FallTech Beam Anchors - Manual (Page 5)

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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
of the fall. In the case of Shock-Absorbing Lanyards and Self-Retracting
Lifelines, these products are both a connecting device and a deceleration
device as they will keep you attached to your anchorage and will reduce
the forces on your body in the event of a fall.
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. A Shock-Absorbing
Lanyard or a Self-Retracting Lifeline should never be utilized in a
restraint application as it they 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 SAL or an SRL should
never be used for work positioning, nor should they ever be attached to a
side or hip d-ring on a full body harness. However, while rigged for
work positioning, the user should always have an SAL or SRL
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attached to the back d-ring of their full body harness and tied-off to
the structure on which they are positioning as a back up device.
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
anchor-point is available. Tying off in a manner that would create a
Free-Fall greater than 6’ should always be a last resort. If you are
rigging a system that allows more than 6’ of Free-Fall, make sure your
Connecting Device/Deceleration Device is rated for this application.
2.9: Clear-Fall
Clear-Fall or Clear-Fall Distance is the distance that is required to
safely arrest the fall of a user. When working at heights and using a
PFAS, it is important to consider the distance between the
walking/working level and the next lower level to ensure that the
components selected are capable of arresting the user’s fall before they
hit the next lower level. The required Clear-Fall Distance can easily be
calculated by adding together the Free-Fall Distance, the Deceleration
Distance, the height of the user plus a safety factor of 2 feet. The
formula for calculating Clear-Fall Distance is shown below:
Free-Fall Distance + Deceleration Distance + Height of Worker + Safety Factor = Clear-Fall
Distance
The matrix below can be used as a guide for calculating Clear-Fall
Distance on your job-site:
Example Values Actual Values
Free-Fall Distance
(OSHA allows up to 6’)
6’
Deceleration
Distance
(Typically 3.5’ or less)
3.5’
Height of Worker 6’
Safety Factor
(Minimum of 2’)
2’
Total
(Sum of all values)
17.5’