Mobile Overhead Fall Protection Systems

Employees are the most important work site asset, and a durable, reliable fall protection system should be your top priority — but what if you travel between locations or work at multiple sites? Mobile fall protection systems are flexible, versatile, and portable fall protection solutions. 

OSHA 1910 and 1926 dictate that fall protection is required starting at 6 feet for the construction industry and 4 feet for all others. Fall protection consists of fall arrest systems, which stop a falling body, and fall restraint systems, which help prevent falls from happening.

Learn the key differences between permanent and mobile systems below to choose the right option for your employees, location, and scope of work.

Permanent vs. Mobile Systems

Mobile fall protection systems are designed to be temporary and portable between work sites. Once assembled, they offer heavy-duty stability to get the job done. Then when you’re finished at that site, you can disassemble and relocate the systems. They are usually found at outdoor sites or projects with frequently changing conditions, including construction, aircraft maintenance and repair, and large-scale cement plants.

Permanent systems are designed to stay in one place and are typically welded or otherwise attached to the same position, such as a building or an overhead mount. They cannot move between work sites or locations within the same building. Though configured systems are available to suit your specific needs and can often withstand a significant amount of daily traffic, these products are less flexible than mobile options.

Both system types suit a range of industries, including:

• Trucking
• Aviation
• Manufacturing
• Railcar
• Maintenance
• Agriculture
• Construction
• Fire and Rescue

Benefits of Each System Type

Mobile fall protection systems are flexible and portable, and they can save time and money. These options offer the appropriate level of recommended protection for employees without the need for welded fixtures or fabrication. You can assemble, move, and reassemble a mobile system to suit your changing project needs or to travel between work sites. 

The mobile systems at Rigid Lifelines® feature an enclosed track that can cover multiple places, which is ideal if you want to make one upfront investment for multiple purposes. Because our mobile systems are available in counterweighted or non-counterweighted variations, building permits and seismic analysis are generally not required. 

Permanent fall protection systems are fixed to one spot and are meant to withstand high amounts of daily use and traffic. They’re a good fit if your overhead work is consistently stationary and you want to simplify and save time. A configured permanent system is also the best option for work sites with uneven ground.

Which One Is Best for Your Needs?

A mobile overheard system is your best option if one or more of the following apply:

• You’re working in a temporary location, such as an outdoor site or rented building.
• Your typical projects lack support for overhead mounting.
• You need flexibility to travel from site to site or from one part of the building to another.
• You primarily work on outdoor projects.

A permanent overheard system might be best if:

• You work at the same height daily.
• You don’t travel between locations frequently.
• You only climb once in a while.

You can also use our System Selector tool to find the right system for your specific needs.

Our Mobile Fall Protection Systems

Each Rigid Lifelines® mobile fall protection system meets or surpasses The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards, including OSHA’s 2-to-1 safety factor. Custom configurations are also available for each unit to accommodate your site’s specific space and height requirements.

Options include:

• Rolling A-Frame Anchor Track™ System: The fixed-height rolling A-frame provides flexible coverage with a lock-in-place assembly and bolt-together components. The tapered track inside the system self-centers for quiet, ergonomic operation. A-frame heights vary between 20 and 30 feet, with clear width distances between 17 and 35 feet. 
• Adjustable-Height Rolling A-Frame Anchor Track™ System: The adjustable-height rolling A-frame offers optimal mobility and versatility thanks to its adjustable dimensions. Choose the height, frame width, and frame span that best suit your work site, including in tight spaces. Components are bolted together, and the enclosed track keeps things clean and low-maintenance. Choose between track options, including multiple tracks to get work done even faster. 
• Portable Base Swing Arm Anchor Track™ System: The portable base swing arm is perfect for work sites with narrow spaces because of its 360-degree coverage, which is suitable for indoor and outdoor applications. Portable base weights range from 2,000 to 10,000 pounds, while standard systems weigh between 2,500 and 29,000 pounds. Both can be transported by forklift.
• Portable Box Frame Anchor Track™ System: The portable box frame is manually movable and available as a traveling bridge or monorail. Its I-beam braces and headers attach to wheeled support legs, and workers get up to 30 degrees off-center coverage.
• Griffin™ Anchor Track™ System: The Griffin anchor track comes in two variations. The Skidded Griffin’s weight is 15,000 pounds and movable via forklift, while the Wheeled Griffin weighs 19,000 pounds and is movable by a heavy-duty pickup. Both systems provide rigid track protection up to 30 degrees off-center for superior protection. Standard track lengths range between 26 and 60 feet.

All systems are available in your choice of a galvanized, painted, or epoxy-coated finish. Some individual components may also be available in stainless steel. Pair your fall protection system with Rigid Lifelines® accessories for even more peace of mind.

Contact Us to Learn More!

Rigid Lifelines® specializes in protecting what you value most — your employees. That’s why our systems all meet or exceed OSHA and ANSI standards, and our company has ISO 9001:2015 certification. Our manufacturing facilities are also certified by the American Welding Society (AWS) as part of their quality management system. 

Our second-most priority is designing innovative and high-performing products to help you conquer any project that comes your way. Each Rigid Lifelines® overhead system comes with the convenience of mobility with a rigid enclosed track to keep workers safer.

We’re happy to help you find the right overhead fall protection system for your operations, including custom configuration options for all of our units. You can contact us today to learn more about a specific product, or you can find a representative near you. We look forward to working with you.