Simulated fall with shock-pack type lanyard

Demonstrating the shock pack type fall protection lanyard

 

In this video we will be demonstrating the shock pack type fall protection lanyard. Fall protection serves two purposes: First to keep you from hitting the ground in the event of the fall, and second to keep the arresting forces on your body to a minimum. This video shows a simulated fall with a shock pack type lanyard, specifically the EZ-STOP II 1240006 shock-absorbing lanyard by Capital Safety.

 

All EZ Stop II lanyards limit the arresting forces on your body to less than 900 lbs by using a controlled tearing action when subjected to fall arrest forces. This meets or exceeds all applicable industry standards including OSHA, ANSI and the NEW stringent 2007 ANSI Z359. You can very easily tell when a shock pack lanyard has been in a fall because some of the webbing in the shock pack will be exposed after the controlled tearing has taken place. It’s just one of the many great features about this type of device.

 

As you can tell, the forces seen on our test weight in this video are drastically different to the forces seen on the fall with no shock-absorbing feature.

 

Capital Safety DBI/SALA 9501403 Suspension Trauma Strap

DBI/SALA 9501403 Suspension Trauma Safety Straps

The DBI/SALA 9501403 Suspension Trauma Safety Straps help prevent the effects of suspension trauma after a fall. After a fall, while hanging in your harness, the leg straps on your harness are cutting off the circulation to your legs. This means your blood is pooling in your legs instead of circulating you body and getting to your brain. This lack of oxygenated blood to the brain can cause you to pass out. While the blood is sitting in your legs, it is not getting oxygen and your  red blood cells are dying. Once you are rescued, the dead blood pooled in your legs is released, and can cause toxic shock. If you are not rescued promptly, the lack of oxygen to your brain could even result in death. 

The Suspension Trauma Straps allow a worker who is suspended to stand up in their harness and to relieve the pressure on their legs. This is a great safety accessory that can be attached to most harness brands/styles right in the field. Installing the safety straps to your harness is fast and efficient - just choke off to strap and it's ready. They are extremely compact and lightweight so they will stay out of your way while working. To deploy and operate, simply unzip, and hook the ends of the straps together. Adjustments in the strap allow you to get the perfect length for you to stand comfortably in.

The Suspension Trauma Safety Strap was designed to help workers overcome the potentially negative health effects of suspension trauma (otherwise known as Orthostatic Intolerance or Orthostatic Shock). This condition occurs when someone remains suspended at height (after a fall) for even short periods of time. OSHA requires that employers provide prompt rescue of employees in the event of a fall. The Suspension Trauma Safety Straps are designed to prevent suspension trauma while a worker is awaiting that rescue.

Simulated fall with a restrain lanyard

Simulated fall with a restrain lanyard

Fall protection serves two purposes: First to keep you from hitting the ground in the event of the fall, and second to keep the arresting forces on your body to a minimum. This video shows a simulated fall with a restraint lanyard. Fall restraint lanyards are designed to keep you from getting close enough to the edge to fall, not to arrest your fall.

Without a shock absorber, the sudden stop at the end of a fall could cause severe injury. When your harness is attached to the anchor point, you should not be able to get in a position to fall. For instance, the edge might be on a work platform. The restraint lanyard should keep you from reaching that edge. 

Because a restraint lanyard has no shock absorbing feature, all of the speed and energy that you build up while falling, is released on your body when you finally do stop. A fall for a 310 lb. person would result in about 4000 lbs. of force on their body!

You will be able to see this incredible amount of force at work while watching this video. It doesn't look too good for our test weight!

 

DBI 8510140 Advanced Vehicle Hitch Mount Sleeve

DBI 8510140 Hitch Mount Sleeve

 

The DBI 8510140 Hitch mount sleeve is a tremendous product. It is very popular with our utility customers. The hitch mount sleeve provides a mounting point for almost any of the Advanced Confined Space Retrieval products. The hitch mount sleeve will fit your vehicle if you a square tube receiver hitch. You can have a safe and secure anchor point as close as your back bumper!

 

The vehicle hitch mount sleeve is made of zinc-plated steel. It accommodates a 29” maximum offset mast, such as the Advanced 1 Piece 12-29 Inch Adjustable Offset Mast. A powder coated aluminum stabilizer bar helps to resist movement from side-to-side. The hitch mount unit is designed to slide into a 2” hitch receiver on an attendant vehicle where it is secured with a detent pin. No tools required!

 

This provides a portable anchor point for confined space entry, retrieval, rescue and fall arrest systems. Typical applications include lowering and raising equipment and personnel in locations like remote pumping stations or underground vaults. The more distinctive uses we have seen include rescue and retrieval over the side of a bridge, or even at the edge of a settling pond.

 

Unlike a Confined Space Tripod, or even the Advanced 5-Piece Hoist System,  you have a portable anchor point right at the edge of wherever your vehicle can take you. That is what makes this system so unique. Our customers love having a man-rated davit arm extending out into space, right where they need it. Use your imagination to see where this system might have saved you time or even made the access a little safer.

 

To accommodate your specific work environment, this Advanced system has many available accessories that extend the usable terrain on which you can safely operate. If you look on our website, you will find a variety of sockets, extensions and accessories are available to make the sleeve more versatile.

Fall protection product/gear/equipment demonstrations

Fall protection product/gear/equipment demonstrations

 

In the next few videos, we will be looking at DBI products and their various applications. In particular we will be using their demonstration truck to drop a test weight with various types of fall protections, such as a restraint lanyard, a shock pack lanyard, a shock wave lanyard and an SRL. I hope you enjoy these fall protection product/gear/equipment demonstrations.

 

It is easy to see the difference in the various types of fall protection once you see this weight falling and imagine your body in its place. If you would like to see this demonstration in person, there are DBI reps all over the country with the same or similar demonstration trucks. Contact us or DBI directly if you are interested in this demo and training at your job site.

DBI 8518000 Advanced 5 Piece Hoist System

Advanced 5-piece hoist system from DBI/SALA

 

This Advanced 5-piece hoist system from DBI/SALA is designed for retrieval out of and entry into manholes or confined spaces. The 8518000 is a versatile platform for your confined space retrieval needs. It can be set up almost anywhere, and used over square holes, or holes with hinged doors. It is light weight and easily packs up and fits into the your truck.

Many customers prefer this method over the traditional Confined Space Retrieval Tripod, even though this is more expensive. Many of our municipal customers have found value in this 5-piece concept. If confined space entry and retrieval are daily jobs for you, this system will pay for itself in no time.

One of the largest advantages to this design is open access to both the person being retrieved and the entrance point (e.g. manhole). While tripods might leave you feeling fenced in, limiting access and flexibility, the open design of the five piece system will do just the opposite. With the pivoting mast of the 5-piece, either personnel or equipment can be swung away from the hole. Do this a couple of times, and you'll never go back to an A-Frame or Tripod.

The five piece system is constructed of lightweight materials, including high strength aluminum. The base adjusts to fit most entries and other bases, like the hitch mount for example, are available. The davit-arm pivots for easier rescue and has limited adjustments to meet clearance requirements.