Connecting Devices
Several fall protection harnesses and other PPE is hanging from hooks on the wall.
Date Posted: 05/30/2024
According to WAC 296-880-095, a connecting device or connector is “a device which is used to connect parts of the personal fall arrest system and positioning device systems together. It may be an independent component of the system, such as a carabiner, or it may be an integral component of part of the system (such as a buckle or D-ring sewn into a harness, or a snap hook spliced or sewn to a lanyard or self-retracting lanyard). For example, a personal fall arrest connector is often a shock-absorbing lanyard or self-retracting lifeline equipped with an energy-absorbing element to reduce the force transmitted to the user’s body in the event of a fall. Examples of standard connecting devices include lanyards, self-retracting lifelines, and vertical lifeline systems.
What are the Primary Types of Connecting Devices
Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS) lanyards are flexible lines that secure full-body harnesses to anchorage points. The standard lanyard length for PFAS connectors is six feet, but workers should select the shortest possible length to minimize free-fall distance without hindering movement. There are two main styles of PFAS connecting devices:
Energy (Shock) absorbing lanyards
Self-retracting lifelines
Fall restraint lanyards
A harness is shown with connecting devices.
Energy (Shock) Absorbing Lanyards
Energy-absorbing lanyards are fixed-length devices designed to reduce the energy transmitted to the user’s body in a fall. Shock-absorbing lanyards also provide deceleration distance during a fall. The OSHA and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) specify that these devices must reduce the fall-arresting forces on the worker below the injury threshold. Energy-absorbing lanyards use one of two mechanisms to facilitate energy transfer:
Shock packs
Internal shock-absorbing material
A shock-absorber pack has a specially woven inner core that expands to reduce the impact of a fall. Lanyards with an internal shock-absorbing material have a built-in woven inner core.
Self-Retracting Lifelines (SRL)
Self-retracting lifelines (SRL) are designed using webbing, wire rope, or a cable that automatically retracts into a housing unit, never allowing for any slack in the line. SRLs are longer than lanyards and permit a more extensive working radius, even when using a fixed anchor point—which is typically overhead. A breaking mechanism inside the housing unit will arrest a worker’s fall, much like a car’s seatbelt. A self-retracting lifeline is slightly heavier than an energy-absorbing lanyard. That said, they offer more mobility and fast-acting fall arrest capability.
Fall Restraint Lanyards
With a restraint system, the length of the lanyard prevents a user from getting close to the edge of the working platform. The safest way to do this is to use a lanyard with a fixed length. Fall restraints fall under the category of fall prevention. A fall restraint system will prevent the worker from being exposed to a fall hazard by restricting the worker’s travel along an elevated surface. For a fall restraint system to be safe, it needs to calculate the force the system must withstand to keep a worker safe from reaching the fall hazard. This force can arise from leaning away from the safety line, walking away, or sliding or slipping. With a proper fall restraint system, workers can have freedom of movement to do their jobs while being protected from falls.
Considerations When Deciding What Connecting Device to Select
Work to be Completed
The connecting device you select depends on the job you intend to complete. Will the connecting device be used primarily for general fall arrest, work positioning, or ladder climbing? Consider a fall protection lanyard for use as a restraint system. An SRL with retrieval capabilities would be a more appropriate choice for use as a retrieval system. Also, ask yourself, where can you install your anchor points? If it’s on the walking-working surface, you’re likely looking at a fall protection lanyard. If it’s overhead, you can use an SRL.
Size of Work Area and location of Anchorage
What’s the size of your work area? With a fixed anchor point, a worker using a fall protection lanyard only has a six-foot radius. This makes for a relatively small region in which to maneuver. In addition, they must connect to a new anchor point if you need to move beyond. With a self-retractable lifeline, however, that same worker can cover much more ground.
Distance from Work Area to the Lower Level and Fall Clearance Needed
In addition to work radius, you must consider fall clearance (see below). Fall clearance is the minimum vertical distance between an employee’s feet and a lower level. When the fall clearance remains constant, choosing a lanyard may make sense. However, if a worker’s distance changes throughout the day (think: adding floors to a construction frame), a self-retracting lifeline may be the more practical option.
