Blog

Boom trucks, scissor lifts, and other Genie Lift work vehicles are everywhere these days. A question we receive regularly is how workers should hook up their fall safety equipment to the work platforms. Workers operating between 6 and 18 ft. above the closest obstacle, even if they are just passing through those heights, need to be wearing either complete fall restraint or a self-retracting lifeline (SRL). Because the close tether of a fall restraint system limits the work that can be a …

Residential roofers are scrambling to find an affordable roof safety system that keeps them compliant and lets them get on with their work. Horizontal systems are a great choice because once in place, they allow a greater area to be covered in safety. The problem with using a single fixed point roof anchor is the danger of swing falls. Once a worker moves away from the vertical line from the anchor, any fall will include not only the vertical forces, but the slapping, whip-you-around …

The Rebel 33 ft. self-retracting lifeline is a great choice for fall protection in a wide range of industries. This durable, affordable SRL comes with a number of functions and accessories that generally cost extra. First it comes with a heavy-duty carabiner that is self-closing and self-locking. This attaches to the swiveling anchor loop at the top of the housing. On the lifeline, the Rebel 33 ft. SRL has a snap hook that also swivels. In tandem, these swivels work to reduce twists …

Several of our users have asked us about the compatibility of fall protection components between different manufacturers. OSHA, in their wisdom, writes thousands of words on the subject, but in a way that only an attorney would be able to understand. We'll try to distill the issue so that everyone gets it. No. Don't use a lanyard from one company and an anchorage or other device from another company. Unless you're absolutely sure they're compatible, and unless you're an engineer, it's t …

There is one area of the fall-arrest procedure that is lacking in many companies. It’s not the part where a worker is saved from a deadly fall; there are many products now that protect workers at heights. It is the part after the fall: The time when you would hope to witness a well-organized rescue plan while a worker hangs suspended, held aloft by a thin nylon strap or steel wire. Even companies who believe they have excellent safety standards often lack cohesive planning for recovery once a …

If you have ordered a harness from DBI-SALA in the past you may recall that they come with a belt that is one size up from the harness, that is to say, if you ordered a medium harness, it would come to you with a large belt. The rationale behind this being, that once you have all of your work clothes on and the padding in the harness, a larger size belt would be needed to get around all of this. The belts are somewhat adjustable and the discrepancy in sizing only rarely seemed to presen …

I often get questions about which fall protection harness is the best. Although the answer may depend on the application, there is one line that seems to stand above the rest. Let’s look at this recent question: I am looking for the lightest and safest possible harness for my workers to use at our wind site. We are currently using Exofit harnesses by DBI/SALA, but they are a few years old and we are looking to update. What do you recommend? DBI-SALA has been at the leading edge of …

Over the years we have had a lot of questions about fall protection. It can have disastrous consequences if you don't have the right type. That being said, fall protection, in general, has been getting better and better. Here is a common discussion I have regarding SRL's. What is an SRL? While some people believe SRL stands for Self-Retracting Lanyard, it really is an abbreviation for Self-Retracting Lifeline. Although that term may not mean much to you at first, it is actually a somewh …