How Strong Do Fall Protection Devices Need To Be?
Fall protection devices like carabiners and harnesses are meant to protect you from falling, so they must be pretty strong, right? Well, that depends.
The devices that are used for fall protection come in a variety of different designs and strengths. There are many different industries that require workers to be protected from potential falls, so the manufacturers of these devices make them accommodate a variety of different needs.
Some of the devices are meant to protect the user from falls of only a few feet, while others are designed to stop a person from falling hundreds of feet. The strength and design of the device will often dictate how much it costs. Each device is different, but most fall protection systems will have a safety factor range between 2:1 and 10:1, with most in the 2:1 to 4:1 range.
This means that the device is designed to support two or ten times the weight it is rated for. For example, if a fall protection system has a safety factor of 6:1, it can support six times the amount of weight that it is rated for without breaking.
Let’s put it this way: if you’re using a fall protection device correctly, it will be strong enough to support a lot more than just your weight. And you don’t want to find out the hard way how much weight that is!
Different Types of Fall Protection Devices
There are many different types of fall protection devices, including:
- Anchors: Used to secure lanyards, ropes, or harnesses to a firm structure.
- Body harnesses: Worn by the worker to help distribute the force of a fall across the body.
- Lanyards: Connects the worker’s harness to an anchor point.
- Retractable lifelines: A type of lanyard that automatically locks in place if the worker falls.
- Roof hatch latches: A fall protection device that is attached to the opening of a roof hatch to help prevent falls through the hatch.
How do fall protection devices work?
There are four basic components to any fall protection system: an anchor, a body support device, a connecting device, and a means of the arrest. The anchor is the point at which the system is attached to a fixed structure. It can be either temporary or permanent and is typically made of metal or concrete.
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The body support device is worn by the worker and provides protection from falls by supporting the weight of the worker in the event of a fall. This can be a full-body harness, chest harness, waist belt, or body sling.
The connecting device attaches the body support device to the anchor point and can be either fixed or adjustable. Common connecting devices include lanyards, shock-absorbing lanyards, wire rope assemblies, and rigid rail systems.
Finally, the means of arrest is what actually stops the worker from falling. This can be accomplished with a variety of systems including deceleration devices (such as shock-absorbing lanyards), fall arresting devices (such as personal fall arrest systems), or work positioning systems (which keep the worker in a safe position without preventing a fall).
Tips for using fall protection devices:
- Inspect your fall protection devices before each use.
- Make sure you understand how to use your fall protection device before using it.
- Do not use if damaged.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for using your fall protection device.
Fall Protection Device Standards
You can view online safety standards for fall protection at ANSI/ASSE Z359.1–2007, Minimum Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems, and Components. These standards provide guidance on what minimum performance criteria a device must meet in order to be certified. The standard also includes guidance on how the device is to be tested.
This article was originally published at SelectSafety.net.
