Rigid Lifelines Blog http://www.rigidlifelines.com//media_center/rss/blog.xml 2012 Rigid Lifelines 2012-02-03T08:54:08Z 2012-02-03T08:54:08Z 2012 Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/how-do-you-manage-the-inspection-of-your-fall-protection-equipment.html 2012-02-03T08:54:03Z 2012-02-03T08:54:03Z

No fall protection program is complete without a practical system for tracking the inspection, maintenance, retirement, and replacement of fall protection equipment. Because fall protection gear provides a life-saving function and is subject to the stresses and fatigue of use, it must be inspected regularly. The way in which you track these inspections is equally important. Keeping a piece of equipment in service beyond its suggested working life, or after it has experienced significant wear, damage, or fatigue can put workers at risk for fall-related injuries or death.

2012-02-03T08:52:00Z Rigid Lifelines Rebecca Mamola http://www.rigidlifelines.com/hot-off-the-press-our-new-product-brochures-are-in.html 2012-01-31T09:58:04Z 2012-01-31T09:58:04Z

Our new product brochures are in! We now have new single page sell sheets for all Rigid Lifelines™ products. With these brochures, our dealers will be able to focus on the relevant fall protection needs of different industries, and provide more customized product information to each of our customers

2012-01-31T09:55:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/meet-terri-larkin-rigid-lifelines-shipping-clerk.html 2012-01-27T18:20:01Z 2012-01-27T18:20:01Z

Terri Larkin joined the shipping department of SPANCO and Rigid Lifelines™ in 2008. She and brings with her a wealth of experience in working with people—both in the restaurant business and as a representative of a leading juvenile play and safety products company. Ensuring that SPANCO and Rigid Lifelines™ products reach the customer safely and promptly is a challenging job, but one that Terri enjoys.

2012-01-27T18:17:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/fall-protection-is-more-than-equipment-its-a-culture.html 2012-01-20T16:24:17Z 2012-01-20T16:24:17Z

Back in 1891, Thomas Lynch is said to have coined the phrase “Safety First” in an attempt to increase awareness of workplace hazards and to reduce the number deaths and injuries in Pennsylvania’s thriving coal mining industry. Since then, the phrase has become standard in a wide range of industrial settings, including manufacturing, construction, utility work, railroading, and trucking.

2012-01-20T16:17:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/rigid-lifelines-announces-february-2012-fall-protection-training.html 2012-01-20T16:10:34Z 2012-01-20T16:10:34Z

Rigid Lifelines™ is excited to announce a February 2012 Training Class being offered to SPANCO distributors. Training will provide distributors with an opportunity to become certified in the sales, installation, and maintenance of Rigid Lifelines™ fall protection systems.

2012-01-20T16:07:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/the-top-5-industries-where-most-falls-occur.html 2012-01-13T16:41:06Z 2012-01-13T16:41:06Z

Detailed data on falls in the workplace are maintained and analyzed by several organizations, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Because there are so many ways to group and analyze workplace injuries and data, determining which industries incur the highest rates of work-related falls is more complex than a simple incident count.

2012-01-13T16:36:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/wearing-and-using-fall-arrest-equipment-are-two-different-things.html 2012-01-11T11:53:44Z 2012-01-11T11:53:44Z

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.

2012-01-11T09:22:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/state-osha-programs-establishment-and-advantages.html 2012-01-06T17:27:39Z 2012-01-06T17:27:39Z

Almost everyone has heard of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970, but what you may not know is that Section 18 of the Act encourages states to develop their own programs to promote safety in the workplace. State plans must be approved and monitored by OSHA at the federal level, and the program provides up to 50% of the operating costs for each approved state plan. Currently 20 states and 2 U.S. territories (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) have their own OSH plan maintained in this way, with federal approval. The states are listed below...

