<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>Friends:</div><div><br></div><div>Industrial fall protection with rear attachment offers no functionality in keeping a worker in place on a steep steel roof. We install planks in these situations but would also like to be able to cinch up a line connected to the workers waist or chest in the front to provide extra stability. Rear attached harnesses do not provide that. </div><div><br></div><div>William <br><br><br></div><div><br>On Jan 17, 2015, at 11:00 AM, Ray Walters <<a href="mailto:ray@solarray.com">ray@solarray.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div>
<meta content="text/html; charset=windows-1252" http-equiv="Content-Type">
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">I prefer climbing gear as its much
lighter weight and doesn't drag you around. I actually think in
some cases that traditional fall protection gear can be more of a
tripping hazard than the safety it provides. However, I was
previously under the impression that if OSHA (or in the islands:
HIOSH) came around, we had to ditch the climbing gear and get into
the 3 times as heavy regular harnesses.<br>
I just looked at the OSHA website though, and it doesn't seem to
specify certification, just that the equipment meet the fall
criteria as Dan mentioned.<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.osha.gov/Region7/fallprotection/fall_protection_info.html">https://www.osha.gov/Region7/fallprotection/fall_protection_info.html</a><br>
This doesn't mention test procedures or certification of
equipment. Here's more from the actual OSHA 1926 book:<br>
<br>
<span class="blackTen"><strong><font class="standard">1926.502(e)(3)</font></strong>
<blockquote>Connectors shall be drop forged, pressed or formed
steel, or made of equivalent materials.</blockquote>
<a name="1926.502(e)(4)"></a>
<strong><font class="standard">1926.502(e)(4)</font></strong>
<blockquote>Connectors shall have a corrosion-resistant finish,
and all surfaces and edges shall be smooth to prevent damage
to interfacing parts of this system.</blockquote>
<a name="1926.502(e)(5)"></a>
<strong><font class="standard">1926.502(e)(5)</font></strong>
<blockquote>Connecting assemblies shall have a minimum tensile
strength of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN)</blockquote>
<a name="1926.502(e)(6)"></a>
<strong><font class="standard">1926.502(e)(6)</font></strong>
<blockquote>Dee-rings and snaphooks shall be proof-tested to a
minimum tensile load of 3,600 pounds (16 kN) without cracking,
breaking, or taking permanent deformation.<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
</span>"Equivalent materials" ? Seems that an aluminum caribiner
that meets the other criteria would be equivalent.<br>
<br>
Here, Petzl also makes a full line of worker safety equipment:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.petzl.com/en/Professional/Verticality?l=US#.VLqw4nuLXfc">http://www.petzl.com/en/Professional/Verticality?l=US#.VLqw4nuLXfc</a><br>
<br>
This is really interesting, and I would like to have a more
definitive answer from OSHA. It would be great if we could use
lighter weight climbing gear; just compare a caribiner to the
heavy steel monsters you get at Grainger's. As long as it is
strong enough:<br>
Lighter weight = less fatigue= safer, IMHO. <br>
As with so many discussions on this list, it will ultimately
depend on your local authorities.<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760</pre>
On 1/16/2015 11:20 PM, Benn Kilburn wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote cite="mid:B658B53D-A967-4EB5-AD02-8350DECA1BF3@skyfireenergy.com" type="cite">
<pre wrap="">James,
This looks like a pretty nice lanyard w/ shock-absorber, rope-grab and rope.
What type/style harness did he bring along?
Re: OSHA approved...great question. Prior to looking into it further I'd suspect it falls in a "grey area".
Benn Kilburn
SkyFire Energy Inc.
780-906-7807
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">On Jan 16, 2015, at 9:29 AM, James Rudolph <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:jamesrudolph99@gmail.com"><jamesrudolph99@gmail.com></a> 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
<20150114_074111.jpeg>
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