Learn More about Self-Retracting Lifelines.
When working from height, fall hazard will be there. There are, however, so many people who work from heights in bridge construction, oilfield work, and construction. To avoid falling when working from heights, there is a need to use a fall arrest system. With studies showing that many injuries in the workplace are due to falls, fall protection devices and systems are OSHA requirements when completing tasks from heights.
The market has a wide range of fall protection devices. Your selection of fall protection system should be based on the task being completed. Self-retracting lifelines or SRLs are a perfect option for workers working from high positions. From the point of anchorage, SRL users can move freely around a specified radius.
Depending on how the user moves around, the lanyard will roll out and retract. Such retracting is intended to keep the lifeline taut. There is automatic activation of a speed brake once a sudden speed occurs. As a result, the fall is stopped. The most ideal area where you should use a self-retracting lifeline is when movement within an area is needed.
When fall happens, SRLs keep the user from falling to the ground. To ensure the user is protected from further injuries in case a fall happens, rescue should begin immediately. It is also important that retractable lifelines are properly maintained and inspected. Before use, the user needs to do a pre-check. When performing your inspections find out whether there are deformations and damages like loose wires, cracks, and corrosion.
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Proper storage for your self-retracting lifeline will be necessary to ensure rusting does not occur. You must, however, fall the instructions by the manufacturer if you have to clean the fall arrest device. This is because some cleaning agents may cause more damage to your equipment.
Compared to lanyards, SRLs are a perfect option for several reasons. One such reason is that there is reduced free fall unlike with lanyard. A fall will be arrested with two feet by an SRL for a vertical anchorage. With such reduced fall distance, the risk of the worker touching the ground or other objects is minimized. Therefore, the risk of injuries to the user is reduced.
Another reason that makes self-retracting lifelines a good option is because the worker can initiate self-rescue. A users can pull themselves back up using a self-rescue pulley. Although it may not be required, rescue for coworkers is made much easier. Also, you need to select a good lanyard to minimize swing if a fall happens.