Fall Protection & Confined Space

How a Fall Protection System Fits Together

No single product protects a worker on its own. A personal fall arrest system works as a chain, and every link has to be compatible with the others. Plan around these parts:

• Anchorage – the structural point or anchor device the system ties into, such as a roof anchor, a sliding beam anchor or a davit arm.
• Body support – a full-body harness worn by the user, chosen separately and matched to the connectors you use.
• Connector – the device that links harness and anchor: a self-retracting lifeline, a horizontal lifeline or a ladder safety system.
• Rescue and retrieval – the plan and the gear to bring a fallen or incapacitated worker to safety quickly, from descent devices to retrieval winches.

Start with the work: where the worker stands, what they can anchor to, how much clearance sits below them and how you would reach them after a fall. That answer points you to the right sub-category.

Self-Retracting Lifelines and Horizontal Lifelines

A self retracting lifeline pays out and retracts with the worker's movement and locks when it senses a fall. Our self-retracting lifelines include the Tractel Blocfor AES and RT wire rope series in galvanized or stainless steel wire rope, compact web units such as the Blocfor B20 and TracBloc, and leading edge versions of the Blocfor for work near unprotected edges. Product data for the Blocfor units lists ANSI Z359.14-2014 and CSA Z259.2.2-17. Choose the line length based on how far the worker moves from the anchor, choose stainless steel wire rope where corrosion is a concern, and confirm the required fall clearance in the manufacturer's instructions.

When workers need to travel along a roof, beam or structure, a horizontal lifeline spans between anchorages. The Tractel Tempo III is a temporary system, and the Travsmart system is designed for stanchion posts in lengths from 100 ft. (30 m) to 300 ft. (90 m).

Anchors and Ladder Safety Systems

Browse anchors and lifeline systems to match the anchor to the surface. Tractel roof anchors cover standing seam, flat metal, screw-down and adjustable/swivel ridge applications, several offered as anchor only or bundled with a Blocfor self-retracting lifeline. The BeamSlide sliding beam anchor clamps to a steel beam and moves with the worker; its product data lists ANSI A10.32. For fixed ladders, the Stopcable ladder safety system uses 3/8 in wire rope in galvanized or stainless steel, with product data listing ANSI A14.13 and CSA Z259.2.5-17. Measure the ladder run before ordering so you pick the correct cable length.

Confined Space Equipment: Tripods, Davits and Retrieval

Manholes, tanks, vaults and pits need an overhead anchorage that also supports retrieval. The Tractel Confined Space Tripod, 7 ft, lists a material lifting capacity of 550 lb. (250 kg) and a fall arrest capacity for one user of 310 lb. (140 kg). For repeated entries at fixed locations, the Davitrac and Davitrac+ davit arm systems and the Davimast modular lifting mast mount on wall, floor, flush floor or clearance mural adapters, or on the Portable H self-stabilizing base for Davitrac. Product data for the Davitrac lists ANSI Z359.18-17 and CSA Z259.15-17. Complete the setup with a Blocfor bi-directional retrieval device, a work winch or the scafor manual hoist, each offered with a matching Davitrac or Davimast bracket. Our confined space equipment page goes deeper on configuring a davit system.

Rescue and Descent Devices

A rescue plan has to be in place before anyone works at height. Our rescue and descent devices include the D4 descender kit with 7⁄16 in. (11 mm) rope, the derope T and derope Up A systems, which list a constant descent speed of 235 ft./min. (72 m/min.) for a single descent for one person, and the First Man Up remote hook with fiberglass pole for attaching a lifeline to an overhead anchor from the ground. Product data for the derope systems lists ANSI Z359.4-07 and CSA Z259.2.3.

Comparing the Main Components

Inspection, Care and Our Tractel Range

Inspect every component before each use for cuts, corrosion, kinked wire rope, frayed webbing, damaged housings and missing labels, and remove any device from service that has arrested a fall until it is assessed as the manufacturer requires. Keep gear clean and dry, store it away from chemicals and sunlight, and log formal inspections by a competent person. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and your site's safety program. Everything in this collection comes from Tractel, so anchors, lifelines, davits and retrieval devices are designed to work as one system. For guarding, signage and other site safety products, see Safety & Facility Protection.