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supervisor. For more details on anchorages, please see section 5 of this
instruction manual.
2.2: Body-wear
Body wear for any application where this SRL is to be used will be
defined as a full body harness specifically manufactured for fall arrest.
This SRL should only be attached to the back d-ring of your full body
harness for fall arrest applications. The only allowable exception would
be in situations where the free fall is limited to an absolute maximum of
two feet – in this case, the attachment-end carabiner may be connected
to the front d-ring of a full body harness that is so equipped. Under no
circumstances should the SRL ever be attached to a side or hip d-ring:
Such a connection could cause serious injury or death. Be sure to read
and follow the manufacturer’s instructions included with your full body
harness at the time of purchase.
2.3: Connectors/Connecting Devices
Connectors and Connecting Devices are terms that are sometimes
used interchangeably. It is important to note the differences between
these two terms in order to help distinguish the parts that these
components play in the rigging of your PFAS. In both cases, these
products/components are required to have a minimum static strength of
5,000 lbs. For additional details on requirements for connectors and
connecting devices, see OSHA 1926.502 at www.osha.gov as
referenced in section 1, advisory #1.
A
connector
is any metallic, mechanical element such as a
carabiner, snap hook or rebar hook that physically links one or more
elements of a your PFAS together in a manner such that they will remain
engaged to one another unless they are intentionally disengaged.
A
connecting device
is an element that connects your full body
harness to the anchorage in an effort to ensure that you remain attached
or tethered to the structure upon which you are working. In other words,
the connecting device is that element which secures you to your
anchorage.
2.4: Deceleration Devices
A
deceleration device
is the element of a Personal Fall Arrest
System (PFAS) which is activated during a fall event and reduces the
forces exerted on the user’s body and on the anchorage during the arrest
10
of the fall. In the case of your
FallTech DuraTech
SRL, this product is
both a connecting device and a deceleration device as it will keep you
attached to your anchorage and will reduce the forces on your body in
the event of a fall. For more details on the capabilities and specifications
of your
FallTech DuraTech
SRL, please see section 10 of this instruction
manual.
2.5: Fall Arrest
Fall Arrest
is an area of Fall Protection which focuses on stopping a
fall once it has occurred. Personal Fall Arrest Systems typically consist
of an anchorage, a full body harness and a self-retracting lifeline, shock-
absorbing lanyard or other deceleration device designed to bring a falling
user to a stop in the shortest possible distance while limiting the force
imparted to the user’s body.
2.6: Fall Restraint
Fall Restraint
is an area of Fall Protection devoted to restraining the
user of the system in a manner which restricts his or her access to the
fall hazard in a manner such that they cannot be subjected to a fall. A
typical Fall Restraint System consists of an anchorage, a full body
harness or a restraint belt and a restraint lanyard. An SRL should never
be utilized in a restraint application as it is not capable of restricting a
user’s access to fall hazards.
2.7: Work Positioning
Work Positioning
is an area of Fall Protection devoted to allowing a
user to work on a vertical surface by means of a positioning assembly,
and restricting the user’s exposure to a fall of no more than two feet.
Typical positioning assemblies consist of a large rebar hook and a length
of chain, rope, wire rope or webbing with a double locking snap hook on
either end. These snap hooks are attached to d-rings on the hips or on
the waist of the user’s full body harness, with the rebar hook attached to
the structure upon which the user is working. An SRL should never be
used for work positioning, nor should it ever be attached to a side or hip
d-ring on a full body harness.
2.8: Free-Fall
Free-Fall is the distance that a worker will fall before the connecting
device or deceleration device elements of the PFAS will begin to engage
during a fall event. OSHA allows a maximum Free-Fall Distance of 6’ (6
feet) when rigging a Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS). In some
cases, exceptions may be allowed when there is no practical way to limit
the Free-Fall Distance to 6’, such as a job-site where no overhead
