Fall Arrest Guidance – How to Wear a Full Body Harness

There is so much more to wearing a full body harness to work than simply throwing it on and hoping for the best.
Every type of full body harness has to be worn in the same way, whether it is standard polyester non elasticised webbing, or elasticised harnesses. There are a number of points on the harness you need to be aware of.

On the rear of the harness is the Dorsal Plate, this could be rubber, plastic or form part of the harness webbing pattern. This piece is extremely important as it prevents the “D” ring from slamming into the back of your head in fall and converting the harness in a noose. The “D” ring connects your harness to the anchorage point via intermediate attachments. Some harness have an adjustment for height via buckles on shoulder straps, the simplest rule for this type of harness is that you should not be able to touch the Dorsal Plate by reaching from behind your head or by reaching up from the lumber or lower back region. Modern harness design has taken this feature out of the system to reduce miss-use of the harness, this type of harness may be elasticised to encourage correct fitting and for the users comfort.

On the front of the harness should be a chest strap, some harnesses have a metal buckle and possibly a “D” ring on the front. This is to provide the user with a way of attaching to an anchor or safe system of work, for example ladder systems. The important thing to note with type of attachment that unless the harness is worn correctly; there is a risk the “D” ring and buckle can strike the user in the neck and under the chin if you are involved in a fall.
Some harness designs have replaced this with soft loops as a front connection as this feature makes the harness safer for the user.

The chest strap, without a front attachment is much smaller and made of softer webbing, the chest strap is there to stop the shoulder straps from parting and allowing the user to fall out the front of their harness.
However in both cases it is important to take care when attaching your safety equipment in relation to the “D” ring. If the anchorage point is behind you then use the rear “D” ring and vice versa if the anchor point is in front of you.

Once you have put the harness on, like a jacket, and adjusted the chest strap to so it is tight but comfortable, we need address the leg straps, buckles and sliders, there is more to it than just stepping into harness.
Stepping into a commercial full body harness is considered to be extremely bad practice. Not only does it increase the risk of slips trips and falls; if the harness is placed on the ground it could pick up all kinds of dirt and contamination. There is also a risk of complacency setting in; where the user steps into the harness in a rush and fails to adjust it appropriately. In a fall a slack harness can lead to death or worse, extreme testicular trauma and severe rectal damage.

The easiest way to gage the correct tension of the leg straps is to tighten it until you can just about get 2 fingers between the webbing and your leg. Two finger tension means placing the middle and index finger perpendicular to the webbing around the front area of the leg.

The final thing and probably the most important thing is to lock your harness, every harness with a buckle used for adjustment should have at least one slider to lock it. If the harness is not locked and you are involved in a fall the movment of the webbing through the buckle can cause the bar tack to shock load against it. The bar tack is rolled over and lightly stitched it is only there to keep the sliders and buckles on the harness. The energy, in a fall, may exceed the strength of this stitching and it will rip apart allowing the bar tack to unroll and pass through the buckle. The end result is that you will fall through the bottom of the harness.

It doesn’t matter if you are wearing the harness correctly, if it’s damaged it’s useless and will offer you no protection what so ever. Harnesses need to be inspected on a regular basis to establish they are safe to use.

Leading Edge Safety currently have more than 5,000 people every single year go through height safety training to not only gain the certification they need but also the confidence and competence to work safely at height.

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 Rescue Legislation

Interpretation Of The HSE Enforcement Policy

As It Affects Rescue When Working at Height&

How to Discharge Your Legal Responsibilities

 

It’s important before we look at specific legislation for rescue, that we consider what the HSE is trying to achieve and how it goes about doing this.

The way rescue legislation impacts your business is relative to the way the HSE enforces legislation and what the HSE is trying to achieve with its enforcement policy.

HSE Enforcement Policy

The appropriate use of enforcement powers, including prosecution, is important, both to:

• · Secure compliance with the law, and to:
• · Ensure that those who have duties under it may be held to account for failures to safeguard health, safety and welfare.

 

We can see here that the HSE are using their powers of enforcement including their power to prosecute to achieve two primary aims, one being to make you comply with the law and secondly to hold to account those of you who have responsibility and duty of care in these areas.

