Self Retracting Lifeline and Fall Prevention

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On occasions where staff are working in environments where there is the potential to fall a dangerous distance, it is essential that they are given some form of protection in order to arrest their descent. In situations where they are alone, or where other staff nearby may be unable to assist them, having a self retracting lifeline that will get them back to safety is necessary so that in the event of an accident of some sort, the person is able to return to safety without assistance.

While a conventional lifeline is simply a static rope tied onto the person who needs it, and is then connected to an anchor point at the top of the area being worked on, a self retracting lifeline is contained within a spool, so that in the event of an accident, the user will only fall a short distance.

There are a number of factors to consider when selecting the right self retracting lifeline to protect the lives of your workers or yourself, and these include the strength of the cable, the braking system that is used, the actual length of the cable or rope, and also, the ease with which the system can be set up and used.

The strength of the cable used in a self retracting lifeline needs to be sufficient to support the user and the additional force of deceleration that is applied to them when they fall and stop. This figure will depend on the distance that a person actually falls, but in most cases, a figure of several times the weight of the individual is required – although as stated above, systems with a lower braking power will need less because less force is applied to the rope. In addition to the strength of the cable, it is also important for all of the other equipment included within the self retracting lifeline kit such as the carabineers and the spool itself to be rated with enough strength to support the user.

Typically, the length of the self retracting lifeline must be sufficient to allow the user to get to the area where they are working, with enough spare capacity to allow comfortable movement. Most systems include at least 20 feet of line which is generally enough for most applications. For greater distances than this, it is wise to consider alternative arrangements, as these may become unmanageably large, and difficult to move into place. A self retracting lifeline needs to be a fairly compact piece of equipment to allow it to be deployed simply and quickly when needed.

The braking system used in a self retracting lifeline tends to be based around the same kind of inertial trigger as a seatbelt system. When force is suddenly applied to the line, the brake wheels inside the unit gradually stop the line paying out, and bring the user to a gentle halt. This prevents the kind of injuries that can happen when a person comes to a sudden stop after a fall is arrested by a static line.
There are a number of companies that produce a variety of self retracting lifelines, and these must all meet various ANSI guidelines in order to be certified as safe. Manufacturers such as Bilsom are widely regarded as leaders and innovators in the field. The company produces a number of different ranges of products that are suited to slightly different environments and uses including the best selling MightyLite Self retracting lifeline, and the practically indestructible Falcon lifelines, that are made to the highest possible standards.

In an area that can have a significant impact on the survivability of an accident such as the provision of a self retracting lifeline, choosing a high quality product and servicing it regularly to maintain its performance is essential.