Kollektion: Fall protection - The complete guide to Fall protection
FALL PROTECTION:
Falling accidents are among the most dangerous in the labor market and it is therefore necessary to protect employees who work at height. It is the employer's responsibility to ensure that the work is carried out properly and correctly in terms of safety.
To prevent fall accidents, it may be necessary to establish a fall prevention measure. This can e.g. be setting up scaffolding, lifts or installing fall protection equipment. Fall protection equipment must be used for short-term work tasks where work cannot be done
is properly carried out in another way.
A distinction is made between 3 main groups of fall protection equipment:
- to prevent falls
- to secure the working position at height and limit falls
- to catch falling persons
FALL PROTECTION SYSTEM:
A correct solution within fall protection includes a choice of product, as well as a decision on; Anchor point, the connection between anchor and person, harness, rescue and training.
ANCHOR POINT:
An anchor point is a fixed point in which lines and other fall protection equipment can be fixed. The anchor point can be a natural part of a construction, e.g. a rafter, but it can also be a fixed point which is specifically intended for fall protection equipment.
The anchor point must be able to withstand a load of at least 12 kN per person. It is far from unimportant where the anchor point is located in relation to the person wearing the fall arrester.
The locations of the various anchor points are described below.
Pendulum Swing:
Unless the anchor point is directly above the work site, you must be aware that in the event of a fall, you will swing back in the direction towards the anchor point. Before planning the work, you must therefore take into account whether you are more than 30 degrees out from the anchor point, and are therefore at risk of a pendulum swing. Pendulum swings can cause serious injuries and must therefore be taken seriously.
Drop factor 0
If the anchor point is above the workplace, a clearance of 2.5 meters below the workplace is normally required.
Drop factor 1
If the anchor point is located from the D-ring in the back, a clearance of 4.5 meters is required below
workplace.
Fall factor 2
If the anchor point is located at foot height, a clearance of 6.5 meters is required below the workplace.
CONNECTION BETWEEN ANCHOR AND PERSON:
Connecting link; connection between fall arrester and anchor point, can be made in the form of carabiners or special hooks. They are available with manually operated bypass or self-locking, which are opened over two or three steps. Less experienced people should choose a self-locking carabiner. Support straps and short lines; These must not be used to stop a fall, but only to prevent a fall.
Fall arrestors; must be a maximum of 2 m and is used to arrest a fall. Fall absorbers work by absorbing part of the fall energy, so that the person is not exposed to a load of more than 6 kN. Fall arresters may only be used in places where you have 4-6 meters of open air space below you. Fall arresters; available both as fully and semi-automatic, the best fall arresters are fall blocks. These
fall blocks keep the line taut throughout the work and stop immediately if you trip or fall. Installations; is fixed fall protection equipment which must secure the user on his access route at height. This can be, for example, in wind turbine towers, electricity masts or on ladders and roofs. The installation is only set up if a fall protection system is to be used repeatedly. Typically, an installation consists of a steel wire or a steel rail. The equipment is rugged and can withstand wind and weather.
The installation requires setup, drawing and advice by competent and authorized professionals.
HARNESS:
Braces; which is designed with straps around the chest, seat and thighs, is used to pick up falling people, or to lower and lift people with. This type of harness can also be used to secure the working position if the harness has a belt. The fall protection must be attached so that you hang upright in the event of a fall. During work, the harness must be snug. It is a good idea to choose a harness that is easy to put on and take off, has good adjustment options and is comfortable to wear. Belts; with D-rings on the side, used to prevent a fall and secure the working position. These belts can, for example, be used for mast and ladder work, or to limit freedom of movement towards the edges. For work on masts, a harness with belt and D-ring on the side can also be used. Belts are dangerous to life if they are used to withstand a fall.
RESCUE:
Before starting work, it is important to draw up an emergency rescue plan in the event of an accident.
The fall protection equipment ensures that the person is caught in a fall, but injuries can quickly occur to a hanging person. It is therefore important that the person is taken down as quickly as possible after falling.
At Sikkerhedsgianten, we have associated an expert who can advise on fall protection and rescue. Rescue and evacuation equipment; is made for picking up and/or lowering one or two people at the same time. The equipment is available with both mechanical and manual operation. However, it is recommended that you choose the mechanical solution, as panic situations and too rapid raising or lowering can have fatal consequences. If you choose the manual solution, it requires thorough training and frequent training, so that panic does not occur when the accident is over.
EDUCATION:
According to the AT guidance from October 2014, on fall protection, they advise that the user has received a thorough introduction to the equipment before they are put into use. The user must also be educated and, if necessary, trained in its use regularly. The requirement for teaching depends on the nature of the assignment.
EN - standards for fall protection:
An EN standard is a European standard. A document that describes which legal obligations a manufacturer has in relation to, for example, marking of material, strength and durability of the material, how often and how the material must be checked.
In Denmark, DS (Danish Standard) is the recognized player in the field. Why many standards are written with both DS and EN designations, e.g. DS/EN 341, which tells us that it is both a standard in DK and in the EU. If you want to read the entire standard in Danish, it can be purchased from DS.
In the overview below, we have limited ourselves to the EN designation. As it is the current European designation.
EN 341 Descending equipment for rescue use.
The provision for descent equipment intended for personal protection or as a rescue system.
EN 353-1 Sliding systems on inelastic anchoring line.
