[RE-wrenches] Fall Protection Equipment

[Dan Fink]

James;
There may be some specific rock climbing items that can be used, but
everything for the workplace should be ANSI approved; rock climbing gear is
UIAA approved but may have both. You'll need to look up each piece of
equipment to see if it meets OSHA tensile strength requirements. As for the
harness, it MUST be a full body harness with back and/or chest D-ring.

Also note how different the two activities and types of potential falls are
-- rock climbing gear is designed for light weight, constant mobility,
multiple anchors, longer falls (dynamic rope)  and falls from weird angles
(as in a fall that is both horizontal and vertical). Workplace gear is
designed for comfortable positioning in the same spot, a quick fall arrest,
and keeping the worker upright after a fall.

In any case, to meet OSHA standards, it is up to you, the employer, to look
up each item (ABCD) and certify the employee's gear works together as a
"system." My guess is that some items will be fine, and some won't meet
OSHA tensile strength or shock absorbing requirements.

Best regards, stay safe.

Dan Fink
Buckville Energy
IREC Certified Instructor™ for:
~ PV Installation Professional
~ Small Wind Installer
NABCEP / IREC / ISPQ Accredited Continuing Education Providers™
970.672.4342



On Fri, Jan 16, 2015 at 9:29 AM, James Rudolph <jamesrudolph99 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Aloha my Wrench Brothers!
> We have a recent defector from a very large National Solar company here
> that brought in this great Fall gear (see attachment). To be honest it blew
> my mind how simple and light it was....Is anybody else using this rock
> climbing equipment as fall protection gear? Is this approved by OSHA.
>
> You would figure if humans just free climbed El Capitain with gear like
> this it would do just fine keeping me safe and compliant at 6 feet and
> above.
>
> The rope grab is made by KONG.
>
>
> Mahalo in advance!
>
> James Rudolph
> Haleakala Solar
>
>
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