FALL PROTECTION
benefit of their diverse training curriculum.
TSL proudly employsmembers of theDallas
FireDepartment’s Tactical Rescue Team as
instructors.
TechSafety Lines currently offers two
products specifically suited for aerial platforms:
the StepWise Fall Arrest Lanyard and theSRK-
11 self-rescue kit.
The patentedStepWise Lanyard functions as
a fall arrest tool, protecting theworker with a
shock-absorbing unit that decreases the impact
of a fall. Also incorporated into the design is a
built-inwebbed ladder (pictured, right), which
provides theworker with ameans of refuge
while awaiting rescue. The ladder is attached
to the lanyard, not the harness, and provides
a foothold fromwhich to stand and relieve all
pressure from the harness.
“This unique configuration transfers the
weight above theworker’s dorsal connection,
creating a place of refugewhile awaiting
rescue,” saysWise.
Also incorporated into the
StepWise Fall Arrest Lanyard
is an anchor point for use in
conjunctionwith the SRK-11.
“By using these two tools
together, a fallenworker can
perform a self-rescue and safely lower
oneself all theway to the groundwithout
assistance from otherworkers,”Wise
says.
The company’s SRK-11 is an
emergency egress and self-
rescue kit. The kit utilizes high
heat polymer linewith a tensile
strength exceeding 6,500 pounds,
Waghorne andWise say. The SRK-11
features theMilitary Compact Descender
– uponwhich TSLwas formed. TheMCD
is a controlled descent device, which
features a dual breaking system that
provides a rapidmeans of escape from
anywhere in or on a structure.
“It is simple and easy to use,”Wise says.
“TheSRK-11 is the premier personal kit for the
aerial platform industry today.”
Safety stand-down
In light of the sheer number of falls from height
that result in fatalities acrossmany jobsites, the
U.S. Labor Department’sOccupational Safety
andHealthAdministration (OSHA) will again
support a national safety stand-down from
June 2-6 to raise awareness among employers
andworkers about the hazards of falls, which
account for the highest number of deaths in the
construction industry. The Scaffold&Access
Industry Association (SAIA) supports the annual
stand-down.
“Falls account formore
than a third of all deaths
in this industry,” saysDr.
DavidMichaels, assistant
secretary of labor for
occupational safety and
health. “We’reworking
with employers, workers,
industry groups, state
OSH plans, and civic and
faith-based organizations
to host safety stand-downs
that focus on recognizing
hazards and preventing
falls.We are getting the
message out toAmerica’s
employers that safety pays and
falls cost.”
During the stand-down,
employers andworkers are
asked to pause their workday to talk about
fall prevention in construction, and discuss
topics like ladder safety, scaffolding safety and
roofingwork safety. OSHA has also launched an
official national safety stand-downwebsitewith
information on how to conduct a successful
stand-down. Afterward, employerswill be able
to provide feedback and receive a personalized
certificate of participation.
The stand-down is part of OSHA’s ongoing
Fall PreventionCampaign, whichwas started
in 2012 andwas developed in partnershipwith
theNational Institute for Occupational Safety
andHealth (NIOSH) andNIOSH’sNational
Occupational ResearchAgenda program. The
campaign provides employerswith lifesaving
information and educational materials on how
to plan ahead to prevent falls, provide the
right equipment for their workers and train all
employees in the proper use of that equipment.
“We are pleased to join againwithOSHA and
our NORA partners to focus on fall prevention
at construction sites,” saysDr. JohnHoward,
NIOSH director. “Preventing falls in the
construction industry benefits everyone, from
theworker, to the employer, to the community
at large. This safety stand-down serves as an
important opportunity for everyone to take the
time to learn how to recognize and prevent fall
hazards.”
To learn how to partnerwithOSHA in
this stand-down, visit
/
StopFallsStandDown. The page provides details
on how to conduct a stand-down; receive a
certificate of participation; and access free
education and training resources, fact sheets
and other outreachmaterials in English and
Spanish. To learnmore about preventing falls in
construction visit
.
■
The patented StepWise
Lanyard functions as a
fall arrest tool, protecting
theworkerwith a shock-
absorbing unit that
decreases the
impact of a fall.
The SRK-11 is an emergency
egress and self-rescue kit.
32
ACCESS, LIFT&HANDLERS
APRIL-MAY 2014
The StepWise Lanyard.
