Fall Protection, Bad Weather, and Avoiding Failure

As with all feats of engineering, there are always a variety of different things that need to be considered during the design process. Our engineers use a variety of calculations to ensure that the desired system is best suited to the weather patterns of the installation location. One of the best features of the enclosed rigid track is the fact that the track itself protects the trolley from exposure to the elements.

Protecting the trolley from foul weather ensures that the trolley will remain free wheeling and fully functional regardless of exposure to ice, snow, or rain. Thanks to the enclosed track profile that’s present on all models of our fall protection systems, it is almost impossible for water or other forms of moisture to harm the trolley. The enclosed track protects the trolley from rusting and from developing ice buildup.

If there are concerns about extreme hot or cold temperatures at an installation location, our engineers will recommend certain materials depending upon the temperatures at play. Various metallurgy tests have revealed interesting information about the strength of the primary metals we use for our systems (steel and aluminum). Steel has been proven to have excellent strength when placed in extremely high temperatures. And aluminum has been proven to have phenomenal strength in very cold temperatures. Knowing this, our engineers may make a material suggestion depending upon the location and any extreme environmental exposure that an outdoor system may face.

And finally, if the fall protection system is in a location where there are extremely high winds, there are some systems that can have features installed to prevent issues. If there is a swing arm system being installed outdoors in a windy location, the boom can have a lock placed upon it to prevent the arm from swinging around erratically while a worker is attached to the system. If the Rolling A-Frame system is being used in an area with high winds, there are special wheel locks that can be used to prevent the A-Frame from running amuck across a worksite.

There are a lot of variables when workers perform tasks at elevation, don’t let unreliable fall safety be one of them. We engineer our systems to account for as many variables as possible. If you need a fall protection system in an area with rough weather, give us a call to find out how we can build a system that’s right for you.

Thanks for reading and stay safe!

Hannah Addison