2012-01-06T17:23:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/whats-new-in-the-ansi-z359-fall-protection-code--part-5.html 2012-01-03T10:02:00Z 2012-01-03T10:02:00Z

As we have reviewed in “What’s New” parts 1 through 4, there are many new standards as of December 2011 in the Z359 Fall Protection Code. In this installment, we will review the recent release of Z359.13. This is the most significant new standard to come along in a while as the Energy Absorbing Lanyard, or “Rip Stitch” lanyard, is the most commonly used and ubiquitous piece of fall protection besides the harness.

2012-01-03T09:58:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/rigid-lifelines-announces-winter-2012-trade-show-schedule.html 2011-12-29T13:54:19Z 2011-12-29T13:54:19Z

Rigid Lifelines™ is proud to announce plans to exhibit at the following trade shows during the winter months of 2012...

2011-12-29T13:34:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/understanding-the-new-2011-osha-regulations-for-fall-protection-in-residential-construction.html 2011-12-28T09:41:43Z 2011-12-28T09:41:43Z

As of June 16, 2011, OSHA issued new regulations governing the requirement for fall protection in residential home construction. The new regulation supercedes a 1999 regulation and places in effect new fall protection standards targeted toward reducing the number of injuries and fatalities incurred during residential home construction. Under the new standard, fall protection must be provided for all workers performing residential construction tasks at a height greater than or equal to 6 feet above the next lower level. Fall protection systems may be either passive (e.g., guardrail or net) or active (e.g., anchor, harness, and lanyard). &nbsp...

2011-12-25T09:50:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/why-perform-a-fall-hazard-analysis.html 2011-12-16T16:26:41Z 2011-12-16T16:26:41Z

When addressing workplace fall hazards, it may be tempting to adopt a do-it-yourself approach. After all, who knows your facility better than you do? A guard rail here, a swing gate there, and the problem is solved, right? Unfortunately, most fall hazards are not so easily addressed. Some may not even be obvious. So how do you decide which hazards are top priority, and how do you choose the proper equipment to meet your needs and specifications

2011-12-16T16:20:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/whats-new-in-the-ansi-z359-fall-protection-code--part-4.html 2011-12-12T09:02:15Z 2011-12-12T09:02:15Z

There are many new standards as of November 2011 in the Z359 Fall Protection Code. Let’s review the next regulations in the current series of standards: Z359.6 “Safety Requirements & Specifications for Personal Fall Arrest Systems” - This is an equipment standard primarily for engineers that are experienced in designing fall protection systems. This standard is intended for engineers who design flexible horizontal lifelines systems commonly referred to as custom engineered “wire rope” systems. The standard defines the design and performance of active fall protection systems, and provides all the equations and technical guidelines to quantify, among other things, anchorage forces.

2011-12-12T08:55:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/improper-use-of-your-safety-harness-can-be-a-costly-mistake.html 2011-12-02T17:20:17Z 2011-12-02T17:20:17Z

The effectiveness of any fall protection system depends on proper use of each component. Improper use, carelessness, or use of a damaged harness can result in death or severe injury, as well as damage to equipment and the work environment. The full-body safety harness is an integral part of a modern fall protection system. Here I’ll briefly review the common mistakes to avoid when using a harness.

2011-12-02T17:17:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/five-fall-related-accidents-that-will-make-you-think-twice-about-not-using-fall-protection.html 2011-11-23T14:06:32Z 2011-11-23T14:06:32Z

CHICAGO TRIBUNE, NOV. 18, 2011 Roofer Dies after Falling into Shaft on Construction Site When assessing potential fall hazards in a work environment, the most dangerous hazard is sometimes not the most obvious. In this case, it was not the structure’s edge, but a shaftway that proved to be a fatal fall hazard for a 41-year-old roofer from the Chicago area. A fall protection system that included a rooftop or overhead anchor point, full-body safety harness, and lanyard could have dramatically altered the outcome in this situation.

2011-11-23T13:57:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/i-want-the-letters-csp-behind-my-name.html 2011-11-18T17:27:16Z 2011-11-18T17:27:16Z

Achieving a standard of expertise in a profession often means meeting the rigorous standards of certification by an independent board. Just as the Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) can earn such a designation, so can professionals in the field of safety. The Certified Safety Professional (CSP) must meet the educational and experience standards and must pass rigorous examinations that have been field tested by hundreds of safety professionals.

