Posts by developer
ANSI Z359.2: Training for Authorized Rescuer vs. Competent Rescuer
As workplace falls increase in industrial and construction facilities, more employers are installing fall protection systems. While many employers will teach workers how to use the system, they can overlook the logistics of rescuing the worker after a fall event has occurred. The fall rescue is equally as important as the fall arrest. This is why understanding the logistics of how employers determine who will be an Authorized Rescuer is important. ANSI Z359…
Read MoreWhat is ANSI?
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…
Read MoreUnderstanding Suspension Trauma
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…
Read MoreWhat is Galvanization?
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. In general industry the term “galvanized” is typically used in reference to metals, in particular steel. The terms “galvanic” and “galvanization” once referred to the…
Read MoreWhat Are Swing Falls and How Do They Occur
Swing falls in the industrial work place can result in significant injuries to workers and damage to equipment. Many jobs require workers to perform tasks at height. Whether cleaning or servicing aircraft, installing or adjusting theater lighting, or working in an industrial or construction environment, OSHA regulations require fall protection for working heights of four…
Read MorePassive vs. Active Fall Protection
Falls are serious hazards, especially in environments where workers perform their duties at elevated heights. In 2023, falls accounted for 21% of all preventable injury-related deaths and 31% of all nonfatal injuries. For industries like construction, where workers are often required to work from a certain height, fall protection systems are vital pieces of safety…
Read MoreThe Evolution of Horizontal Fall Protection
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…
Read MoreThree Types of Workplace Falls
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…
Read MoreABCD’s of Fall Protection
Personal fall arrest systems, or PFAS, include anchorage, body support or body wear, and a connecting device like a self-retracting lifeline or shock-absorbing lanyard. These vital components make up the core of the ABCD’s of fall protection. Workers at height heavily rely on these essential components and their proper use to provide for their safety…
Read MoreSystem Selection Guide: How to Choose the Right Fall Protection System
If you’re looking to install a comprehensive fall protection system for workers, follow this simple system selection guide to help identify the best system for your application. After you have supplied a brief answer to the questions listed below, you can move through the rest of the selection guide to provide exact specifications for your…
Read MoreCommon Fall Protection Dangers Equipment Misuses
It’s always important to provide fall protection for people working at heights. OSHA requires fall protection any time someone is working four feet above the ground or higher for general industry or six feet or higher for construction. But it’s not enough just to have fall protection equipment: that equipment must be used correctly, and…
Read MoreWhat is a Carabiner and What Role Does it Play in Fall Protection?
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. What is a…
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