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i <br /> PERSONAL FALL PROTECTION <br /> GENERAL <br /> Ina fall,before the arresting equipment starts to work,the worker is fi-ee falling. After a certain distance,the <br /> system activates. It then takes more distance, known as the deceleration distance, to bring the worker to a <br /> full stop. Arresting force is required to stop a fall. The fall-arresting force strikes the body through the straps <br /> of the body harness. The resulting jolt can cause severe internal injuries if the equipment is not rigged <br /> properly. Deceleration systems help absorb the fall-arrest force. <br /> TYPES OF SYSTEMS <br /> A personal fall protection system is a secondary system,and should be used as a back up to primary systems <br /> (guardrails,hole covers,etc.),or in the absence of primary systems. <br /> There are three basic types of personal fall-protection systems; <br /> 1. Personal Fall-Arrest Systems catch workers after they have fallen. This system may include <br /> an anchorage point(s), body harness, lifelines, lanyards, connectors, deceleration device, or a <br /> suitable combination of these components. <br /> f 2. Positioning Devices are designed to support the employee in a working position. Examples are <br /> a lineman's belt,a rebar belt and a window cleaner's belt. <br /> 3. Ladder-Climbing Devices connect to the front D-ring on the climber's body harness that slides <br /> up and down a rigid rail or cable. Should a fall occur, the device is designed to lock by inertia <br /> or cam action to arrest the fall. <br /> ANCHORAGE <br /> The anchorage point(s)should be strong enough to withstand the maximum fall-arrest force. <br /> Jnspect the anchorage point(s)carefully before hooking up. i <br /> LANYARDS <br /> Use a shorter lanyard(less than 6 feet)to limit Elie free-fall distance. <br /> Limit the amount of slack by tying-off above you,or no lower than your shoulder,if possible. <br /> Never tie-off to a point that would allow more than 6 feet of free-fall. <br /> Shock-absorbing and self retracting lanyards have built in absorbing protection and work automatically. <br /> Do not tie off around rough or sharp surfaces that could damage the lanyard. <br /> J <br />