2011-11-18T17:19:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/what-is-a-self-retracting-lanyard-srl.html 2011-11-11T13:46:35Z 2011-11-11T13:46:35Z

A self-retracting lanyard (SRL) is a vertical lifeline that is used as part of a complete fall arrest system. The lifeline, much like the seat and shoulder belt in a car, pulls out and retracts easily. Subjected to a quick tug, however, an internal mechanism acts to engage a braking system. When the tension is released, the lifeline moves freely again. During a fall event, the SRL’s internal braking system functions to disperse the energy of the fall over a short distance, thus limiting the force applied to a user’s body.

2011-11-11T13:34:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/what-is-ansi-and-how-does-it-affect-fall-protection.html 2011-11-10T09:50:17Z 2011-11-10T09:50:17Z

The American National Standards Institute, or ANSI, is an independent, non-profit agency that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for various industries. The agency works to ensure consistency and safety, as well as to assure worldwide acceptance of common standards, applicability, and terminology. ANSI also accredits standards developed by certifying agencies, private industry, government agencies, and others.

2011-11-10T09:44:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/three-types-of-workplace-falls.html 2011-10-31T13:56:58Z 2011-10-31T13:56:58Z

When looking to identify and address fall hazards in any working environment, it is important to understand the different types of falls that a worker may face while performing their daily tasks. Falls can be categorized into three types: falls on a single level, falls to a lower level, and swing falls. In this week’s post we’ll examine these three types of falls and how understanding your workplace fall hazards can help you select the proper fall protection system.

2011-10-31T13:53:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/know-your-fall-protection-gear-inspecting-your-safety-harness.html 2011-10-21T16:53:27Z 2011-10-21T16:53:27Z

Any fall protection system is only as effective as its components, each of which must be inspected and maintained to ensure integrity and proper operation. A full-body safety harness, like any piece of industrial equipment, is subject to wear, damage, and fatigue, even after careful and proper use. Here we’ll briefly review the various parts of the full-body safety harness, and highlight the basics of harness inspection.

2011-10-21T16:44:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/creating-a-fall-rescue-plan-that-works.html 2011-10-14T17:47:34Z 2011-10-14T17:47:34Z

If you asked a safety manager to describe a fall incident success story, they would probably describe a fall protection system that arrested a free fall and did so without injuring the user. What many people don’t realize is that the arrested free fall is only half the story. What happens after a fall has been arrested can have an equally profound effect on the outcome of a fall incident. A worker who experiences a fall may be spared initial injury, but without prompt rescue, the worker could suffer negative health consequences due to prolonged suspension in their harness.

2011-10-14T17:05:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/meet-tim-bambrick-rigid-lifelines-fall-protection-engineer.html 2011-10-07T16:06:15Z 2011-10-07T16:06:15Z

Tim has worked for Rigid Lifelines for seven years and brings his expertise in mechanical engineering to every custom order. Tailoring products to meet the precise mechanical needs a customer desires is a demanding job, but one which Tim enjoys

2011-10-07T16:03:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/whats-new-in-the-ansi-z359-fall-protection-code--part-3.html 2011-09-30T13:12:53Z 2011-09-30T13:12:53Z

There are many new standards as of July 2011 in the Z359 Fall Protection Code. Let’s review the next regulations in the current series of standards: Z359.3 “Safety Requirements for Positioning and Travel Restraint Systems” - This is an equipment standard that covers the design and performance requirements of personal positioning and fall restraint systems. Fall restraint systems differ from fall arrest systems in that fall restraint systems simply restrain a worker’s movements to prevent potential injury. Fall restraint systems normally employ a fixed length lanyard (professionals in the industry commonly refer to the lanyard as a “dog leash”).