The provision for controlled fall protection systems, for example a rail system or a ladder system with rigid anchor lines.
EN 353-2 Sliding systems on flexible anchor line.
The provision for controlled fall protection systems, eg a rail system or a ladder system with flexible anchor lines.
EN 354 Liners (Lanyards).
The provision specifies the requirements, test methods, marking, information from the manufacturer and packaging for Liner. Lines conforming to this European Standard are used as connectors or components in personal fall protection systems (ie, restraints, work positioning systems, rope access systems, belay systems and rescue systems).
EN 355 Energy absorbers (fall absorbers).
The provision specifies the requirements, test methods, marking, information from the manufacturer and packaging for energy absorbers. Energy absorbers conforming to this European standard are used as elements or components either integrated in a line, an anchor line or a whole body bearing or in combination with one of them. Combinations of an energy absorber and a line are subsystems that form one of the falling systems covered by EN 363 when combined with a full body harness specified in EN 361. Fall arresters are specified in EN 353-1, EN 353-2 and EN 360 .
EN 358 Belts and lines for work positioning or fall prevention (support belts and support lines).
The provision applies to belts and lines intended for work positioning or restraint. It specifies the requirements, tests, marking and information provided by the manufacturer.
EN 360 Automatic catch devices (fall blocks).
The provision specifies the requirements, test methods, marking, information from the manufacturer and packaging requirements for automatic capture devices. Automatic fall arrest devices in accordance with this provision are subsystems that form one of the fall protection systems covered by EN 363 when combined with a full body harness specified in EN 361. Other types of fall arrest devices are specified in EN 353-1 and EN 353 -2. Energy absorbers are specified in EN 355.
EN 361 Fall arrest harnesses.
The provision specifies the requirements, test methods, marking, information from the manufacturer and packaging requirements for fall arrest harnesses. Other forms of body support, specified in other European Standards, e.g. EN 358, EN 813 or EN 1497, can be incorporated into fall arrest harnesses. Fall protection systems are specified in EN 363.
EN 362 Connection joint.
The provision specifies the requirements, the test methods, the marking and the information from
the manufacturer of the connecting link. Connecting links covered by this provision are used as connecting elements in personal fall protection systems, i.e. fall absorption, work positioning, rope access, restraint and rescue systems.
EN 363 Personal fall protection systems.
The provision specifies the general characteristics and assembly of personal fall protection systems. It provides examples of the specific types of personal fall protection systems and describes how components can be fitted into a system.
EN 364 Test methods.
The provision specifies test methods for materials, components and systems in connection with fall protection equipment as follows:
a) Static test devices and static test methods.
b) Dynamic test apparatus, including a torso dummy.
c) Test methods for dynamic performance and dynamic strength testing of components and systems.
d) Corrosion test of metal components.
e) Test apparatus and test methods for durability and endurance tests.
The standard also provides recommendations for planning tests.
EN 365 General requirements for instructions for use, maintenance, periodic inspection, repair, labeling and packaging.
The provision sets out the minimum requirements for instructions for use, maintenance, periodic inspection, repair, labeling and packaging of fall protection equipment, which includes fall protection harnesses and other equipment used in connection with attachment, to prevent falls, for access, egress and working position, to absorb falls and to the rescue.
This document is not intended to cover:
1) Specific requirements relevant only to the relevant fall protection equipment or other equipment for protection against falls from a height and its use, which must be specified in the relevant document.
2) Fall protection equipment or other equipment to protect against falling from a height used in any sport or recreational activity.
EN 795 Anchoring devices (applicable for 1 person).
The provision sets out the requirements, test methods and instructions for use and marking for anchors Devices intended solely for fall arrest use. This provision does not apply to hooks designed to EN 517 or walkways to EN 516 or fixed anchor points that form part of the original structure .
EN 813 Seat belt.
The provision specifies requirements, tests, marking and instructions for the use of seat belts for use in working positions and restraints where a low anchor point is required. Seat belts are not
suitable for use as fall protection equipment.
DS/CEN/TS 16415 Anchoring device recommendations (anchoring devices to be used by several people at once).
Recommendations for anchoring equipment to be used by several people at the same time.
EN 1496 Rescue lifting equipment.
The provision specifies requirements, test methods, instructions for use and labeling for rescue lifting devices. Rescue lifting equipment is not part of fall protection equipment.
EN 1497 Life jackets.
The provision specifies requirements, test methods, requirements for user instructions and marking of life belts. Life belts which under this provision are used as part of a rescue system. A life harness is not intended for use as fall protection equipment.
EN 1498 Rescue loops.
The provision specifies requirements, test methods, requirements for user instructions and marking of lifelines. A lifeline is not intended for use as fall protection equipment.
EN 1868 List of equivalent terms.
The standard covers terms within the fall protection area. The standard specifies a list of terms that can be used to define fall protection equipment. The terms are listed in alphabetical order in the three official languages of CEN: English, French and German. The terms and explanations in brackets are inserted to provide a better understanding of the term/word.
EN 1891 Core sheath rope with low tensile strength.
The standard is applicable to textile ropes in core sheath construction with low tensile strength with a diameter from 8.5 mm to 16 mm, for use by persons in work secured by rope, including all types of support and fastening devices; for rescue and cave research. Two types of rope are defined: A and B. The standard specifies requirements, testing, marking and information provided by the manufacturer, as well as instructions for use for such core sheath ropes with low tensile strength.
