Workplace Fall Arrest Systems – Making The Profession Safer

There are some professions in the world that are considered to be suitable for only the daredevils who wear their hearts on their sleeves. I am not referring to professional bungee jumpers and adventure junkies here. I am talking about the everyday repairman who actually climbs up on your roof to replace that slate tile that has fallen out of place. Or it may be the construction guy who has to brave narrow beams and high gurneys just to get access to his workplace. It may also be the cleaning personnel that hang out of your window, cleaning out the glass panes of your high rise, several feet above the ground. Or it may be the telephone and cable repair personnel who climb narrow pillars to ensure that your house and office is always well connected. This article is dedicated to the safety and security of these individuals.

Every year 11,000 people are killed and 200,000 are injured by falls. Falls are the third leading cause of work-related injuries. Because of these startling statistics, OSHA has mandated training for anyone who works off the ground. Apart from workplace training, the organisation has also mandated the extensive use of fall arrest systems and equipment to ensure that accidents can be kept at a bare minimum.

A "Personal Fall Arrest System" is comprised of a full body harness, a connecting device and an anchor point. The basic idea behind these systems is that even if the personnel using them looses balance, their impact with the ground and resulting injuries should either be completely avoided or its magnitude should be minimised. A full body harness provides support evenly over the shoulders, buttocks and thighs. This is the piece of equipment that actually holds the human body in place and connects it to the rest of the apparatus in use to prevent falls and injuries. Harnesses are usually manufactured from sturdy materials and are designed to snugly fit and hold the body of the wearer, no matter what position he/she might be in when suspended in mid-air. This is why it is recommended that the wearer should adjust the harness to ensure that it holds shape and tightly fits his/her body, without causing discomfort or creating an obstruction during work.

Next, you hook it to a connecting device. This links you to a secure anchor point. Connecting devices are commonly lanyards and retracting lifelines. These are again manufactured from sturdy material that is both capable of holding the weight of the wearer and flexible enough to minimise the jerk that his/her body will experience when their body will come to rest after a fall. Every part of a fall arrest system is designed to cater to specific needs of the wearer and minimise the injuries that might be caused as a result of an accident or inadvertent fall.

You can visit Caisafety.com for more information on fall arrest systems as well as for buying the best equipment for use on your project site.

About The Author

Brent Owens is a safety expert who works hand in hand with many construction companies across the country to ensure that employees are always protected while at work. He recommends CAISafety.com as the best name to trust for high quality fall protection systems.