2011-09-30T13:00:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/what-is-the-difference-between-passive-and-active-fall-protection.html 2011-09-23T16:44:21Z 2011-09-23T16:44:21Z

When a fall hazard has been identified in the workplace, the need for fall protection has been established. But having a fall protection system does not necessarily mean that it’s time to call your local safety supplier to buy harnesses and lanyards. When the need for fall protection has been established, there are two distinct solutions. All fall protection systems can be identified as either passive or active. So what is the difference between Passive and Active Fall Protection?

2011-09-23T16:02:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/safety-in-numbers-calculating-fall-clearance--part-1.html 2011-09-19T16:31:44Z 2011-09-19T16:31:44Z

Maximizing safety and minimizing injury are the goals of any fall arrest system. But how do you know how much clearance is required for a system to be effective? Unfortunately there is not a concise answer to this question. Calculating fall clearance in order to choose the proper fall protection system for any application is a process that requires research and many times, expertise.

2011-09-19T15:17:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/what-is-a-carabiner-and-what-role-does-it-play-in-fall-protection-7767.html 2011-09-09T15:37:00Z 2011-09-09T15:37:00Z

Fall protection systems are made up of a variety of precision components. Some, like the full body harness or the self-retracting lanyard have clear roles in restraining or arresting falls. Others, like the carabiner, although less focused on, are still critical to ensuring that a fall protection system functions as it should.

2011-09-09T14:35:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/where-can-i-find-information-about-us-fall-statistics.html 2011-09-02T11:48:18Z 2011-09-02T11:48:18Z

A lot of statistics are thrown at end-users in the fall protection industry. There are fall fatality statistics, fall injury statistics, and many others, but where does this information come from? In the United States, statistics on workplace-related falls, injuries, and fatalities are kept by several government and industry organizations, most notably the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS web page entitled “Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities” (http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm) provides a wealth of statistics and documentation on work-related injuries, including falls to a lower level. Falls to a lower level are the most common type of industry related falls, and the most preventable with the proper use of fall arrest and fall restraint systems.

2011-09-02T11:28:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/the-advantages-of-using-galvanized-steel-in-industrial-fall-protection-systems.html 2011-08-26T17:04:01Z 2011-08-26T17:04:01Z

In my last post I talked about the history and process of galvanization. We learned that in the industrial setting, galvanization typically refers to steel that has been galvanized with a non-corroding metal, commonly zinc. In this week’s post I want to cover the specific advantages of using galvanized steel in industrial fall protection systems.

2011-08-26T17:01:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/what-is-galvanization.html 2011-08-19T10:27:38Z 2011-08-19T10:27:38Z

Here at Rigid Lifelines™ we frequently recommend that customers have their fall protection system galvanized as a way to fight corrosive environments and extend the overall life of the system. Most of us who are immersed in the fall protection industry have a general idea about what galvanization is, but the details remain a mystery to most. In general industry the term “galvanized” is typically used in reference to metals, in particular steel. But to understand the advantages of using galvanized steel, one must first understand the process of galvanization. So “What is Galvanization?&rdquo...

2011-08-19T09:33:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/whats-new-in-the-ansi-z359-fall-protection-code--part-2.html 2011-08-17T10:17:04Z 2011-08-17T10:17:04Z

What’s new in the ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code? There are many new standards. As of July 2011, there are about 8 new standards released in the Z359 Fall Protection Code. Let’s review a few of these...

2011-08-17T10:00:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/understanding-the-full-body-safety-harness-functionality-and-components.html 2011-08-18T11:13:57Z 2011-08-18T11:13:57Z

The full body safety harness is a key part of an active fall arrest system. The harness serves two purposes, first, distributing fall forces safely across a worker’s body in the event of a free fall, and second, providing freedom of movement sufficient to allow the worker to effectively perform his or her job. The full body harness combines the features of a sit harness, which supports the hips and upper legs, and a chest harness, which supports the shoulders and chest. When properly used, the full body design contains the human torso and aides in keeping it upright during a fall event.

