APPLICATIONS
		Access Platforms, Stairs, & Gangways
		Roof Top Fall Protection
		Guardrails
		Catwalks
		Crane Rail
		Confined Space & Rescue
		Horizontal Lifelines
		Vertical Lifelines & Ladders
		Personal Protective Equipment
	INDUSTRY
		Truck Fleet
		Steel & Foundry
		Machine Guard
		General Industry
		Municipalities
		Oil – Gas – Petrochemical
		Construction
		Aircraft Hangars
		Rail Car
	PRODUCTS
		Uni-Track
		Single Point Anchors
		Uni-Grab / Uni-Ridge
		Swing Gates
		Roof Hatch System

Personal Protective Equipment For Fall Protection

Many workers mistakenly assume that they will have time to regain their balance before a fall, or that they can arrest their fall in the event of an accident. All too often, this is not the case. Considering that employees typically drop over 30 feet in 1.5 seconds, workers seldom have the opportunity to avert their falls. As a result, employees working at elevation rely on personal protective equipment, or PPE, for fall protection. For industrial settings, OSHA regulations require personal protective equipment on job sites where employees walk or work on surfaces with unprotected sides or edges 4 feet or more above a lower level, and where guardrails and safety nets are not in use. For construction and the building trades, the height limit is raised to 6 feet limit in the absence of guardrails and safety nets. PPE is so important that OSHA regulations now require employers to provide workers with personal protective equipment for fall protection.

In this outdoor application, SRL’s are mounted to a horizontal lifeline with a back mounted retractable.

PPE can perform either a fall restraint or fall arrest fall protection function. Fall restraint systems use some form of tethering system measured so that workers cannot go beyond the edge where the potential for a fall exists. These are sometimes referred to as travel restraint systems. Fall arrest systems protect workers from hitting the ground or obstructions below the work platform after a fall.

Some examples of personal protective equipment designed for fall arrest and fall restraint include:

Full Body Harness - Consists of a series of straps passed over the shoulders, across the chest, and around the legs. Unlike safety belts, which should not be used for fall arrest due to the potential for additional injury to the back and abdominal regions, a full body safety harness spreads the force of the fall over the entire body, and stands a good chance of keeping the worker in an upright position in the event of a fall.

Shock Absorbing Lanyard - a flexible line of webbing or wire rope used to secure a body harness to a lifeline or anchor.

Self Retracting Lifeline - Similar to a seat belt in a car, a retractable lifeline extends or retracts to accommodate a workers movement, and locks in place in the event of a fall.

DFP offers a full compliment of high quality personal protective equipment from DBI-SALA and Protecta.

Safety Tip: Matching the right PPE for your specific application is important, but this is only the first step in forming a comprehensive fall protection program.

The Limitations of PPE

Each year, PPE prevents countless falls that could have led to significant injuries and accidental death. Even with the correct personal protective equipment, without proper training in its use, your employees are still at risk. DFP can partner with you each step of the way, from helping to select the proper equipment to insuring your workers understand its use. As an employer, your obligation for your workers’ safety includes:

• + All workers are trained in the proper use of personal protective equipment and personal fall arrest systems
• + Supervisors understand what kind of PPE is required
• + Designation of a “competent person” responsible for periodic inspection and maintenance of all PPE

PPE Is One of Many Steps in a Fall Protection Strategy

Any time a worker relies on personal protective equipment to arrest a fall, something has gone wrong. Causes can range from lapses in employee judgment to structural damage to a catwalk or roof. The full body harness that is connected to a lanyard, and eventually an anchor point—PPE--should be viewed as the last link in a comprehensive fall protection program. Steps should be taken to eliminate the sole reliance on fall arrest equipment and to remove fall hazards when possible by modifying the work process and / or work area to eliminate the need to work at elevation. Employers and worksite supervisors can mandate the use of fall prevention systems such as guardrails, handrails, ladder cages, warning lines, and fall restraint systems. Only a comprehensive strategy that combines these safety elements along with the correct use of personal protective equipment can create the safe working environment needed to minimize accidental injury or death. Still have questions? Click here to contact the fall protection experts at DFP for more information.

Full body harness with lanyard and shock pack attached to a rope grab kit.

Detachable shuttle for horizontal lifeline application.

Uni-Track trolley with carabineer.

Single Source Turnkey Responsibility

You receive single source responsibility for the design, engineering, fabrication, installation, training and certification of permanent and temporary fall arrest and fall protection equipment.

Fall Protection / Fall Prevention Training Programs

Glossary

FAQs

OSHA Fall Protection Compliance