 

HSE The purpose and method of enforcement

1. The ultimate purpose of the enforcing authorities is to ensure that duty holders manage and control risks effectively, thus preventing harm.

2 The purpose of enforcement is to:

• Ensure that duty holders take action to deal immediately with serious risks
• Promote and achieve sustained compliance with the law
• Ensure that duty holders who breach health and safety requirements, and directors or managers who fail in their responsibilities, may be held to account, which may include bringing alleged offenders before the courts in England and Wales, or recommending prosecution in Scotland, in the circumstances set out later in this policy.

 

Enforcement is distinct from civil claims for compensation

 

What we see here is the HSE using enforcement of the legislation to create the necessary pressure to make you focus on what you have to do to manage and control risks on your site, and so prevent harm to your operatives.

Also to force you to take action immediately where there is a serious risk.

In other words it’s not acceptable to sit on your hands pondering the meaning of life while your operative’s lives are at risk. As soon as you are aware of the risk you must take action immediately, or the HSE will come  and get you.

It’s also worth noting that HSE enforcement is separate and distinct from any civil actions that may be taken against you for compensation.

 

 

HSE Proportionality

• In practice, applying the principle of proportionality means that enforcing authorities should take particular account of how far the duty holder has fallen short of what the law requires, and the extent of the risks to people arising from the breach.
• Some health and safety duties are specific and absolute. Others require action so far as is reasonably practicable. Enforcing authorities should apply the principle of proportionality in relation to both kinds of duty.

 

As we go through the Rescue Regulations it is important to consider Proportionality, by considering the extent of the risks and how far short of the law you may be presently operating.

And in doing this we will consider regulations which are:

1. Specific and absolute (you must do exactly as legislation says) and

2. Those which require action as far is reasonably practical.

Deciding what is reasonably practicable to control risks involves the exercise of judgment, that is, what’s the best and most reasonable you can do to comply with this regulation given your current circumstances and resources.

An example of specific and absolute would be: The Work Height Regulations 2005 Regulation 4 (1) & (2) which says, “Every employer shall ensure that all work at height includes planning for emergencies and rescue”. You’ve got to do that exactly, there is no room for flexibility.

An example of reasonable and practical would be: The Work at Height Regulations 2005 Regulation Schedule 5 part 1 (1) (b) which says, “The user and a sufficient number of available persons have received competent training specific to the operations envisaged, including rescue procedures”.

In this instance the HSE are expecting you to use reasonable judgment in two areas:

1. sufficient number of trained operatives (how many is sufficient? giving consideration to things like absenteeism and holidays) and

2. Competent training – specific in this instance to your operations and the provision for rescue. So how do you decide what is competent?

It would be very beneficial for management and those responsible for employees working at height to go through the WAH 2005 regulations and consider whether they are:

• Specific and Absolute
• Reasonable and Practical

This is about discharging your LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Further guidance can be found in BS 8437: 2005

Consideration should also be given to Moral and ethical obligations

The Grounds on which The HSE will normally prosecute or recommend prosecution are:

Enforcing authorities should normally prosecute, or recommend prosecution, where, following an investigation or other regulatory contact, one or more of the following circumstances apply. Where:

• Death was a result of a breach of the legislation.
• The gravity of an alleged offense, taken together with the seriousness of any actual or potential harm, or the general record and approach  he offender warrants it.
• There has been reckless disregard of health and safety requirements.
• There have been repeated breaches which give rise to significant risk, or persistent and significant poor compliance.
• Work has been carried out without or in serious non-compliance with an appropriate license or safety case.
• A duty holder’s standard of managing health and safety is found to be far below what is required by health and safety law and to be giving rise to significant risk.
• There has been a failure to comply with an improvement or prohibition notice; or there has been a repetition of a breach that was subject to a formal caution.
• False information has been supplied willfully, or there has been an intent to deceive, in relation to a matter which gives rise to significant risk.
• Inspectors have been intentionally obstructed in the lawful course of their duties.

Enforcing authorities should identify and prosecute or recommend prosecution of individuals if they consider that a prosecution is warranted.