2011-08-11T17:05:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/what-is-osha-and-how-does-it-impact-fall-protection.html 2011-07-22T15:30:04Z 2011-07-22T15:30:04Z

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHact) was enacted by Congress in 1970 and was signed into law by President Richard Nixon. Its goal was to prevent work-related deaths, injuries, and illnesses by issuing and enforcing regulations geared toward promoting safety. Following the implementation of the OSHact, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was formed in 1971. The OSHact was the first enforceable law that included regulations pertaining to fall protection in construction and general industry.

2011-07-22T15:23:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/what-are-swing-falls-and-how-do-they-occur.html 2011-07-14T09:29:40Z 2011-07-14T09:29:40Z

Swing falls in the industrial work place can result in significant injuries to workers and damage to equipment. Here I will briefly explain swing falls, how they occur, and how they can be prevented

2011-07-14T08:54:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/whats-new-in-the-ansi-z359-fall-protection-code--part-1.html 2011-07-08T16:01:20Z 2011-07-08T16:01:20Z

The ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code has been going through some significant changes recently. Changes have been occurring rapidly in fall protection technology over the past few decades. As OSHA has been slow to recognize these changes in technology (for example OSHA is still stuck in the 70’s and does not even recognize the fact that Self-Retracting Lanyards exist), ANSI has stepped up to the plate to lead the pathway to increased safety.

2011-07-08T15:51:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/meet-joe-columbia-rigid-lifelines-shipping-specialist.html 2011-06-28T17:09:29Z 2011-06-28T17:09:29Z

Our employees deserve recognition for the exceptional work they do. This month’s highlight goes to Joe Columbia. Joe has been working in the Shipping Department of Rigid Lifelines™ for 6 years and is responsible for the labeling and packaging of all the fall arrest swing-arm systems

2011-06-28T16:49:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/rigid-lifelines-receives-aws-certification.html 2011-06-24T09:23:56Z 2011-06-24T09:23:56Z

Another reason Rigid Lifelines™ is a leader in fall protection! Rigid Lifelines™ recently earned the prestigious designation of Certified Welding Fabricator (CWF) from the American Welding Society (AWS). This certification is reserved for companies that have demonstrated the resources, procedures, and personnel needed to apply a quality management system to their welding fabrication activities.

2011-06-24T09:17:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/rigid-lifelines-announces-fall-2011-trade-show-schedule-9889.html 2011-06-24T09:39:12Z 2011-06-24T09:39:12Z

Rigid Lifelines™ is proud to announce plans to exhibit at the following trade shows during the fall months of 2011...

2011-06-21T17:46:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/rigid-lifelines-self-retracting-lanyards-srls-now-available.html 2011-06-14T08:22:12Z 2011-06-14T08:22:12Z

By now you may have heard that Rigid Lifelines™ just launched a new line of full body fall protection harnesses. To compliment this new product line, Rigid Lifelines™ is also launching a new line of self-retracting lanyards and accessories for use on overhead attachment point fall arrest systems. Our new line of cable and web self-retracting lanyards (SRLs) are available in lengths from 18 to 50 feet.

2011-06-14T08:14:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/rigid-lifelines-fall-protection-harnesses-are-here.html 2011-06-13T08:29:29Z 2011-06-13T08:29:29Z

After a year of hard work, planning and designing, I am happy to inform our customers that our new line of ANSI rated and OHSA compliant fall protection harnesses are finally here. I speak for the entire Rigid Lifelines™ team when I say that we are excited to bring these harnesses to the fall protection equipment market. You can expect to find the same quality in our fall protection harnesses that you’ve found in our overhead fall protection systems.

2011-06-13T08:18:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/incredible-photos-of-fallen-construction-workers.html 2011-05-11T11:24:19Z 2011-05-11T11:24:19Z

These fall event photos came from Wayne Ruesswick of Bancroft Construction Company. Apparently the bridging structure collapsed and all workers fell at the same time. Fortunately, all workers were using fall protection, and were ultimately saved from a fatal fall.

2011-05-11T10:37:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/rigid-lifelines-launches-new-mobile-website-8800.html 2011-06-28T17:11:33Z 2011-06-28T17:11:33Z

We have just released a new mobile version of the Rigid Lifelines™ website. Designed to run on popular operating systems like iPhone OS, Android OS, and Blackberry OS (Version 6+), the new mobile site allows users to access information on Rigid Lifelines™ products anytime, anywhere.

