Many construction and building companies today rely on Fall Arrest Systems in order to safely hold their employees from falling. Safety is paramount in any environment, and it is equally important in the construction industry. Employees can be severely injured or even killed if they fall whilst on a building site. For this reason it is imperative that all employees use suitable fall protection equipment.
The most common fall arrest systems are used within the construction industry. They use personal protective equipment against falls from height. Single point anchors, horizontal lifelines with metal grab hooks, and restricting length lanyards allow employees to do jobs at heights safely without going outside of the limits. Fall arrest systems prevent further falls in place. This will ensure that there is no danger of damage occurring to a scaffold or other construction work platform whilst a person is being lowered or raised from it.
Workers need to know the risks they are putting themselves through by working in heights. Using fall arrest systems will reduce the risk by a large proportion. A fall arrest system is an effective means of limiting the chances of dangerous falls. It can also stop a fall before it has taken place. Once a worker has fallen, then the fall arrest systems will ensure that they do not fall again.
There are different fall arrest systems available depending upon the environment in which they need to be used. The most common is the double horizontal lifeline system. It uses a number of double horizontal lifeline anchors to suspend a worker from a fixed point at the top of a scaffold. These anchor points are located on each side of the ladder. Two people can stand on either side of the ladder and attach their lifelines to the lifeline anchors to prevent them falling to the ground below.
A further type of fall arrest systems and lanyards uses a waist belt that attaches to a harness attached to the worker’s waist or torso. The two main advantages of this type of fall arrest equipment is that the wearer is less likely to suffer a serious injury, and the harness will automatically adjust itself as the person climbs to higher positions. This reduces the risk of injury to the worker by allowing him to climb without the need for manual assistance. The waist belt also gives the worker more body support, which is important during long climbs.
A personal fall arrest system is another option that is available to people who are at risk of falling. A free fall unit attaches to the person in a harness and provides him with the additional body support that may be required when working at heights. The personal fall arrest system attaches at the waist or torso of the user.
Fall arrest equipment and devices can be a great way to protect your staff as well as yourself from potential fall hazards while on the job. When purchasing fall arrest equipment or a fall-restraint device you should first consider the type of work they will be used for and secondly consider how much protection is required. Some forms of safety fall restraint are more suited to certain types of jobs, for example a fall arrest device may not be appropriate for an airline flight crew as it is not feasible to restrain the entire body. Similarly, some fall arrest systems are more suited to specific industries, for example there are restraints designed for power lifters. You should make sure you select the right product depending on the environment where you or your workers will be working.
If you are looking for a suitable fall restraint you should take into account the type of work the worker is undertaking, the nature of their job, and any other pertinent factors. For example, a worker working in a building site will require different fall arrest equipment and a worker operating machinery in an oil refinery may need specific equipment designed for deceleration. Regardless of the industry, there are several specialist manufacturers who can supply protective gear for just about anyone. A quick online search will reveal all the relevant details to ensure you choose the ideal fall restraint for your particular needs.