In particular, they should consider the management chain and the role played by individual directors and managers, and should take action against them where the inspection or investigation reveals that the offense was committed with their consent or connivance or to have been attributable to neglect on their part.

(Connivance = Knowledge of, and active or passive consent to wrongdoing)

Where appropriate, enforcing authorities should seek disqualification of directors under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986.

It’s clear that the HSE looks at the role played by individual directors and managers whether the offence was with your consent or simply passive neglect.

 

Action by the courts

Health and safety law gives the courts considerable scope to punish offenders and to deter others, including imprisonment for some offenses.

Unlimited fines may be imposed by higher courts. HSE will continue to seek to raise the courts’ awareness of the gravity of health and safety offenses and of the full extent of their sentencing powers, while recognizing that it is for the courts to decide whether or not someone is guilty and what penalty if any to impose on conviction.

Death at Work

Where there has been a breach of the law leading to a work-related death, enforcing authorities need to consider whether the circumstances of the case might justify a charge of manslaughter (culpable homicide in Scotland).

The police are responsible for deciding whether to pursue a manslaughter investigation and whether to refer a case to the CPS to consider possible manslaughter charges.

The enforcing authorities are responsible for investigating possible health and safety offenses. If in the course of their health and safety investigation, the enforcing authorities find evidence suggesting manslaughter, they should pass it on to the police. If the police or the CPS decides not to pursue a manslaughter case, the enforcing authorities will normally bring a health and safety prosecution in accordance with this policy.

In Scotland, responsibility for investigating sudden or suspicious deaths rests with the Procurator Fiscal. Unless a prosecution takes place in the same circumstances, the Procurator Fiscal is required to hold a Fatal Accident Inquiry into the circumstances of a death resulting from a work related accident.

Penalties for Health and Safety Offences

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (the HSW Act), section 33 (as amended) sets out the offences and maximum penalties under health and safety legislation.

Failing to comply with an improvement or prohibition notice, or a court remedy order (issued under the HSW Act sections 21, 22 and 42 respectively):

• Lower court maximum £20 000 and/or 6 months’ imprisonment
• Higher court maximum Unlimited fine and/or 2 years’ imprisonment

Breach of sections 2-6 of the HSW Act, which set out the general duties of employers, self-employed persons, manufacturers and suppliers to safeguard the health and safety of workers and members of the public who may be affected by work activities:

• Lower court maximum £20 000
• Higher court maximum Unlimited fine

Other breaches of the HSW Act, and breaches of ‘relevant statutory provisions’

Under the Act, which include all health and safety regulations. These impose both general and more specific requirements, such as requirements to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment or to provide suitable personal protective equipment:

• Lower court maximum £5000
• Higher court maximum Unlimited fine

Summary

We have now covered how rescue legislation impacts your business and how the HSE plans to enforce to enforce legislation and by now you should have an idea of what’s required to discharge your legal responsibilities.

Popularity: 17% [?]

Popularity: 14% [?]

Anchorage Guidance

Chemical, expansion, ground, temporary, permanent are all types of fall arrest anchor, but which one would you choose and on what basis would you make that choice? It can be a daunting task especially if there are external pressures from clients, principal contractors, designers and even your employees to get the project completed on time.

There are a few simple rules that should make life easier when choosing the correct type of fall arrest anchor.

Anchorages can be broken down into four main types; the first thing you have to do is consider the intermediate attachment equipment you will be using. Intermediate attachment is an all encompassing phrase used to describe the safety equipment that connects the user and their harness to the anchorage point.

It is this choice of equipment that needs to be taken into account as certain intermediate attachments require a higher standard of anchorage testing and certification. And subsequently your method statements and risk assessments will need to be more detailed and complex.

The main types:

Fall Arrest Temporary Anchors & Locations

This is a type of anchor that is used with Fall Arrest equipment, for example shock absorbing lanyards and inertia reels. “Temporary” means you can use it for that moment in time, it is temporary for you to use but it may be permanent to the structure. The most important aspect in choosing this type is that it has to withstand a dynamic force of 12kN which gives a safety factor of 2:1 as fall arrest equipment has to limit the arrest forces to 6kN. This type of anchor might include the steel structure of a building, such as a structural column or a girder. Selecting the appropriate suitability of anchors is usually a decision which is made based on experience and competence. However if there is any doubt you should consult your architects, chartered engineers, or other such competent person ensuring that you have written documentation to support this decision.