2011-04-28T10:20:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/336-foot-fall-protection-system-protects-workers-accessing-gondola-railcars.html 2011-06-28T17:12:22Z 2011-06-28T17:12:22Z

The US Government oversees a contaminated work site in the northeastern United States where radioactive thorium was processed during the early twentieth century. A large environmental services group was contracted by the government to remediate part of the job site and return it to a usable state. The remediation process involves digging up contaminated dirt and testing it for radioactivity. Once the dirt has been proven to meet acceptable radiation limits, it is removed from large piles with front-end loaders and transported to several gondola style railcars lined with plastic. After the railcars are full, workers climb ladders and enter the railcars.

2011-03-18T15:09:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/rigid-lifelines-supports-dealer-family-through-trade-shows-9656.html 2011-06-28T17:13:15Z 2011-06-28T17:13:15Z

At Rigid Lifelines™, our dealers mean everything. It is our dealers that put feet on the ground to form solid relationships with the end-users that love the quality products we build. Our dealers keep us in business. These are the reasons that Rigid Lifelines™ makes every effort to let our dealers know that they are a valuable part of our family. The most important way we take care of our dealer family is by taking our brand experience across the country to various industry trade shows.

2011-03-01T10:14:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/rigid-lifelines-announces-spring-2011-trade-show-schedule-7379.html 2011-06-28T17:13:40Z 2011-06-28T17:13:40Z

Rigid Lifelines™ is proud to announce plans to exhibit at the following trade shows during the spring months of 2011...

2011-02-28T15:48:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/meet-jeff-gregor-rigid-lifelines-production-manager-8744.html 2011-06-28T17:14:35Z 2011-06-28T17:14:35Z

At Rigid Lifelines™ we value each one of our employees because they are the people who make our products so successful. This month we’d like to highlight our Production Manager, Jeffrey D. Gregor, whom is involved with the every day planning, coordination, and individual process control of Rigid Lifelines™ fall protection. Jeff oversees the daily production of the Rigid Lifelines™ manufacturing facility while ensuring that goods and services are produced efficiently, that they are of the best quality, correct quantity, and are produced in a timely manner to the satisfaction of the customer.

2011-02-04T18:20:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/why-does-fall-protection-start-at-4-feet-for-general-industry.html 2011-01-06T09:56:47Z 2011-01-06T09:56:47Z

We all know that fall protection is required when working at substantial heights. Since the passing of the Occupation Safety and Health Act (OSHA) by Congress in 1970, fall protection has become more and more commonplace throughout industry. That’s the good news. The downside is that industry in general, and especially new-comers, need proper education by the fall protection community in selection and usage of fall protection equipment.

2011-01-06T09:47:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/manual-103-0047--revised-112011.html 2011-06-28T17:15:09Z 2011-06-28T17:15:09Z

Product Manual #103-0047, Installation, Maintenance & Spare Parts Manual for Rigid Lifelines™ Fold-Away and Swing Arm Fall Protection Systems, was revised on 1/1/2011. Please visit the Manuals page under the Literature link to download the new version. Updates to our product manuals are made frequently, please be sure to check the Literature Updates category of our blog for recent updates.

2011-01-01T13:37:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/us-navy-and-the-z359-fall-protection-code.html 2010-12-20T09:41:30Z 2010-12-20T09:41:30Z

This is a great interview with my personal friend Basil Tominna. Basil is a very intelligent engineer who sits with me on the ANSI Z359 committee that writes the Fall Protection Code. The article illustrates how important the ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code is (and specifically section Z359.2) in providing a safe working environment to any type of organization whether it general industry, construction, or the armed forces.

2010-12-20T09:20:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/whats-new-in-the-ansi-z359-fall-protection-code--hazard-analysis-and-fall-distance.html 2010-12-10T14:47:37Z 2010-12-10T14:47:37Z

The ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code is continually getting better every year. These new standards are designed to make equipment selection easier and keep your workers safe. Here is just one of many new developments from ANSI that would be of interest to general industry and construction.

