Self-Retracting Lifelines

How a Self-Retracting Lifeline Works

Inside the housing of a self-retracting lifeline is a spring-loaded drum wound with webbing or wire rope. During normal movement the line pays out and rewinds smoothly, so you are not dragging loose slack around the work area. If the line pays out suddenly, as it does in a fall, a braking mechanism locks the drum and arrests the fall. Many workers call these devices "yo-yos" or self-retracting lanyards. Whatever you call it, an SRL is only one part of a personal fall arrest system. It needs a suitable anchor, a full-body harness and compatible connectors, all used as the manufacturer's instructions describe.

Web vs Wire Rope SRLs

The first choice is the lifeline material. Each one suits different conditions:

• Web (webbing) SRLs are compact and light, so they work well for general construction, maintenance and work at height where the device moves with you. The Tractel Blocfor B20 is a 20 ft web unit with a listed capacity of 310 lb and a unit weight of 4.9 lb. The Tractel TracBloc Web belongs to the tracx line.
• Galvanized steel wire rope resists abrasion better than webbing. It is a common choice on construction sites, in steel erection and anywhere the line may rub on rough surfaces.
• Stainless steel wire rope is generally chosen for wet, outdoor, chemical or coastal environments where corrosion is a concern. The Blocfor AES Series, the Blocfor RT Series and the Bi-Directional Retrieval Device each come in a galvanized or a stainless version.

Choosing a Length: 20 ft, 30 ft, 50 ft and 100 ft

Pick a length based on how far you need to move horizontally and vertically from the anchor. Don't simply buy the longest line. A longer lifeline lets you cover more area, but it can also mean a larger swing hazard if you work far to the side of the anchor. Measure your work zone and note where the anchor sits relative to you. Then check the clearance requirements in the device's instructions before you choose. The table below summarizes our Tractel range using product data only.

Leading Edge and Bi-Directional Retrieval Devices

Leading edge SRLs are designed for jobs where the lifeline could pass over an edge during a fall, such as roof decks, floor edges or open sides of a structure. Tractel offers leading edge versions of the Blocfor in 30 ft and 50 ft galvanized wire rope (part numbers RA30G/LE and RT50G/LE). Don't use a standard SRL on a leading edge. Choose a device built for that purpose, and follow Tractel's instructions on anchor location and edge conditions.

The Blocfor Bi-Directional Retrieval Device is meant for confined space entry and rescue planning. Besides arresting a fall, a retrieval device of this type is built to help raise or lower a worker, and it is usually mounted on a tripod or davit system. If you are planning a confined space program, see our rescue and descent devices and the wider fall protection and confined space range.

Self-Retracting Lifeline vs Lanyard

A shock-absorbing lanyard has a fixed length and limits fall forces by tearing or stretching an energy absorber. Because it doesn't retract, it can leave slack, and it allows more free fall before arrest. A self-retracting lifeline keeps the line taut and locks quickly, which usually means less free fall and a shorter total fall distance. That matters most when you have little clearance below you. SRLs also let you move over a larger area from a single anchor. Lanyards are simpler and lighter, but they limit how far you can move. Your choice should come from the clearance calculation, the anchor location and your site's fall protection plan.

Inspection, Care and Use

• Inspect the housing, line, hook and indicators before every use. Remove a device from service if you find cuts, fraying, kinks, corrosion, a deployed impact indicator, or if the line doesn't rewind smoothly.
• Don't let the line rewind freely. Guide it back into the housing by hand.
• Keep webbing away from heat, sharp edges and chemicals. Wipe down wire rope and let it dry before storing it.
• Have a competent person carry out periodic inspections and servicing as Tractel specifies.
• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and your site's safety program for anchors, clearance and rescue planning.

Tractel SRLs We Carry

All of the SRLs in this collection come from Tractel, across the tracx and blocfor product lines. The Blocfor RT Series has four configurations (RT50G, RT100G, RT50S, RT100S), and the AES Series covers RA20G, RA30G, RA20S and RA30S, so you can match the length and rope material to your job. To see the full brand range, including anchors and other fall protection hardware, visit our Tractel collection.