Anchor points should be chosen in consideration of the free fall distance required should the user fall. Where possible the fall arrest anchor should be above head height to minimise the fall distance required. Consideration should also be given when choosing the anchor location as to avoid the possibility of creating a pendulum swing fall.

Fall Arrest Permanent Anchors & Locations

This type of anchor is used with Fall Arrest equipment, as mentioned above. “Permanent” means an anchor that is designed to be nothing else but an anchor for fall arrest equipment; this includes any elements or components which are incorporated into the anchor point. For example, eye bolts, permanently installed wire or rail systems and dead weight anchors. The most important aspect of permanent anchors is that they must be installed, tested and certified to BS EN 795 by trained and competent people. That certificate must be attached to the permanent anchor and be legible. It is recommended that for class A1 anchors – e.g. eye bolts – that these are installed by a qualified competent person. Further advice on installation and periodic proof loading of class A1 anchor devices conforming to BS EN 795, which includes anchor devices designed to be secured to vertical, horizontal and inclined surfaces, e.g. walls, columns, and lintels can be found in BS7883. Also included in BS EN 795 are dead weight anchors – class E, anchors for use with horizontal flexible life lines – class – C, and slings – class

• Deadweight and counterbalance anchor systems

Consideration needs to be given to the cantilever and frictional effects of this type of anchor. It is important that attention is given to wet or icy conditions as this can significantly affect the frictional performance of the anchor. BS 8437:2005 recommends that the anchor should be checked ensuring that it does not move when subjected to a load of four times that which will be applied in a work positioning situation, it further says that users should also consider the possibility of rescue, which might involve the weight of two persons.

• Permanent horizontal flexible anchor lifeline

When installing a horizontal flexible anchor lifeline special consideration needs to be given to the deflection of the line when under fall arrest load, and particular attention needs to be given to the position of the anchor line supports when assessing the required free space below the user in case of a fall. Maximum distance between anchors, and the number of operatives attached to the anchor line must be strictly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Anchor Slings

Anchor slings can be made of textiles, steel wire rope, or chain. Textile anchor slings should have a minimum breaking strength of 22kN and the minimum strength of anchor slings made from wire rope or chain should be 15kN. Due to the weakening effect of looping anchor slings or lanyards through themselves – a miss configuration known as larks footing or choking – should be avoided, unless they are specifically designed to allow this, for example by provision of special loops along their length, or designed to a higher rating to make an allowance for the miss configuration e.g. wire slings rated to 24 kN or higher.

Adjustable Restraint Anchors

Restraint is a system of working that allows an operative to reach the leading edge or fall hazard and no further – if used correctly, thus preventing them from falling. Adjustable restraint allows the operative to set the restraint system to suit the task at that moment in time.

This is done by setting the distance from the anchor point to the fall hazard using a rope grab cam device which fixes the correct length of rope taking into account the length of connectors etc. This prevents the user going beyond the point at which they could fall. it’s “>It’s an ideal way of working for the roofing industry as the fall hazard changes almost on a minute by minute basis.

The anchor point for adjustable restraint must be able to with stand a dynamic force of 12kN because adjustable restraints must have a fall arrest back-up (EN353-2), in the event of the system being misused. To reduce the likelihood of this type of system being misused it is recommended that all personnel who use adjustable restraint systems receive competent training and certification.

Fixed Length Restraint Anchors

Just as for adjustable restraint systems, a fixed length restraint lanyard allows the operative to reach the edge of a fall hazard but no further and so prevents them from falling. The system is a fixed length and therefore the anchor only has to be able to withstand 3 times the body weight of the user, this is in case the operative trips – or for some reason runs at the open edge!! Where several users are connected to the same anchor point it’s recommended that at least three times the combined body weight of the users is used.

Working in fixed restraint prevents the operative falling and so removes some of the fall related issues, such as suspension trauma, fall height clearance etc.

If misused in such away as to allow a user to fall the consequences can result in serious injury or death.