2010-12-10T14:24:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/fold-away-fall-arrest-system-provides-fall-protection-under-overhead-cranes.html 2011-06-28T17:16:40Z 2011-06-28T17:16:40Z

Two years ago, Rigid Lifelines™ introduced the fold-away fall protection system. Engineering of this system started when end-users came to Rigid Lifelines™ and expressed interest in a fall protection system that did not require permanent installation, one that had some mobility. Many end-users complained that a permanent structure would interfere with their work processes by being in the way of large overhead cranes.

2010-11-22T14:06:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/whats-new-in-the-ansi-z359-fall-protection-code--energy-absorbing-lanyards.html 2010-12-10T13:37:29Z 2010-12-10T13:37:29Z

The ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code committee has been hard at work releasing new Fall Protection standards to make your life easier and safer. A major release of new standards came out in 2007 and again in 2009. This new blog series called “What’s New in the ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code” will address the new developments from ANSI that would be of interest to general industry and construction.

2010-11-16T14:29:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/rigid-lifelines-announces-winter-2011-fall-protection-training-2390.html 2011-06-28T17:17:30Z 2011-06-28T17:17:30Z

Rigid Lifelines™ is excited to announce Winter 2011 Training Classes being offered to SPANCO distributors. Training will provide SPANCO distributors with an opportunity to become certified in the sales, installation, and maintenance of Rigid Lifelines™ fall protection systems.

2010-11-11T09:38:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/rigid-lifelines-announces-winter-2011-trade-show-schedule-2194.html 2011-06-28T17:17:56Z 2011-06-28T17:17:56Z

Rigid Lifelines™ is proud to announce plans to exhibit at the following trade shows during the winter months of 2011...

2010-11-08T15:03:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/product-manuals-and-inspection-checklists-translated-into-spanish-and-french-canadian.html 2011-06-28T17:18:13Z 2011-06-28T17:18:13Z

All Rigid Lifelines™ product manuals and inspection checklists have been translated into Spanish and French Canadian. These new documents are available for download in PDF format on the Manuals and Inspection Checklists pages under the Literature section of our website. Updates to our literature are made frequently, please be sure to check the Literature Updates category of our blog for recent updates.

2010-11-02T15:19:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/rigid-fall-arrest-system-provides-worker-safety-for-tank-truck-unloading-2869.html 2010-10-15T17:09:56Z 2010-10-15T17:09:56Z

A major manufacturer of chocolate confections and industrial confectionery ingredients receives up to four shipments of liquid chocolate on a weekly basis. The liquid chocolate is transported to their manufacturing facility in 6,500 gallon tank trucks. Trucks dock at a station in the rear of the facility where the driver attaches a hose to the back of the tank trailer for pumping.

2010-10-15T17:09:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/corporate-aircraft-hangar-improves-safety-efficiency-with-rigid-lifelines-fall-arrest-systems.html 2010-09-20T17:24:14Z 2010-09-20T17:24:14Z

A major private northeastern airport is home to a corporate aircraft hangar for a large international company. The hangar houses a branch of the company’s aircraft, including three jets and two helicopters. These aircraft are flown on a weekly basis, depending on executive’s travel needs. As the aircraft move in and out of the hangar, they are positioned as needed. Due the demands of flying, the aircraft become dirty and require weekly cleaning and maintenance.

2010-09-20T17:05:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/the-evolution-of-horizontal-fall-protection.html 2010-11-16T16:24:31Z 2010-11-16T16:24:31Z

The fall protection industry is evolving. In its earliest form, workers used hemp ropes to tie around their waists in the event of a fall. During the latter part of the 20th Century, advances in technology took the concept of a rope and put it overhead in the form of horizontal fall protection. Eventually the natural rope was replaced with wire rope. Now the industry is staging for the next step in the evolution of fall protection.

