C. Connector
A connector can be a zippered line, fixed line, halyard, mini block, etc. A carabiner is used to connect and disconnect. A carabiner used for fall protection must be 2-step locked to prevent accidental disconnection. Regardless of what you use as a connector, it must (like all other fall protection equipment) have an annual service check by a certified technician.
The connector must be suitable for the work and location of the anchor point(s). Here you need to consider the possibility of a fall-preventing rather than fall-absorbing effect.
Anti-fall fall protection
When working at height, fall arrest is the most effective and safe method of fall protection. The fall arrester prevents falls when you move straight out from your anchor point and adjusts the length of your connector to make it impossible to fall over the edge.
A rooftop fall protection system cannot prevent falls per se, but can be positioned to make it easier to use according to a fall prevention principle. That is, it is the user and the equipment that determines whether it prevents falls. This requires that you are properly instructed in the use of the equipment.
Fall protection is necessary if there is a free fall height between 2-3.5 meters and other safety measures are not an option.
The most optimal solution for a fall prevention system would be to place a wire system 2.5 meters from the edge and use a fixed 2 meter line so that even an inexperienced fall protection user can use it without the risk of falling.
Anti-fall fall protection
As soon as you start to swing out from your anchor point, fall protection will cushion the fall. You need to account for pendulation and have an evacuation plan in place in case of an accident.
It must be equipped with a fall absorber to absorb the force of the fall. When using an adjustable line with a slide lock, there must be a free fall height of at least 3.5 meters, which may be higher depending on the extent of the pendulum. When using a fixed 2 meter line with a fall arrestor, there must be a free fall height of 6.5 meters.
With a fall arrest system, the employer must ensure that the edge is not sharp and can cut the connector with the force of the fall. The edge should have a minimum radius of 0.5 mm. If it is smaller, it must be shielded.
You should move a maximum of 30 degrees to the sides from the anchor point to avoid excessive pendulum effect. A pendulum swing can cause serious injury by colliding with various objects or the building itself. Depending on the height of the fall, in a worst-case scenario, the line may be extended to a length that reaches the ground at the point of the swing. The fall protection will then have no effect.
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