Choosing the Right SRL-The Essential Guide

Fall protection systems are a set of methods and systems meant to prevent falls and injury in the workplace. Falls from heights are a leading cause of workplace injuries and fatalities. OSHA requires that fall protection be provided at elevations of four feet in general industry workplaces, five feet in shipyards, six feet in the construction industry, and eight feet in long shoring operations. Understanding the basics of fall protection and its importance can mean the difference between employees getting home safely and taking a trip to the hospital. In addition, OSHA requires that fall protection be provided when working over dangerous equipment and machinery, regardless of the fall distance. By prioritizing fall protection such as the Safety Pole System, employers can safeguard the well-being of workers and minimize the associated risks. The Safety Pole System plays a crucial role in this regard, offering reliable protection against falls and reducing fall distances, thereby mitigating potential injuries.  An integral part of a fall protection system is Self Retracting Lifelines or, SRLs.

How can falls be reduced? There are many ways you can help prevent falls in the workplace. Prior to starting any project or task, it is crucial to analyze and think about the potential fall hazards. Anticipating risks helps you identify potential injuries before they occur. This is called Hazard Assessment. As you assess the work area, based on the trade you are a part of then you can create a fall protection plan based on what fall protection systems are necessary.

Where does Safety Pole fit into the mix?  The Safety Pole System is utilized primarily in the construction industry and when OSHA regulations require workers to be tied off at 6 feet.

When utilizing the Safety Pole System the Safety Pole Team conducts a hazard assessment specifically when the framers are walking top plate, sheathing, fascia, and setting, rolling, and sheathing roof trusses. This is why we require all new Safety Pole clients and encourage existing clients to send us their floor plans and elevations because at Safety Pole the system is utilized to cater to each company’s production process and potential budget limitations. We also need to identify project conditions to use the system as fast and efficiently as possible while maintaining 100% tie-off.  Anticipating risks is only half the battle because once potential fall hazards are identified there needs to be proper pre-planning.

Knowing what can immediately contribute to a fall can help in assessing the risk. Working near unguarded edges, lacking safe access, or walking on a slippery or uneven surface are some common examples. These considerations in the pre-planning stage can save the project time, money and liability.  

Here is an example: the key to pre-planning and conducting fall hazard assessments is to mitigate or eliminate the safety risk in the work area. It is key for the safety manager to develop a plan to implement the controls. For example, OSHA’s 1926 Subpart M lays out the criteria for fall protection and applies to workers who are working six feet or more above a lower level. If the worker is above 6 feet from the lower level a fall protection system such as the Safety Pole is required.

Safety Pole strongly encourages its customers to share their floor plans with our hazard assessment team.  After conducting a Fall Hazard Assessment based on the floor plans and elevations shown to us we can make sound recommendations on the components necessary to establish a safe and efficient workplace. When looking at the floor plans and elevations while conducting a Fall Hazard Assessment, a key thing to look at is wall heights which helps us identify the proper fall clearances required and tells us how far to span the Safety Pole System.  This also suggests where to install the system to identify where the framer is most exposed to falls when using the system and maintain a near 100% tie-off. Once the potential fall hazards are identified, we need to pre-plan the job site coordination and write a catered training plan that can go into the contractor’s Fall Protection Plan before injuries occur.

Why do all this? To conduct proper training each contractor needs to know the manufacturer’s recommendations and it is the contractor’s responsibility to provide Fall Protection Systems. Implementing safe work practices and providing thorough training can help reduce falls in the workplace. You may have proper fall protection systems in place but without proper training on how to use them, workers are still at risk.

With proper training, the workers understand a given fall protection system’s limitations and capabilities.  

With this training and use, the workers understand the importance of using intermediate products that meet the manufacturer’s recommendations for implementing proper fall protection such as the Safety Pole System.

Protecting workers from falls without restricting productivity is a delicate balance. When your workers need the ability to move around freely in worksites with fall hazards, the self-retracting lifeline is an essential addition to the Safety Pole System.

In conclusion, the importance of fall protection cannot be minimized.   Reducing OSHA fines and penalties, optimizing employee up-time, etc., are all good for the bottom line.  When employers embrace a safe workplace, they ensure a good nights sleep.

When operating the Safety Pole System we recommend Class 1 or 2 Leading Edge SRLs. Self-retracting lifelines are useful for a variety of applications.  These vertical connectors offer both flexibility and security. With the right care and use, self-retracting lifelines allow workers to work productively without threatening their safety.