be the decking of a lower floor, an obstruction below you or even the ground.

Whenever the distance from your anchor point to that lower level is less than 18.5 feet a shock absorbing fall protection lanyard cannot be used. Take a look at Miller’s diagram below to see why.

miller-free-fall-diagram

Miller explains the above diagram as follows:

  1. When using a six foot shock absorbing lanyard and a full-body harness, first add the length of the shock-absorbing lanyard [6 ft.] to the maximum elongation of the shock absorber during deceleration [3-1/2 ft.] to the average height of a worker [6 ft.].
  2. Then, add a safety factor of 3 ft. to allow for the possibility of an improperly fit harness, a taller than average worker and/or a miscalculation of distance. 
  3. The total, 18-1/2 ft., is the suggested safe fall clearance distance, the height at which you must attach to an anchorage to minimize the risk of contact with a lower level.

This means that if a shock absorbing lanyard is used below 18.5 feet, the “lower level” will be struck in the event of a fall. This problem is easily solved.

Shock Absorbing Lanyard Alternatives

A shorter shock absorbing lanyard will provide a few more feet of leeway (like the below 3′ lanyard). However, it also greatly limits the room a worker has to operate. In most cases, a shorter lanyard will not be possible.

Gemtor 3 Foot Shock Absorbing Lanyard

The best way to solve this problem is to use a self retracting lifeline. Most self retracting lifelines decelerate much sooner than a shock absorbing lanyard’s 3.5′ deceleration. This reduces potential fall distance.

Unlike a shock absorbing lanyard, a self retracting lifeline contains no slack. Depending on where the SRL is mounted, this factor can also reduce potential fall distance.

Please note, however, that the potential fall distance will still need to be calculated when using a self retracting lifeline.

DBI Sala Self Retracting Lifeline    miller-scorpion-fall-limiter

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All the pics are linked to products at Major Safety. There you can get additional info, purchase, or contact us with more questions. We are happy to help.

by Corby Amos

DBI Sala Self Retracting Lifeline

Self Retracting Lifeline and Winch Inspection

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How often do self retracting lifelines and rescue winches need to be inspected and recertified? Knowing the difference between an inspection and a recertification will help answer this question.

Miller Manhandler Tripod Rescue Winch    DBI Sala Self Retracting Lifeline

Inspection – Rescue Winch and Self Retracting Lifeline

The inspection is to be done by the company who purchased the winch or lifeline. There are two kinds of inspections.

The first is the inspection required before each use of the winch or lifeline. This inspection is done by the end user – the person or persons actually using the device.

The second is an inspection required anywhere from monthly to annually, depending on the manufacturer. This inspection is to be done by the company’s designated competent person – not the end user. What is a competent person? See Here – OSHA competent person.

Typically these inspections involve a check of the braking mechanism, the cable, the device housing, labels, load indicator, and hardware like the snap hook. The device’s instruction manual will give details on what to inspect and how to inspect it.

If the inspection of the rescue winch or self retracting lifeline reveals any problems (details for these would be in the manual) the device is to be taken out of service. Recertification will be required before the device can be put back into service.

Recertification – Rescue Winch and Self Retracting Lifeline

If the end user inspection or the competent person inspection find any “part of the system that appears to be damaged”, or find inconsistencies as outlined in the rescue winch or self retracting lifeline instruction manual, the device must be sent back to the factory for recertification.

If the device is involved in a braking or rescue incident, it will also need to be sent back to the factory for recertification (see device’s instruction manual for details).

The recertification process is facilitated by a distributor and performed by the factory. The distributor will obtain an RMA from the factory and provide that information to the customer. The price of the recertification depends entirely on the manufacturer, the item and the problem.

Below are some helpful examples of the above requirements from Miller and DBI Sala:

All the pics are linked to products at Major Safety. There you can get additional info, purchase, or contact us with more questions. We are happy to help.

by Corby Amos

Miller Confined Space Rescue Tripod

Confined Space Rescue Tripod – Which One?

