Working from a great height can be a risky business, with the potential of taking a terrifying tumble an ever-present danger.
As such, knowing that your life is in safe hands is a vital part of the role, with a lack of precaution being a deadly consequence. Luckily, there are a variety of safety solutions to help keep you protected whilst working at height.
Safe, sound and secure, our variety of safety lines are specifically designed with safety in mind to leave you feeling stress-free, allowing you to focus on the task at hand.
In a nutshell, horizontal safety lines (aka horizontal lifelines) are wire-based horizontal fall protection for those that work at height. When other supports are not suitable for the task at hand, horizontal safety line systems can be a literal life-saver.
Particularly useful for those that work on rooftops, these lifelines – permanently attached to the surface for the duration of the job – allow the worker to move hands-free and unobstructed without the risk of falling to the ground below.
Horizontal safety lines typically offer duel fall protection in the form of “fall restraint” and “fall arrest”. While those terms may, on the surface, seem interchangeable, both offer two distinctly different forms of security.
As such, it’s vitally important to know the difference between the two and each phrase is well worth becoming acquainted with.
Fall Restraint Systems limit the user’s range of movement to within a set perimeter, essentially preventing you from reaching the point of a potential fall hazard. For example, if the edge of a building is 2 metres away from the safety line, a fall restraint may only allow you to explore up to 1.5 metres away from the safety line, effectively “restraining” you from access to the hazardous edge.
Unlike the preventative measures of a Fall Restraint System, Fall Arrest Systems act as a reactive safety net after a fall occurs. If access to an edge is a necessary part of a job, workers will naturally need a greater range of movement, so the length of lanyard provided will be greater than the distance to the edge. The “arrest” occurs if a fall takes place, prematurely halting the fall and preventing contact with the ground below.
When it comes to fall protection, we offer two primary options in terms of permanent horizontal safety line systems: namely the PRIM and the MONOLINE.
Each uniquely different yet both equally strong, these effective horizontal lifeline systems offer secure support for high-risk workers, whether they’re walking the rooftop high-wire or working high above a factory floor.
As major roofing manufacturers develop profiles of lighter weight and insulation of greater thickness, it’s important to approach these structures with safety equipment that doesn’t compromise structural integrity or user safety.
The PRIM Horizontal Safety Line System provides ample protection for up to two people working at height. Capable of being used as a fall arrest system or fall restraint system, this safety line consists of an 8mm stainless steel cable, which is then fastened to dynamic load control anchor posts which are in-turn installed to the finished roof surface.
Each anchor post is equipped with an integral load controlling element. The load control element is specially designed to reduce the loadings subjected to the roof during a fall situation. This not only reduces possible damage to the roof surface during a fall but also reduces the impact loadings through the complete safety line ensuring no overloading is possible. The worker can connect their lanyard to the safety line via a specially designed travelling device that provides the worker with uninterrupted, hands-free movement along the cable, while also maintaining continual protection. Alternatively, the anchor's posts can be installed as a single point anchors conforming to EN795:2012 for localised maintenance tasks.
In addition to the cable itself, all other components of the horizontal Safety Line System are made of either stainless steel or aluminium. Additionally, this horizontal lifeline system also complies with the EN 795 (2012) type C standard and CEN/TS 16415:2012 for anchor devices designed to be used by more than one person simultaneously.
The MONOLINE Overhead Safety Line System is also a horizontal safety line designed for multi-person use at height, providing fall protection within a manual working environment.
Made from 8mm 7x7 stainless steel cable and stainless-steel components, this system has an advantage over other fall-arrest equipment due to its adaptability to a range of jobs, particularly indoors. It can be installed horizontally to a vertical structure (such as a wall) or to an overhead horizontal structure (such as a beam or ceiling).
However, it’s worth noting that, before fastening to a fixture, structural durability checks must be carried out by trained and competent personnel. Meanwhile, the assembly process itself must also be handled by an individual of suitable knowledge and experience.
Similarly, after installation, the system should be checked and certified by Safety LiftinGear.com or one of our authorised agents. These checks should be carried out at least annually to ensure their continued safe usage.
Please note that this support system is designed to be used with the MONOLINE 2-Wheeled Travelling Trolley for personal use and shouldn’t be used for suspending or transporting goods. Meanwhile, additional personal protective wear should also be worn by the MONOLINE user.
Ensure your safety and save your risk assessor from a meltdown today with one of our horizontal safety line systems. Call now on 0117 9381 600 for more information or get in touch using the button below.
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Ronan Keating once said, “the touch of your hand says you’ll catch me wherever I fall”. The bright sparks at AirDeck took that line to heart and have since successfully applied it to the construction industry.
While we can’t promise the gentle hand touching of Mr Keating – nor would our legal department recommend such actions – we can promise the catching part, with the awesome power of the AirDeck Fall Arrest Landing Bag.
