Fall Protection | Hanes Supply, Inc.

The ABC’s of Fall Protection

Personal fall arrest systems can be broken down into three essential components:

• Anchorage/anchorage connector or tie off point (beam anchor, lifeline, etc)
• Body wear (safety harness)
• Connecting device (shock-absorbing lanyard, self-retracting lifeline, etc)

How to Achieve Fall Protection

There are three key ways to achieve a successful and OSHA compliant fall protection system. These components may be utilized individually in some applications or combined to create a custom fall protection system designed around your specific safety needs.

Engineering – eliminate the hazard by changing the scope of the work, adding staging below, etc.

Passive Fall Arrest – utilize guard rails, netting, and positioning restraints that prevent the worker from getting too close to a hazard, or implement equipment that eliminates the possibility of falling or dangling.

Active Fall Arrest – personal fall arrest systems include anchor points, lanyards, harnesses - anything designed to arrest forces applied to the worker once they fall and subsequently keep them from hitting the ground. This is the least ideal form of fall arrest as it requires a rescue after a fall event. However, it is also the only practical way to accomplish compliance and safety in many applications.

If you have questions on how best to stay safe and OSHA compliant in your particular application, please contact our fall protection product specialists and we will work with you to create a custom fall protection system.

At-Height Solutions

In addition to personal fall arrest systems, Hanes provides fall protection equipment for other at height job situations:

Positioning/Restraint: A positioning/restraint system is used to hold a worker in place while allowing a hands-free work environment at elevated height, or to restrict the worker’s movement to prevent reaching a location where a fall hazard exists.

Suspension: Suspension systems are used widely in the window washing and painting industries and are designed to lower and support a worker while allowing a hands-free work environment. Suspension systems are a practical solution for confined space work and in maintenance operations in oil and gas, manufacturing, and energy generation facilities.

Retrieval: The retrieval system is primarily used in confined space applications where workers must enter tanks, manholes, etc, and may require retrieval from above should an emergency occur.

Fall Protection Equipment

Fall Protection equipment is required at 4 feet for workers governed by OSHA’s 1910 General Industry Standard and 6 feet for workers in the act of construction under the OSHA 1926 standard.

Hanes’ high quality fall protection equipment covers fall protection requirements and OSHA standards for any at-height job. Whether you need fall arrest systems in place for applications involving roofing, confined space, or suspension, Hanes provides fall protection equipment for your specific needs. For applications requiring personal protection from fire or arc flashes, we offer Arc Flash and FR rated harnesses and lanyards.