The Basics of Horizontal Lifelines

Installing a horizontal lifeline system can feel overwhelming, with good reason.? This is an introduction to the basic things that you need to understand before you enact this process.?

Who is responsible for fall safety??

This may seem like an unnecessary question. You would be surprised how often this is ignored or pushed off onto someone else.? Here is the simple answer.? If you employ someone to do a job, then you are responsible for the safety of that person(s).? You could be someone hiring a contractor, using a maintenance team within your company, or a contractor using a subcontractor.? It doesn’t matter.? You are responsible for the safety of those you employ.?

If you are the person being employed, then know that this is your right.? You have the right to a safe work environment.? Say “no” to work that puts you in a hazardous situation without the proper protection in place.?

What authorities or codes govern safety??

In the US, the biggest governing body is going to be OSHA.? This is a federal organization whose purpose is to set standards for a safe and healthy work environment.? The regulations that they create are the minimum standard for safety.?

Another agency to be aware of is the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).? This organization has brought greater clarity to the OSHA code, providing deeper insight and raising the bar for safety.? A lot of the PPE that you purchase will have standards set by ANSI.???

Local building codes will also have standards that you’ll need to follow, sometimes describing scenarios where guardrail must be used in lieu of a personal fall protection system.?

What are the components of a lifeline system??

There is a commonly used acronym in the safety industry to help you with this.? The ABCs of fall protection.?

A is for anchor.? This is where you determine what the user will attach to.? This is going to require you to think about the structure you attach to and the anchor that is attached to the structure.? OSHA and ANSI both set standards for anchor requirements.? To put it simply, an anchor needs to be able to withstand a 5,000-pound force.? It can be engineered to require less than that if the qualified person approves it under OSHA standards.?

B is for body harness.? This one is easy.? Make sure that the safety harness has the appropriate weight requirements for the user.? Most fall protection harnesses are rated for a 310-pound user, including their gear.? Also, make sure that you consider the work that’s being done.? For example, you wouldn’t want a user to have exposed metal on their harness if they’re doing electrical work.?

C is for connector.? This is the device that connects the user’s harness to the anchor.? This will be very application-specific.? A self-retracting lifeline is great if you are tying off to an anchor or lifeline overhead.? You may need a shock absorber if there is potential for a fall.? Or you may want a 4-foot lanyard with no shock absorber if they are working in a lift.? After all, you wouldn’t want someone to be flung out of the lift if the lanyard is supposed to keep them inside it.?

What’s the difference between Fall Restraint and Fall Arrest??

If the user can fall through or over a fall hazard, then that person is operating in fall arrest.? Adversely, fall restraint is when the user is incapable of encountering a fall hazard.? It seems obvious that fall restraint is the safer of the two options, but sometimes that is not possible.? This could be due to the work that needs to be done, like gutter cleaning, or the size of the working surface.?

An important note is to remember to use the right connector.? If it’s too long, then the user can access a fall hazard and they are not in restraint.? Or, if they fall, then the user could fall too far and cause a greater force to the user than is safe.? Also, don’t use a self-retracting lifeline below head level unless it is designed to do so.?

What else should you know??

A lot.? There is more that we didn’t go over in this article, like the various roles that need to be present, the need for a rescue plan, inspections, training, and more.? If you’d like to learn about these things, then please head over to Simplified Safety to read more about horizontal lifelines or speak with a safety expert.?