Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Using Fall Arrest Anchors For Employee Safety

By Adriana Noton


Fall arrest anchors should be used to provide workers with a secure line to prevent injury from falling from high places. The statistics show that over 100,000 people are injured or killed every year from tumbles that should have been prevented with the right safety equipment. Though they come in many types and styles, they all provide a singular service.

With an eye hook and bolts designed to connect securely to a building, they work with a body harness and other parts to prevent injuries due to falls. Typically, they allow a person to fall up to six feet and quickly decelerate. With a shock absorbing lanyard and deceleration device on the line, the person is able to come to a stop without the sudden jolt that a regular line would provide.

For the systems to work the way they are designed all the parts must be in place. The anchor should be secure into an area that can support more than 2000 pounds of force. For construction sites and other commercial uses a higher force limit is required. The worker needs to wear a full body harness and use a lanyard. The safety line should not allow the worker to fall more than six feet to prevent acceleration which can result in injury due to the jolt.

Using these for residential purpose is one of the most overlooked personal safety situations. There are many people who are injured while working on the roof, cleaning the gutters, or cleaning upstairs windows. Most rely on the ladder or being surefooted to prevent a tumble. With an inexpensive investment their safety is assured by simply attaching the anchor and a line.

The commercial use of these systems is more popular and well regulated. Typically, the OSHA standards require a 5000-pound resistance force. These are often placed on building roofs for workers to use. Construction sites also use temporary versions to protect workers that are working at great heights on beams or in situations where they could easily slip.

The styles vary but the anchor point is what makes them sturdy. Connecting these to scaffolding and other unstable sources is not recommended and can provide a sense of false security. If the worker tumbles and the system is hooked to something that can come apart, they can be severely injured when they thought they would be safe. Some construction materials should not be used to secure the devices.

There are many situations where these devices should be used for safety. Injuries from falls can be prevented or reduced with the right equipment. Window washing equipment should include the safety devices since the workers are typically high above the ground.

If you are working on your home or part of a construction crew, using the right equipment can save your life. Using fall arrest anchors makes sense for any place where work is done in a high elevation or unstable environment. Making sure the devices are installed properly and can withstand the six foot tumble will prevent injury.




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