Download GUIDELINE

6. DESCRIPTION
OF
SYSTEMS,
SUBSYSTEMS
AND
COMPONENTS OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
AGAINST FALLS FROM A HEIGHT
6.1 Fall arrest systems
Fall arrest systems can be classified as below.
1) Fall arrest system with guided type fall arrester including a rigid anchor
line:.
This system (figures 3 and 4) comprises a body harness and a subsystem with
a rigid anchor line, self-locking guided type fall arrester including a flexible
anchor line and a connector or a lanyard with a connector on one end. An
energy dissipator can be placed between the fall arrester and the anchor line
or an energy absorber can be integrated in the lanyard or in the anchor line.
The guided type fall arrester (figures 5 and 6) travels along the anchor line,
with the operator and no manual adjustment is required when ascending, and
in some instances even when descending, and in case of falls, it self-locks on
the anchor line.
A rigid anchor line can be made of a rail or metal rope and it is attached to a
frame so that lateral movements of the line are limited
To limit lateral movements, the rigid anchor line should be secured to a
framework at defined points, or the two ends of the metal rope should be
secured to a framework and the metal rope should be stretched.
The anchor line is designed so that the guided fall arrester can travel only in the
established directions and in such a way as to avoid the accidental
detachment of the guided type fall arrester from the anchor.
All the attachment/detachment points of the anchor line are fitted with a stop
to avoid that the guided type fall arrester is accidentally detached from the
anchor line.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Fig. 3 - Example of a fall arrest system comprising a body harness
connected by a short lanyard to a fall arrester on a rigid anchor line
to climb poles, ladders and pylons
Attachment/detaqchment/stop point
Rigid anchor line
Bracket to secure to a suitable rigid structure
Guided type fall arrester with energy
dissipator if necessary
5. Lanyard
6. Body harness with breastbone attachment for
fall arrest
21