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When shopping for a confined space entry rescue tripod system, it doesn’t take long to realize just how varied the choices are. These differences make it difficult to determine which tripod system is best suited to your application and budget. Below are a few things to consider that will improve your chances of making the best decision.

KNOW YOUR CONFINED SPACE ENTRY TRIPOD REQUIREMENTS

A tripod rescue system is intended to help comply with OSHA confined space (1910.146) and fall protection (1910.132) standards (States may have their own standards as well).

Specifically, a properly equipped tripod system will help you meet requirements for – (1) lowering/raising; (2) fall protection; (3) rescue/retrieval. Think of each one as a single leg on a “requirements stool”. If the stool is missing one leg, it falls over – it doesn’t meet the requirements.

KNOW YOUR CONFINED SPACE RESCUE TRIPOD COMPONENTS

There are a number of tripod components available to safely comply with these requirements – to build the “requirements stool”. It is here that the differences between systems should begin to make sense to you.

A confined space tripod system can consist of a mixture of the following components – (1) the rescue/retrieval winch; (2) the combination rescue winch/self retracting lifeline; (3) a self retracting lifeline.

When looking at the components keep in mind this simple axiom – no one component can be all three legs on the stool.

Rescue/Retrieval Winch

The basic rescue/retrieval winch is manually operated by hand. It comes in varying lengths and cable materials. The norm is usually a galvanized cable ranging from 50′ to 65′.

Of the 3 requirements cited above (the “requirements stool”) – lowering/raising, fall protection, rescue/retrieval – which ones will the basic winch fulfill? It serves as the raising/lowering and rescue/retrieval. This means that the fall protection requirement is missing. It can be met by the use of a ladder, self retracting lifeline or a combination winch/lifeline.

Miller Confined Space Rescue TripodFrenchCreek Confined Space Rescue Tripod

Combination Rescue Winch/Self Retracting Lifeline

The combination unit combines both the rescue capacity of the basic winch and the convenience of a self retracting lifeline in one unit. With the handle engaged, one cranks the worker up or down if needed. With the handle disengaged, no cranking is required – the cable extends and retracts automatically with the worker. It comes in varying lengths and cable materials. The norm is usually a galvanized cable of 50′.

Of the 3 requirements cited above (the “requirements stool”) – lowering/raising, fall protection, rescue/retrieval – which ones will the combination winch/lifeline fulfill? It serves as fall protection and rescue/retrieval when used with a ladder. It serves as fall protection when used with a basic winch. It serves as rescue/retrieval when used with a stand alone self retracting lifeline and a ladder.

What about the raising/lowering requirement? It depends – some manufacturers do not approve their combination units for routine raising/lowering. So you would still need a ladder or basic winch to fulfill the raising/lower requirement.

So what is the benefit of this component? It provides rescue redundancy when used with a basic winch, and is a convenience when a ladder is present. Because the cable can extend and retract automatically with the worker, the attendant does not have to crank the worker up or down the ladder like he would with the basic winch.

Are there any drawbacks? (1) They are expensive and are the reason some tripod systems are so much more expensive than others. (2) And in an emergency situation the user has to remember how to engage the handle for rescue. This could be a problem for some workers.

DBI Sala Sala Lift II Tripod SystemFrenchCreek R50G Combination Winch SRL Tripod System

Self Retracting Lifeline

The self retracting lifeline extends and retracts automatically with the worker. It is hung from the top of the tripod by means of a carabiner attached to an eyebolt. It comes in varying lengths and cable materials. The norm is usually a galvanized cable of 30′ – 50′.

Of the 3 requirements cited above (the “requirements stool”) – lowering/raising, fall protection, rescue/retrieval – which ones will the combination winch fulfill? The self retracting lifeline is always fall protection.

Protecta Rebel Self Retracting LifelineDBI Sala Ultralok Self Retracting Lifeline

Our Most Popular Systems

Tripods with Basic Winch:

Tripods with Combination Winch/Lifeline:

Self Retracting Lifelines:

 

by Corby Amos