Available for purchase, the AirDeck landing bag is the inflatable safety deck the world has been waiting for. Quick deployment, simple transportation and easily compactible, the AirDeck is the perfect safety deck for anyone that works at height.
The bags rise to approximately 75cm in height once fully inflated and are capable of withstanding falls from as high 3.25 metres above floor level (over 10.5 feet).
Each AirDeck bag is made up of an inflatable inner lining and an outer polypropylene bag. Better still, the double-layered upper face is extremely hard-wearing and resistant against accidental damage, with durability a key feature.
One of the best things about AirDeck fall arrest bags is their portability. When deflated, up to 50 bags will fit on just one pallet, making them ideal for easy transportation and storage. Meanwhile, once they are completely inflated and ready for use, 50 bags will cover a surface area of up to 80 square metres.
When used in conjunction with the Makita 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Blower, inflation can be completed extremely quickly, with a single bag fully inflated in less than 40 seconds. In times of emergency, inflation speed can be of critical importance, making the AirDeck’s rapid expansion an invaluable feature.
While the AirDeck fall arrest is most commonly used in the UK construction industry, it’s not solely restricted to construction use. In fact, it’s not even restricted to the UK and has already been successfully used internationally as well as domestically, with customers as far wide as North America, Australia and the Far East.
In addition to its primary usage within construction environments, the AirDeck fall arrest system has also been used in a variety of unusual scenarios, including vessels at sea and by air force maintenance staff.
For outside the box usage of the AirDeck, look no further than the Los Angeles Country Sheriff’s Department. The local correctional facility is one of the world’s largest jail complexes, housing 3500 inmates with mental illnesses.
As a result of the large-scale environment and the mentally volatile inhabitants, suicide attempts aren’t uncommon. Thankfully, the AirDeck’s rapid deployment provides the perfect solution to these potentially fatal scenarios and has already proved successful on multiple occasions.
For more information on the AirDeck fall arrest system and its many uses, why not give us a call today on 0117 9381 600. Alternatively, feel free to drop us a line using the button below.
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What is the leading cause of deaths in the workplace? Short Answer: falls from height count for more than a quarter of workplace fatalities in Great Britain, making falls the biggest cause of workplace deaths.
According to the latest statistics from the Health & Safety Executive, approximately 26% of fatal workplace injuries in Great Britain are the result of a fall from height. Between 2013 and 2018, more workers died from a fall than died from:
Falls from height also accounted for around 8% of non-lethal accidents in British workplaces during the same period.
The above statistics have prompted calls for more stringent safety laws, but it's worth noting that The Work at Height Regulations 2005 already require work at height to be properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner by competent personnel only.
Read More: What Height Safety Equipment is Legally Required?
Perhaps the real problem is that too many employers don't take the existing regulations seriously until an accident has already happened. If you and/or your employees work at potentially dangerous heights, you may require one or more of the following systems to keep them safe:
Here at SafetyLiftinGear.com, we specialise in high-quality height safety equipment that protects workers from potentially deadly falls. Contact us today to get a quote for your fall protection needs, or use the links below to browse our full range of height safety products.
Height Safety Equipment > Fall Protection Hire >
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
In the construction and other industrial industries, employees might be asked to work in confined spaces from time to time. A confined space is defined as "any space that hinders the normal activities of a person who is entering, working in or leaving through it." Before you start working in a confined space, it is important that you categorise the potential hazards so that you can choose the right confined space equipment to keep you safe.
At SafetyLiftinGear we offer a range of high-quality confined space equipment to keep you safe, no matter what confined space hazard you may face. If the confined space hazard you’re facing falls into one of the following categories, we can help keep you safe!
If you’ll be working in an atmosphere that’s potentially hazardous, we offer a range of Gas Detectors and Breathing Apparatus to protect you and your colleagues:
Our Gas Detectors can detect up to four different gases (H2S, CO, O2, LEL) through the push of a single button, alerting you if the atmosphere you are working in becomes potentially hazardous.
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In emergencies, our Confined Space Breathing Apparatus can be worn to provide the user with a continuous supply of clean, breathable air. Buy or hire this equipment depending on how often you think it will be required.
Buy or Hire Breathing Apparatus >
If you are working in a space where you or a colleague could fall, or become trapped, we offer a variety of different tools and equipment that can be used for emergency recovery:
Or for a complete rescue package, choose one of our Confined Space Rescue Kits.
The confined space rescue kits we offer include everything you need to recover an entrapped person safely, including:
And a handy tripod storage bag to keep the kit secure until (touch wood) you need to use it. Our Confined Space Rescue Kits all come with an impressive 12-month warranty, so you know can purchase them with absolute confidence.
View all Confined Space Rescue Kits here >
If you have any questions regarding our Confined Space Equipment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by phone by calling 0117 9381 600 or by emailing sales@safetyliftingear.com. We are always happy to help!