Conclusion

The selection and positioning of anchors is a critical element of working at height. Life and death hangs on the choice, and it goes without question that they should be utterly reliable and have an adequate margin of strength to be able to withstand the dynamic and static forces that could be applied to them in service. Choosing the correct anchor should be done on a risk assessment matrix basis and be selected using the experience and knowledge of a competent person; if there is any doubt, a suitably qualified person should be used to certify the integrity of the anchor selection.

Leading Edge Safety provides courses which train delegates – enabling them to gain a recognised competency – to work at height, including the selection of suitable anchors.

Falls from height are one of the leading causes of death and serious injury in the work place, with a high personal cost to families and the subsequent financial cost to businesses.
Falls from height are one of the leading causes of death and serious injury in the work place, with a high personal cost to families and the subsequent financial cost to businesses.

With more than 50 years of experience in technical <a href=”http://www.leadingedgesafety.co.uk” >height safety</a> training and products, we have determined not only to provide the best fall protection and height safety training possible, but to also continuously develop new ideas, further our technological expertise, understand and implement new techniques and to repeatedly set higher standards of safe<a href=”http://www.leadingedgesafety.co.uk” > working at height.</a>

Popularity: 21% [?]

Rescue Plan

From time to time we are asked if we can provide method statement templates. Unfortunately these have to be unique and created by yourselves as is applicable to your site, working conditions, equipment and operatives capabilities. It just isn’t possible to have a one size fits all generic method statement.

However we have tried to help by taking the frame work from the planning section of our (73 page) Red Rescue Book and created a guide template for rescue planning, this we hope will get your creative juices flowing. At worst if you use this template as is, it will be better than having nothing planned in the event of needing to carry out a rescue at height.

Get your free rescue method statement template  and guide here.

Popularity: 100% [?]

Shock Absorbing Lanyard Guidance

Falls from height are one of the leading causes of death and serious injury in the work place, with a high personal cost to families and the subsequent financial cost to businesses. It is incumbent upon employers to mitigate this by either designing out the fall hazard or by providing adequate restraint or fall arrest systems.

A personal fall prevention or arrest system comprises of three components:

• An anchorage point
• Body harness
• Intermediate attachment – connecting (tethering) device between harness and anchor point

Non-Shock Absorbing Lanyards (restraint lanyards)
In a fall restraint system a lanyard connection is used between the anchor point and the body harness preventing the user from reaching the fall area. If a non-shock absorbing type of lanyard is used the utmost care must be taken that it is not possible for the user to gain access to a fall area. A non-shock absorbing lanyard must never be used to arrest a fall, as the arrest forces will be too high without an energy absorber to lower those forces.

Shock Absorbing Lanyards
Alternatively a personal fall arrest system protects the user should they fall, by arresting the fall. In this system the connecting lanyard bears the greater forces during a fall.

The strength of an anchor point can easily be identified with training, and the harness has its arrest forces distributed throughout the body and over many webbing components. A shock absorbing lanyard has only one strength member to withstand the fall forces and can easily be compromised by physical damage and incorrect storage. And yet it is not unusual for harnesses to be replaced more frequently by employers than the connecting lanyard.

Lanyards must be inspected frequently (see lanyard inspection later in this article)

There are two basic categories of shock absorbing lanyard, fixed length energy absorbing tear webbing lanyard, and adjustable length energy absorbing cam lanyard.

Fixed length – shock absorbing lanyards
This type of lanyard is usually a webbing or rope lanyard which includes a shock absorbing element made from specially woven inner webbing that smoothly tears, decelerating forces over a given length reducing the fall arrest forces to a level which is safe and avoids injury.

Pros: Low cost, lightweight, easily portable.
Cons: fixed length- providing limited reach, often needing frequent repositioning, easily damaged-becoming unsafe.

Fixed length shock absorbing lanyards are available in a variety of materials and choice is dependent upon the working environment and application. These materials are mostly: webbing (Nylon, and Polyester which has better chemical resistance than nylon), rope – which has better wear characteristics than webbing, and steel wire which has good abrasion and heat resistance properties but is dangerous around high voltage electrical hazards.

