L & T Style Support Column Lifelines

Design Considerations

"L" and "T" Column Style Lifeline Design Considerations "L" and "T" Column Style Horizontal Lifeline Systems are common for outdoor applications where rigid beam systems are not practical. One of the advantages to a gallow style HLL is design flexibility. A series of gallows posts can be configured to run in a straight line, or accommodate curves and bends, which is a common practice for railroad yard applications. Rail yards with multiple sections of track or busy freight terminals with multiple loading areas are ideal applications for T-Style gallows, which effectively double the coverage area of the fall protection system. In applications where a gallows style horizontal lifeline system is under consideration, the depth of the water table, as well as the condition and compaction of the soil must be assessed to ensure an adequate foundation to support the weight of the system. The distance spanned by a gallows style horizontal lifeline is limited only by the ability to erect anchor points of anchor points; HLL systems can safely span distances in excess of 600 feet. Special care must also be taken to account for load and deflection rates which are determined by a number of factors, including pre-tension of the cable, length of the area spanned, and the number of workers connected to the system.