Working from height carries the fall hazard. It has been found that falling from heights is the major cause of injuries and fatalities in the workplace. Because of this, fall protection is one of the OSHA requirement for employees working from heights. There are many situations where employees are required to work from a height like during inspections, maintenance, and installation of some systems. Other areas where employees work from heights include commercial construction sites, bridge construction, and oilfield. It is important that the right fall-arrest systems are put in place for employees’ safety and to comply with OSHA regulations. There are different types of fall-arrest devices and one of them is the self-retracting lifeline. The retractable lifelines are perfect for situations where employees move around some distances from the anchor. The self retractable lifelines will extend to the maximum distance as stated on the line. However, the self- retracting lifeline spools into the case by winding automatically around the internal drum. There are, however, certain reasons that make self-retractable lifelines perfect for fall arrest. The first reason is that there are no extra lines. In the case of a standard lanyard, there is some risk especially when multiple workers are working from the same location. Because of the extra lines, they create complications with freedom of movement, as well as watching out other lines. Such risks are, however, eliminated by self-retracting lifelines since lines will not cross each other or get wrapped around other items. Another good thing about self-retracting lifelines is that there are rescue options. The best lifelines will offer workers with self-rescue options. The fall arrest system might have a self-rescue pulley that a worker may activate and pull himself back up. This makes it easier to rescue coworkers as well. At the same time, there is less fall distance required. This is because the retracting lifeline system will detect the motion, which will then activate the braking system if the speed of about four feet per second is detected. The speed could be detected in less 2 feet. Because of the reduced fall distance by a self-retracting lifeline, the risk of the worker reaching the ground or getting into contact with objects around the site is reduced. The arresting is also short with just 54 inches and the speed is slowed down. This will then minimize the risk of injury as a result of a sudden jolt. The self-retracting lifeline is, therefore, valuable in any worksite. Learn more about safety gates here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_Safety_Gates.
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