Wearing and Using Fall Arrest Equipment Are Two Different Things

Unfortunately, we hear more times than not after a serious if not fatal fall, “I do not know why the worker was not hooked up, he (she) was wearing a harness.” Every day workers are assigned numerous job tasks that require them to work at elevation along unprotected leading edges. Each job task requires a certain amount of worker mobility, both horizontally and vertically.

In attempting to address their workers fall exposures, employers sometimes only provide workers with a fixed length six foot lifeline. If the scope of work assigned to a worker requires more than six feet of mobility, the worker has no choice but to disconnect (like this guy: VIDEO). That is where 85% of falls occur while WEARING a harness, when a worker disconnects to move vertically or horizontally. Therefore, if we do the math, providing a worker with a six foot lifeline when they needed more than six feet of mobility to complete the job task really only addresses 15% of their fall hazard. If it is not 100%, it is not fall protection. In the absence of fall prevention measures, employers should always ensure they invest in and provide fall arrest equipment that keeps their workers 100% mobile and protected.

Thank you for reading,

John Kemp
National Product & Sales Manager

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• May 17, 2012
  07:03 AM

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