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Cartesian Bridge Fall Protection Systems

For applications with lower working heights and multiple positioning requirements, Diversified Fall Protection delivers proven cartesian bridge fall protection systems. Comprised of an overhead rail and trolley, cartesian systems can be manually or motor driven. The two-dimensional cartesian coordinate system offers the flexibility to provide fall protection for 100% of the planned coverage area.

Cartesian bridge fall protection systems may be attached to overhead structures for indoor applications, such as aircraft hangars, or they may be designed and fabricated as freestanding units for outdoor tanker truck applications.

Versatile and easy to use, cartesian bridge fall protection systems minimize fall distance, reduce deflection rates, and satisfy the safety needs of multiple user applications. Contact the team at DFP to learn more.

Every system installed by DFP begins with an on-site engineering visit. Safety experts study how your personnel interact with your equipment and design a custom safety solution tailored to your needs. Diversified provides a turnkey, one-stop shop for your fall protection, including design, engineering, fabrication, installation, inspection, and repair.

As your sole-source provider, DFP assumes all liability for your system, ensuring years of reliable safety. An OSHA-compliant cartesian bridge system is the turnkey solution for your fall arrestand fall protection challenges. Contact DFP to discuss your project’s needs.

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Design Considerations

A fundamental design consideration for cartesian fall protection is the size of the planned coverage area. The system design must not only cover the entire work area but also accommodate the total number of planned users, including pass-by capability.

Once coverage area and user capacity requirements are established, multiple bridges may be recommended to provide maximum fall protection for the work area.

Cartesian-style systems are suspended overhead, so a thorough inspection of the roof support structure must be done. DFP’s application engineers perform a complete site assessment to determine whether your roof support system is strong enough to support a cartesian fall protection system. Talk to an engineer to learn more.

OSHA Regulations

  • 140(d) Personal Fall Arrest Systems:  
  • 140(d)(1) System performance criteria. In addition to the general requirements in paragraph (c) of this section, the employer must ensure that personal fall arrest systems:
  • 140(d)(1)(i) Limit the maximum arresting force on the employee to 1,800 pounds (8 kN);
  • 140(d)(1)(ii) Bring the employee to a complete stop and limit the maximum deceleration distance the employee travels to 3.5 feet (1.1 m);
  • 140(d)(1)(iii) Have sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy of the employee free falling a distance of 6 feet (1.8 m), or the free fall distance permitted by the system; and ...
  • 140(d)(1)(iv) Sustain the employee within the system/strap configuration without making contact with the employee's neck and chin area.
  • 140(d)(1)(v) If the personal fall arrest system meets the criteria and protocols in appendix D of this subpart, and is being used by an employee having a combined body and tool weight of less than 310 pounds (140 kg), the system is considered to be in compliance with the provisions of paragraphs (d)(1)(i) through (iii) of this section. If the system is used by an employee having a combined body and tool weight of 310 pounds (140kg) or more and the employer has appropriately modified the criteria and protocols in appendix D, then the system will be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of paragraphs (d)(1)(i) through (iii).
  • 140(d)(2) System use criteria. The employer must ensure that:
  • 140(d)(2)(i) On any horizontal lifeline that may become a vertical lifeline, the device used to connect to the horizontal lifeline is capable of locking in both directions on the lifeline.
  • 140(d)(2)(ii) Personal fall arrest systems are rigged in such a manner that the employee cannot free fall more than 6 feet (1.8 m) or contact a lower level. A free fall may be more than 6 feet (1.8 m) provided the employer can demonstrate the manufacturer designed the system to allow a free fall of more than 6 feet and tested the system to ensure a maximum arresting force of 1,800 pounds (8 kN) is not exceeded.
  • 140(d)(3) Body belts. Body belts are prohibited as part of a personal fall arrest system.

Talk to a fall protection specialist

Tell us about your fall protection needs, and we’ll configure a system that rises to your challenges.

Talk to a fall protection specialist

Tell us about your fall protection needs, and we’ll configure a system that rises to your challenges.