Rope access

Fall protection equipment

The fall protection equipment essentially consists of a body harness on the user that connects directly to a structure strong enough to stop a fall. The connection to the structure is made using a lanyard with carabiners. The lanyard is a collective term for a range of equipment used for this purpose, and these are available in many variants adapted to different applications. Alternatively, a fall arrest block can be attached to the structure to give users great freedom of movement. This has a line that automatically extends and retracts into a spool and allows the user to move freely, but locks at a rapid change in speed triggered by a fall. It is also possible to attach indirectly to a structure such as a steel wire that is tensioned like a running string.

Common to all equipment is that the products must meet NS-EN standards and be CE marked. In other words, you cannot tension a steel wire rope or other equipment that does not have this approval and use it in the safety chain because it is not approved as personal protective equipment (PPE). The certification of products is a government-imposed process designed to protect users from serious injury or death. However, it is not enough just to provide the equipment, the employer also has a legal responsibility to ensure that users have the necessary training in the use of the equipment. Without adequate training, it is possible to put yourself and others at great risk without realizing it.