Fall Protection Forum
Recent Posts
December 21, 2012
Fall Arrest vs. Fall Restraint: Which One Is Better?
Though many people lump them together, fall arrest and fall restraint are…
December 14, 2012
Not Having Fall Protection Can Really Cost You
It seems to be part of the human condition that people will simply avoid dealing with a problem until they are forced (typically by external factors) to deal with it. When it comes to dealing with the safety of an employee in a potentially hazardous working environment, it is concerning…
December 7, 2012
Fall Protection Solutions for Large Areas
Manufacturing and machine maintaining are tasks that require a lot of space. This is simply the nature of the beast. When a company makes a big machine or they fix big machines, they’re going to need a workspace that can handle the equipment. Working with large equipment usually means that…
November 30, 2012
Self-Retracting Lanyard (SRL) vs. Energy Absorbing Lanyard (EAL): Who Reigns Supreme?
The SRL and EAL debate is probably one of the hottest topics among fall protection engineers. It’s usually a lively debate because both devices have their benefits for a majority of fall protection situations. The two primary fields that require fall protection systems are industrial and construction settings. Each setting…
November 16, 2012
ANSI Z359.2: Training for Authorized Rescuer vs. Competent Rescuer
ANSI/ASSE officially defines an Authorized Rescuer as, “A person assigned by the employer to perform fall protection rescue.” An Authorized Rescuer requires slightly less training than a Competent Rescuer, however, both titles require basic training in order to understand basic fall protection safety and rescue techniques. The core of an…
November 9, 2012
PART 2: OSHA 1910.146 APPENDIX F: Rescue Team Criteria and Factors
The Initial Evaluation There are many different things that a qualified person needs to consider when they are developing fall rescue plans. During the initial evaluation of the potential rescue team, a qualified person needs to establish that a local rescue service can meet the needs of that specific worksite….
November 2, 2012
PART ONE: Rescue Plans OSHA 1926.502 (d)(20)
When OSHA writes a law, they usually need to use the verbose and flowery terminology of governmental law. However, there are many times when I will experience a law or some other political statement that I feel can be easily summarized in far fewer words. Even though OSHA 1926.502 (d)(20)…
October 19, 2012
Fall Protection Catastrophic Failure–How does it happen?
Installing an effective safety system in an industrial setting is a large task that requires careful planning, proper engineering, and a variety of calculations. Because there are so many different steps in the process of preparing a fall protection system, there is a large possibility for something to go wrong….
September 28, 2012
Much Ado About Safety Factors of Two
It’s time for another thrilling blog post about OSHA standards and requirements! This week, we will be discussing the definition and importance of safety factors when implementing a fall protection system in an industrial setting. According to OSHA 1910.140(c)(13), anchorages “must be: capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2…
September 7, 2012
Horizontal vs. Vertical Fall Protection. Whats the Difference?
The hit 90s television show America’s Funniest Home Videos has always been a testament to several things about American culture: Americans are clumsy creatures Americans enjoy filming their clumsiest moments for national television Americans know many different ways to fall Even though there is unabashed clumsiness displayed on television, there…
August 31, 2012
Users and Choosers — A Guide to ANSI Terms
As former President Harry Truman once said, “The buck stops here.” Naturally,…
August 24, 2012
General Duty Clause in a Nutshell — Know Your Hazards, Protect Your Employees
Legal documents frequently offer the best examples of the power of words. Since OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is responsible for the safety of many types of work environments, they have devised a series of rules that are location and industry specific. However, the “General Duty Clause,” is what…