At leading edge we have a preference for rope shock absorbing lanyards, as we believe they have better wear and strength characteristics and are less vulnerable to damage if the fall is over a sharp edge.
If a webbing lanyard sustains a cut on its edge the strength of the lanyard is greatly reduced, often to the point of failure in the event of a fall.

Fall distance – it’s is not unusual for workers to greatly underestimate the clearance required when using fixed length shock absorbing lanyards. The shock absorbing element extends as it is deployed and decelerates. As a Guide when using 2M length lanyards the fall distance required (to provide adequate clearance to the fallen operative) is 5.2M when attached above head height, 5.75M when connected at shoulder height and 6.75M when attached at foot level. It is often difficult to judge the exact fall distance (even if it’s known) to be sure there is sufficient clearance should the operative fall.

Do’s and Don’ts - when using fixed length shock absorbing lanyards

• Lanyard length must not exceed 2M including energy absorber and connectors, shorter lanyards should be used if possible
• If the user needs to turn round under an anchor point a lanyard incorporating a swivel should be used to prevent the lanyard twisting.
• Never tie a knot in a lanyard to make it shorter, it reduces the lanyard strength by 50%
• Lanyards should not be connected together to increase the lanyard length, as this will lead to increased fall distances higher and excessive fall arrest forces on the user, anchor points and lanyard.

Adjustable Length – Shock Absorbing Lanyards
This type of lanyard developed by Leading Edge Supplies allows an operative to work in restraint or a work positioning system while providing back up fall arrest – should the user inadvertently misuse the equipment and put them within reach of the fall area.
The adjustable lanyard is available in lengths from 1M – 20M (with fall arrest back up) providing plenty of scope for movement within the work area.
The adjustable lanyard is a rope based system; it has a sliding cam fixed permanently on the rope in the correct direction of use. eli The cam’s profile is designed to automatically bite against the rope immediately the operator releases the trigger setting the position on the rope. This allows the operative to set the length of his lanyard to limit his travel and provide restraint up to the maximum of his work area. It can be easily be adjusted as work and space demands.
In the event of a fall the aluminium cam acts as an energy absorber, arresting the fall within a matter of inches (tested to EN353) and arrest forces under 6kN (typically 3kN). The short fall distance results in a limited fall where the casualty is often conscious and without significant injury, allowing a speedy rescue, which is now recognised as critical to the wellbeing of the casualty.

Pro’s and Con’s
Pros: Low cost, lightweight, easily portable, fall distance clearance is greatly reduced (a few inches), works in restraint and fall arrest, easy adjustment for length allows maximum flexibility, comfortable very little pressure on workers back- unlike Inertia Reels-and can be used in both horizontal and vertical positions.
Cons: requires instruction before use, can be damaged if subject to cutting or high temperature burning (can be specified with wire rope where this may be a possibility). If using with fixed anchorage point in restraint, can be subject to pendulum effect the same as self retracting lifelines (inertia reels). Leading Edge recommend using with a temporary horizontal lifeline to provent this.

Selection considerations
Attention needs to be given to the HSE hierarchy of protective measures given in the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The highest in the provision is work equipment which prevents a fall, e.g. designing out the fall possibility or personal work restraint systems. A lower provision is work equipment which minimises the consequences of a fall, e.g. personal fall protection systems.
The type of work being carried out and the environment in which the work is being done has a great bearing on the selection of the connecting lanyard. The presence of oil, grease, acids, dirt, electrical hazards, even moisture need to be taken into account as do abrasion or exposure to UV .

Inspection
Fall protection and restraint lanyards deteriorate with age and use, regardless of brand or type. The strength of the lanyard can easily be compromised be physical damage such as cuts, abrasion, wear and excessive exposure to dirt, dust, oil, grease, acid, moisture, UV and improper storage.
Leading Edge recommend that operatives and employers attend an inspection training course or receive inspection training as part of their working at height training enabling operatives and employers to inspect webbing, rope and wire lanyards including the metal hard-wear for the following:

Workers are being killed and seriously injured by equipment which initially passed the required safety standards.
Correct lanyard selection and use is a key component in both fall prevention and fall arrest and it is important to bear in mind that in these systems the connecting lanyard bears the greater forces during a fall.

