Guide to Fall Protection Equipment and Accessories

It is important to keep the safety of people who work at heights. So they can continue working without disruption from accidents. This article will explain high-altitude work, discuss the equipment and gear that keeps people safe from falls, and share information about staying safe at heights.

What Does ‘Working at High Altitude’ Mean?

Working at high altitude, also known as high-altitude work, is any task performed at a height of two meters or more above the ground. Although various countries define it differently, they all recognize its key role in causing occupational injuries and fatalities across industries.

This definition is critical in identifying situations that require specialized fall protection equipment to maintain workers’ safety. Employers must equip fall protection equipment and accessories for employees working at height.

What is Fall Protection Equipment?

1. Definition:

Fall protection equipment is a series of tools to protect people from accidental falls while working at heights. The primary purpose of fall prevention equipment is to offer safety to individuals working at heights by minimizing the risk of falls and associated injuries.

This includes a wide range of personal protective equipment, such as full-body harnesses, lanyards, retractable lifelines, and physical equipment like guardrails, screens, barricades, and anchorages. Using appropriate fall prevention equipment, workers can carry out tasks at elevated positions with reduced risk.

2. Applications:

These tools are essential across various industries, including:

• Construction and Manufacturing: Construction, building maintenance, ship maintenance, bridge engineering, painting.
• Utilities: Electrical, gas, telecommunications - for line assembly and repair tasks.
• Environmental Cleaning: Building exterior and window cleaning.
• Public Services: Maintenance of streetlights and traffic signals, tree trimming.
• Others: Advertising signage installation, warehouse transportation.

Three Main Types of Fall Protection Systems

1. Work Positioning Systems

Using these systems, workers can be securely positioned while performing tasks at heights. Work positioning systems include anchor points, safety harnesses, work chairs, connectors, and self-retracting lifelines (SRLs). In confined spaces, workers may be lowered into the space using a mechanical winching system, which makes it smooth to save them if necessary. Ropes can also be used to access work areas at height, allowing technicians to perform their job while suspended in a harness.

2. Fall Arrest Systems

Workers can stop if they fall off by using fall arrest systems. Fall arrest systems have anchor points, safety harnesses, and connectors. The equipment looks and works like what you might use for indoor rock climbing. Because this equipment grants a short-distance fall, workers have more freedom to move around, especially when walking on a narrow surface, like a construction beam.

3. Fall Restraint Systems

Fall restraint systems keep people secure by preventing them from reaching areas where they could fall. These systems consist of anchor points, full-body harnesses, and self-retracting lifelines. Unlike other safety systems, fall restraint systems stop workers from reaching a fall hazard in the first place. These systems are great for roofers and construction workers who work near unprotected edges. They are also perfect for situations where employees operate in a small area on an elevated platform.

Fall Protection Equipment and Accessories

Here's an overview of the fall protection equipment and accessories:

1. Anchorages (Anchor Points):

Anchor points are crucial components that provide a secure attachment point. These anchors attach to an employee’s fall arrest system and must be capable of holding a significant amount of weight. It is necessary to position anchors as high up as possible to offer an employee enough space to fall before the system activates.

2. Body Harnesses:

Full-body harnesses distribute the forces of a fall across the shoulders, thighs, and pelvis, thereby reducing the risk of injury. They feature a buckle for fastening and are considered one of the most important pieces of fall protection equipment.

3. Connectors (Carabiners):

Carabiners and other connectors secure connections between fall protection system components, such as harnesses, lanyards, and anchor points. Made from high-strength materials like aluminum or steel, carabiners must meet strict safety standards to verify their ability to resist forces during a fall. They often feature locking mechanisms to prevent accidental disengagement, adding extra security.

▲Check out NAL HON’s high-quality carabiners!

4. Descent and Rescue Devices:

Descent and rescue devices are crucial for emergencies where a controlled descent is necessary. These devices lower workers themselves or others from heights in an emergency, such as a fire or structural failure. They manage the descent speed, preventing rapid falls and offering a smooth, controlled lowering process. This capability allows rescuers to reach and evacuate individuals in distress without danger.

5. Energy Absorbers:

These fall protection gear, often integrated into lanyards, reduce the impact force of a fall. This reduction in force lowers the risk of injury, particularly to the spine and other sensitive areas. By managing the deceleration of the fall, energy absorbers improve the effectiveness of the fall protection system.

6. Lanyards:

Lanyards are flexible lines that connect a worker's harness to an anchor point. They are an integral part of a fall protection system, ensuring that workers always remain securely attached. Lanyards come in different lengths and materials, including webbing and wire rope, and may feature built-in energy absorbers to enhance safety further.

7. Fall Arrestors:

Fall arrestors, such as Self-Retracting Lifelines (SRLs), are dynamic devices that adjust the length of the lifeline based on the worker's movement. These devices provide greater freedom of movement and can quickly arrest any fall. In the event of a fall, SRLs lock the lifeline, stopping the descent almost immediately and reducing the distance fallen. This immediate response decreases the fall's impact force and potential injury to the user.

8. Rope Grabs:

Rope grabs are mechanical devices that travel along a vertical lifeline, locking onto the rope to arrest a fall. These devices are used in conjunction with a fall protection harness and a lifeline. Rope grabs allow for vertical movement while providing fall arrest capabilities by automatically locking in place if a rapid descent is detected. Workers can climb safely, knowing that the rope grab will stop their fall if they slip.

9. Guardrails and Safety Railings:

Guardrails and safety railings are passive fall protection systems that provide physical barriers to prevent falls. These barriers, installed around edges, walkways, and elevated platforms stop workers from inadvertently stepping off the edge.

10. Safety Nets (Webbing):

Another passive fall protection system, safety nets, catches falling workers and objects. Installed below work areas, these nets are mostly made from high-strength webbing that can absorb the impact of a fall, reducing the likelihood of injury.

11. Other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) contains a wide range of gear to protect workers from hazards, including steel-toed shoes, face shields, and helmets.

◆ Note:
Always use fall protection equipment and accessories according to the manufacturer's instructions. Remember to keep up with regular maintenance and replace worn-out parts on time.

NAL HON: Your Trusted Manufacturer of Fall Protection Equipment and Accessories

Taken together, fall protection equipment is vital for protection in high-altitude work environments. Understanding and using the appropriate equipment and accessories can decrease the risk of falls and associated injuries. We have also shared an introduction to each of the fall protection equipment and accessories. We believe that you have acquired valuable knowledge about them through this guide.

If you are looking for a professional manufacturer of fall protection equipment and accessories, NAL HON Industrial is your best choice. NAL HON Industrial offers a wide range of high-quality fall protection products and OEM/ODM services. Choose our reliable equipment and accessories for staff safety and efficiency in the workplace! Please do not hesitate to contact us or email us at info@nalhon.com.tw. Our dedicated team of experts is ready to help you with solutions.