2010-09-03T17:51:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/rigid-lifelines-enclosed-track-fall-protection-a-better-investment-than-ibeam-systems.html 2010-08-27T13:41:38Z 2010-08-27T13:41:38Z

Horizontal rigid track fall protection systems will always be superior to rigid I-Beam systems due to their inherent design differences. But by far, the differences in their performance in cold weather climates and dirty applications are the most telling. I-Beam systems utilize an old fashioned I-Beam with an exposed rolling trolley that moves on the beam’s exposed lower flange. In climates that see snow and ice, I-Beam systems are rendered useless due to accumulation of snow and ice on the exposed lower flange.

2010-08-27T13:28:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/manual-1030039-revised-8192010.html 2010-08-20T10:06:15Z 2010-08-20T10:06:15Z

Product Manual #103-0039, Rigid Lifelines Installation and Maintenance Manual, was revised on 8/19/2010. Please visit the Manuals page under the Literature link to download the new version. Updates to our product manuals are made frequently, please be sure to check the Literature Updates category of our blog for recent updates.

2010-08-20T09:53:00Z Rigid Lifelines Mike Evanko http://www.rigidlifelines.com/six-man-portable-gantry-fall-protection-used-over-military-aircraft-mockups.html 2010-08-18T15:26:52Z 2010-08-18T15:26:52Z

An aircraft training and simulator facility located in the southern United States, handles outsourced manufacturing of F22 Raptor aircraft mock-ups for pilot training/simulation for the United States Government. The manufacturing process involves the building of the F22 mock-ups in three sections, the aft, the arm, and the landing gear. These sections can weigh up to 20,000lbs. Each section is treated as an individual work station and may be as high as 6 to 9 feet off the ground. Sections that include the top of the aircraft are sloped and have a pitch similar to that of the roof on a house.

2010-08-18T15:08:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/understanding-suspension-trauma-4221.html 2010-11-16T16:23:55Z 2010-11-16T16:23:55Z

Let’s look at suspension trauma, also known as harness trauma. Very simply stated, suspension trauma is injury or death caused by blood flow restriction while hanging suspended in a harness waiting for rescue assistance. This is why self rescue is so important. As required by OSHA law: 1910… So let’s take a look at what happens after a person has fallen and is suspended only by the safety harness, and has no method of supporting his own weight.

2010-08-11T10:25:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/be-aware-friends-osha-is-changing.html 2010-11-16T16:22:15Z 2010-11-16T16:22:15Z

Be aware friends, OSHA is changing from a reactive organization to a proactive organization and is currently ramping up inspections of manufacturing companies under the new Obama administration. The reason OSHA is pushing so hard, is the GAO (Government Accountability Office) has determined many industries are under-reporting injuries in order to avoid OSHA inspections, OSHA fines, and larger insurance premiums. Also Obama personally wants to make factories safer for American workers.

2010-07-23T13:50:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/why-did-osha-decide-on-5000-lbs-of-anchorage-strength-is-it-strong-enough.html 2010-11-16T16:19:55Z 2010-11-16T16:19:55Z

In my last blog, I explained the requirements from OSHA for anchorage strength and who determines the strength of the anchorage. But where did the actual number of “5,000” lbs OSHA anchorage strength come from? And why is it 5,000 lbs and not 3,000 lbs, or 10,000 lbs?

2010-07-06T14:20:00Z Rigid Lifelines Admin http://www.rigidlifelines.com/anchorage-strength-why-osha-requires-5000-lbs-of-anchorage-strength.html 2010-11-16T16:16:58Z 2010-11-16T16:16:58Z

The question I get asked most in the fall protection line of work is “will the components support 5,000 lbs?” The simple answer is “products engineered by a Qualified Person (as defined by OSHA) will absolutely meet or exceed all OSHA and ANSI requirements for fall protection anchorage and performance”. In fact, some of the products that we manufacture here at SPANCO/Rigid Lifelines exceed this 5,000 lb requirement by a factor of (3) three or more! But first, let’s take a hard look at this requirement and how it was cleverly written by OSHA to keep all workers at height as safe as possible.

2010-07-03T12:35:00Z Rigid Lifelines