We are introducing a new Fall Protection catalogue!
Fall protection is often taken lightly, although its underestimation often results in fatal consequences. It is surprising how often it is neglected. If only everyone used simple maths. Human response time to an unexpected event is approximately 2 seconds. During this time, you can drop 19.6 m by free fall and reach a speed of 71 km/h. Just a little mistake may have dire consequences. To help minimise these dangers, we have created a new fall protection catalogue which we would like to introduce to you briefly.
You may find some surprising information right at the beginning. Do you know where you should protect yourself from falling according to the legislation?
First and foremost, these areas include all workplaces and access roads that are more than 1.5 m above the surrounding area (or if there is free depth exceeding 1.5 m below these places). Furthermore, it is necessary to use fall protection at all workplaces and access roads that are located at any height above the water and other substances that may be life-threatening in the event of fall-flammable substances, acids, alkalis, poisons, etc.
New personal protection equipment focusing on work at height, narrow spaces or above the water surface contains only a small portion of the PPE that exists. Their correct selection and combination depend on the risks associated with the given job. However, we can propose the right combination of personal protection equipment right on-site and provide the related services at the same time.
We have extended our portfolio to include new brand products
In addition to the existing brands in our portfolio, you can also choose from two new ones, which belong, without any exaggeration, among leaders in the fall protection industry . These include the Portuguese Fallsafe brand and German Skylotec. Our new catalogue includes the most interesting part of the product portfolios of these two companies with these products on stock. However, if you find some other product that you may be interested in when browsing the Skylotec or Fallsafe catalogue, contact us, and we can arrange delivery of the products to you.
Hottest news products
The most important new releases presented in the new catalogue include products resistant to chemically aggressive substances and heat resistant products. Both types will be appreciated by workers who, in addition to height, are also endangered by other specific hazards. On the other side, people who can be considered non-specialists will surely appreciate our sets that notably ease the selection of the correct PPE.
Unique products:
TUFF FS233 body harness and FS531 shock absorbing lanyard are suitable even for chemically dangerous environment thanks to their use of Hi-Tech materials. The unique layering of straps allows their reuse even in environments where it was not possible in the past. It also brings much greater comfort. In the predecessors of these models, only one-time use or overlapping of the strap with other protective layers was possible, which significantly reduced the manoeuvrability of the user.
Generally, chemical damage includes contamination with oil substances, paints, sealants and other chemical products commonly encountered by workers at heights. Thanks to innovative solutions used in TUFF series products, these chemicals do not penetrate the polyamide straps, thus reducing their strength by tens of per cent, as with conventional polyamide strap products. At the end of the work, these chemicals can be wiped off the surface of the straps and the equipment can be further used.
Non-flammable fall protection products
When designing fall protection equipment, we have also thought of workers exposed to high temperatures at work. Non-flammable fall protection products are intended for those who have to work with heat sources while working at heights-welding, metal cutting and the like.
The harness is made from Kevlar, which is also used in the production of space shuttles or Formula One cars. The material properties ensure maximum thermal resistance of the straps, which can withstand temperatures of 400 °C in the short term. As a result, flying droplets of molten metal slip off the strap surface and do not burn holes into it as with conventional harnesses. This guarantees a long usable life of these products compared to conventional harnesses, where a burnt hole means that the product must be put out of operation due to its ineligibility.
Practical sets
We have newly included five sets that are designed for specific works. The sets packed in bags are equipped with labels describing work for which they are intended. The customer is then able to choose the equipment for their work in the shop even without more in-depth knowledge of the issue. Similarly, the salesperson can offer to the client an adequate solution based on descriptions and pictograms, without having to go through a demanding training that this issue otherwise requires. The novelty in the form of practical sets is considered one of the essential ways of bringing fall protection closer to the non-professional public.
Sets are divided according to works as follows:
- Work on roofs and ascent to the place of work
- Maintenance work and work on platforms
- Movement on steel structures and scaffoldings
- Gable roofs-ascent and descent
- Steel structures, poles, telecommunications
Basics of working at heights
Basics of working at heights
In the end, we would like to give you a closer look at the basics of protection while working at heights. The essential components for fall protection are described using the ABC system, with the system simply functioning only as a whole.
A - Anchor point/anchoring device
The anchor point is a certified system element, or part of the structure with sufficient load-bearing capacity in the direction of fall-a beam, a scaffolding, etc. The anchoring device is then used to connect the fastener (e.g. fall arrester, restraint system) to the anchor point.
Users often make a mistake by using uncertified anchor points or places with unknown or doubtful load-bearing capacity!
The anchoring devices are divided into two types:
- permanent anchoring (horizontal cable line paths, horizontal rail systems…)
- temporary anchoring devices (supporting anchors, steel beams, scaffolding loops, portable strap systems…)
B - Full body harness
Used to arrest a worker during and after a fall.
In practice, two types of body harnesses are used:
- full body harness that is used in places where there is a risk of falling
- a positioning belt is used to prevent entry into areas where there is a risk of falling. However, a positioning belt cannot replace full-body harness
C - Connection elements
These mainly include a rope with an energy absorber, a self-retracting device or positioning devices. They are used as an interface between the worker's harness and the anchoring device.
The connection elements are available in two types again:
- a restraint system that eliminates the risk of falling; it keeps the worker away from the danger zone with the risk of falling, acts as a fall prevention
- a fall arrester, a restraint system limiting the consequences of the fall itself. Energy absorbing is one of its essential elements
Another important aspect of the entire fall protection system is the evacuation and rescue plan. Every worker and persons responsible for working at heights must be familiar with this plan. Observe the principles of safe use of fall protection equipment and working at heights.
Before you use each fall protection device, it must be checked that it is in perfect working order.