You're probably aware that a startling number of workplace and home injuries occur every single year as a result of working from heights without proper safety equipment. But did you know that nearly half of all fatal workplace falls involve ladders? A statistic like this really shows how dangerous using a ladder can be when proper safety procedures and processes aren't followed or supplementary safety equipment is ignored. Well, here at SafetyLiftinGear, we aim to help prevent or at least minimise the number of fatal accidents as much as we can with our range of Height Safety Equipment.
One category within our Height Safety Equipment offers a perfect solution to anyone looking to add that little bit more protection whilst working with ladders. Our Ladder Safety Kits provide workers and individuals with a number of ladder safety accessories that not only increase the safety of anyone using a ladder but anyone else in the surrounding area. Our Ladder Safety Kits are available in 2 different levels, offering varied products. Take a look below to find out what ladder safety accessories are available within each of our kits!
Our Level 1 Kit includes the following ladder safety accessories:
- P35 2-Point Harness
- Anchor Attachment
- Re-usable Ladder Restraint Tie
- 6mtr Endless Lashing
- PVC Kit Bag
View Level 1 Kit >
Our Level 2 Kit includes the following ladder safety accessories:
- Rope & Grab
- Webbing Anchor
- 2x Screw Lock Karabiners
View Level 2 Kit >
For more information on our collection of ladder safety accessories or for assistance purchasing one of our Ladder Safety Kits, please do not hesitate to contact a member of customer service team today - we'd be happy to help!
Popular energy company EDF and power and technology experts Doosan Babcock Ltd both face fines of £200,000 and £150,000 respectively after a Doosan Babcock employee accidentally fell through a skylight at the power station, Hinkley Point B, leaving him with serious and life-changing injuries.
The Doosan Babcock employee was working at height when he accidentally fell 1.6 metres through a skylight before hitting a cabinet and falling a further 2 metres, gaining substantial injuries including three cracked vertebrae before hitting the floor.
EDF energy was prosecuted by the Office for Nuclear Regulation for offences under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act of 1974, while Doosan Babcock was prosecuted for offences under the Work at Height Regulations Act of 2005. Both companies both plead guilty to these charges, following the Doosan Babcock employee's fall.
The Deputy Chief Inspector of the Office for Nuclear Regulation, Donald Urquhart said:
The level of financial penalty, in this case, is not a matter on which ONR has a view. As an independent regulator, what matters to me is the safety of workers and the public on and around nuclear-licensed sites, and this prosecution shows we will take robust regulatory action where necessary to ensure that those that we regulate secure and maintain compliance with the law.
“In addition to these legal proceedings, we issued enforceable improvement notices to both EDF and Doosan Babcock, requiring them to put in place appropriate safety measures to ensure that such risks are properly controlled in the future. It is extremely important that lessons are learnt from incidents such as this, and I am pleased to note that both companies have since complied with these notices and have delivered necessary improvements to ensure that such risks are properly controlled."
At SafetyLiftinGear we stock a huge range of Height Safety Equipment that can help prevent accidents and falls from occuring.
We have a selection of different Safety Harnesses that are sturdy and reliable & comfortable to wear. Wearing an appropriate Safety Harness and using a Safety Lanyard, Safety Line or Fall Arrest Block will ensure that you can work at height confidently, knowing that you will be safe at all times.
To see all of our Height Safety Equipment, click the button below:
Height Safety Equipment >
A scaffolding company located in Dorset has been sentenced after a 49-year old worker fell victim to serious, life-changing injuries as a result of falling five metres through a skylight whilst working.
Paul Norris was working for Solar Scaffold Services Limited, who were contacted to erect an access tower and guard rails on the roof perimeter of industrial units in Christchurch during April 2017. On completion of the work on the access tower, Mr Norris proceeded to assist his co-workers with work on the guard rails, gaining access via the roof. As he was doing this, Mr Norris fell through a skylight which was approximately five metres above the floor and suffered a number of serious injuries to his arm, elbow, wrists, ribs and pelvis as a result.
Following the injuries, Mr Norris remained in the hospital for three weeks, undergoing several operations with much physiotherapy still required. This has resulted in him being registered disabled, forced to move into an adapted flat, the inability to return to work and his wife having to give up work in order to provide full-time care.
Following an investigation conducted by the HSE, it was found that the employer Solar Scaffold Services Limited, failed in their duty to provide adequate safety measures, through poor planning, supervision and execution. Insufficient measures were taken to prevent the fall whilst work was carried out on the fragile roof.
This has resulted in Solar Scaffold Services Limited pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and being fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of more than £3,000.
HSE Inspector Caroline Penwill stated after the hearing that "falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities and injuries in this country. This serious incident could have been avoided if the work had been properly planned to reduce risk."
To ensure you are properly protected whilst working at height, take a look at our range of Height Safety Equipment by clicking below - if you have any questions regarding any of our products, then please contact us today!
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