Harnesses & vests

Accidents caused by falling are among the most dangerous in the workplace. It is the employer's responsibility that all employees take the necessary precautions against falling from height, like i.e. setting up guard rails, use of lift or use of personal fall arrest equipment. The personal fall protection equipment may be used for short-term tasks, where the work not otherwise can be performed safely. Within fall protection we distinguish between three main types designed to:

 

1. Prevent people from falling

2. Secure the working position at height and limit the fall

3. Arrest falling people

 

A proper solution within fall protection include a choice of product and a position on the following:

 

A. Anchor Point

B. The connection between the anchor and the person

C. Harness on the person

D. Rescue

E. Training

 

Must withstand a load of 10 kN for one person, but the requirement is expected to be even more strict in the future. An anchor point may be a natural part of the construction you are working on, such as the roof structure, but it can also be manufactured anchor like a sling, a tripod, an eye bolt or a fixed installation.

 

This is snap hooks, support lines, lanyards, fall arrest lanyards, fall arresters and fixed vertical systems. The choice of products depends on the working conditions, the risk of falling, the location of the anchor and the ground clearance in the workplace.

 

This is a support belt, a fall arrest harness, or a fall arrest harness with integrated support belt. Choice of harness depends on whether the equipment shall prevent or arrest persons in a fall. Always choose equipment that is easy to wear, sit comfortably, and remember, belts are highly dangerous if used to arrest a fall.

 

Prior to working with fall protection equipment, it is important to develop a rescue plan. The fall protective equipment shall ensure that the user is caught in case of a fall, but a person hanging in his equipment may soon be exposed to other types of hazards, and this is what the rescue plan shall prevent.

 

According to AT D.5.5 guidance from July 2007 on Fall Protection:

 

Before the fall protection equipment is taken into use, the user must have received instruction in proper use and be informed about the dangers of not using it. The user must also be trained, and - if necessary – have the training repeated when considered relevant.

 

It obviously depends on the task nature and the selected equip ment, but usually being trained in the correct use is a crucial element of a proper fall protection system. ICM has its own fall protection instructors who teach classes or individuals in the proper use of fall arrest, rescue and evacuation equipment. Tuition can take place in the company or in our premises. ICM also cooperates with external trainers who can train in work at heights.

 

When using fall arrest equipment always pay special notice to the required ground clearance for the chosen product. A fall factor shall indicate how critical the fall arrest distance is. Factor 0 has the anchor point above the user and requires 2.5 m ground clearance below the working place. Factor 1 has the anchor point at the same level as the D-ring in the back and requires 4.5 m ground clearance. Factor 2 has the anchor point at feet height and requires 6.5 m ground clearance. Fall Factor 0 is optimal, 1 is acceptable, while the fall factor 2 should be avoided.

 

Unless the anchor point is just above the workplace, then you should be aware that in case of falling you will swing back towards the anchor point, exactly as a pendulum. When planning the work you should take into account whether you are more than 30º away from the anchor point and thus have an increased risk of hurting yourself in a pendulum swing.

 

ICM delivers fall protection equipment for companies working across the world. Therefore, products must meet requirements in the geographical areas where they are to be used. All products are CE approved according to relevant EN standard, but in our catalogue you will find abbreviations which indicate where the product can also be used.

 

EN                Approved according to a European standard

ANSI            Certified for use in the U.S.

NFP              Certified for use by firefighters in the U.S.

CSA              Approved for use in Canada

AS/NZS        Approved for use in Australia and New Zealand

 

EN 341: Descender devices

EN 353-1: Guided by a rigid anchor line

EN 353-2: Fall arrest systems with a flexible anchor line

EN 354: Lanyards

EN 355: Energy absorbers

EN 358: Support Belts and support lines

A 360: Automatic arresters

EN 361: Harnesses

EN 362: Connectors

EN 363: Fall arrest systems

EN 364: Test Methods

EN 365: General requirements for instruction manuals, maintenance, periodic inspection, repair, marking and packaging

EN 795: Anchoring Equipment

EN 813: Sit harnesses

EN 1496: Lifts

EN 1497: Rescue Harnesses

EN 1498: Rescue slings

EN 12841: Rope Access Equipment

 

Contact us if you want to know what specific standard the product is approved for or tested to within ANSI, NFPA, CSA and AS/NZS.

 

In the AT guidance on fall protection, it is stated that "normally the expected lifetime of fall protection equipment is 5 years from first date of use ." This is true in particular for webbing and rope, while the mechanical equipment of steel can be expected to live longer if you follow the guidelines for inspection and maintenance.

 

Fall protection equipment shall as specified in EN 365, minimum undergo annual inspection by a qualified or competent person. In addition, all equipment that has been subjected to a fall, or are in questionable condition, shall either be discarded or inspected, as it is no longer considered safe.

 

ICM can inspect the fall protection equipment in our own service center by technicians who are certified and trained by our suppliers. For companies with many users of fall protection equipment, a special service is offered, where our technicians can visit and carry out inspections at the company.