Leading Edge strongly recommends that both management and operatives receive training to assist them in making the correct choices when selecting and using lanyards.

Falls from height are one of the leading causes of death and serious injury in the work place, with a high personal cost to families and the subsequent financial cost to businesses.
With more than 50 years of experience in technical height safety training and products manufacture we have determined not only to provide the best fall protection and height safety training possible, but to also continuously develop new ideas, further our technological expertise, understand and implement new techniques and to repeatedly set higher standards of safe working at height.

Work site projects and trades require workers to be trained to achieve a high standard of competence in order to work safely at height. In depth knowledge of the equipment and safety concerns can not only improve an operator’s confidence and efficiency but will also save lives and prevent serious injuries.

Leading Edge height safety training courses are specifically designed for anyone whose job requires them to work at height and involves using the necessary safety equipment required to do this.

For more information visit http://www.leadingedgesafety.co.uk

Popularity: 26% [?]

Restraint Guidance

What is restraint?

Working in restraint allows an operative the access and mobility required to reach the leading edge (potential fall hazard) and carry out their tasks whilst preventing them from potentially falling.

Types of Restraint

There are 3 main types of restraint equipment found on construction sites:

• Fixed length restraint – A lanyard of a specific length preventing access beyond the fall hazard
• Adjustable restraint - A line with mechanical adjustment allowing the operative to personally adjust their equipment – for packages where edge exposure is not a constant distance from the anchorage.
• Running line restraint system – A horizontal lifeline used in conjunction with personal adjustable restraint – ensuring the anchorage remains directly behind the operative preventing pendulum.

Restraint versus Fall Arrest

The most fundamental difference between the two methods of work is the fall potential. Fall arrest allows the operative to fall and then ‘arrests’ this fall. Restraint, when used correctly, prevents the fall occurring. Working in restraint significantly reduces the risk of falling and therefore all the issues related to fall hazards:

Height clearance implications – with restraint, height clearance is not an issue as there is no fall to deal with. The problem with using fall arrest equipment is the clear height required to operate, e.g. a fall arrest lanyard clipped at foot level requires up to 6.75m to operate safely. When working between floor zones this is clearly unsuitable.

If a fall is interrupted by hitting the lower surface during the shock absorbing process, the force still left in the system with potentially fatal effects.

Special consideration should also be given where a lanyard is to be used in a situation where it could pass over an edge during a fall, e.g. formwork element, slab edge. There are no legal requirements for lanyards to be tested passing over an edge; as they are designed to fall into free space.

As a result the majority of lanyards, particularly flat webbing, are not capable of withstanding the increased forces created by the acute angle as the lanyard passes over the edge.

Rescue provision and method statements

When using fall arrest equipment on site, the contractor has to provide a suitable method statement detailing rescue provision. By working in fixed restraint, there is no fall to deal with, thus rescue provisions are not an issue. When using adjustable and running line restraint systems, provision for rescue needs to be provided, in the event of operator misuse.

Anchorage

One of the biggest problems in providing fall protection is the provision of suitable, adequate anchorage in the appropriate location. When using fixed restraint equipment the anchorage requirement can be as little as 3 times the weight of the user, typically 400kg because there is no possibility of falling. An example of this would be using a fixed restraint in the basket of a scissor lift.

If there is a 1% chance of a fall, then a fall arrest anchorage must be provided. Fall arrest anchorage points can be identified by a competent person. When using an adjustable restraint and a horizontal lifeline system the provision of suitable fall protection temporary or permanent anchorage point is required.

User comfort

Restraint greatly reduces the load (pull) applied to the operatives body compared to using an inertia reel (fall arrest block).

Work site projects and trades require workers to be trained to achieve a high standard of competence in order to work safely at height. In depth knowledge of the equipment and safety concerns can not only improve an operator’s confidence and efficiency but will also save lives and prevent serious injuries.

Leading Edge height safety training courses are specifically designed for anyone whose job requires them to work at height and involves using the necessary safety equipment required to do this.

For more information visit http://www.leadingedgesafety.co.uk

Popularity: 22% [?]