Preventing Accidents with Self-Protecting Safety Lanyards: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding the Importance of Safety Lanyards

Preventing Accidents with Self-Protecting Safety Lanyards: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding the Importance of Safety Lanyards

Safety lanyards are a critical component of personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers who perform tasks at height. They prevent falls and provide a secure connection between the worker and the anchor point. This article will explore the importance of self-protecting safety lanyards and their benefits in preventing accidents. This article is about safety lanyards, their types, and understanding the importance of safety lanyards.

What are safety lanyards?

Safety lanyards are a type of PPE used to connect a worker to an anchor point when working at height. They are typically made of durable materials such as nylon or polyester. They feature a hook or carabiner at one end that attaches to the worker's harness or safety belt and a loop or another attachment mechanism at the other that connects to the anchor point.

Types of Safety Lanyards

Two types of safety lanyards are used in the workplace: positioning lanyards and shock-absorbing lanyards. Positioning lanyards limit a worker's movement within a specific work area and prevent them from entering a fall hazard zone. On the other hand, shock-absorbing lanyards are designed to reduce the force of a fall by using an energy-absorbing unit to absorb the energy generated by the fall. Both types of lanyards are essential for worker safety in tasks performed at height, but the type used depends on the specific work environment and hazards present.

Why are safety lanyards essential?

Safety lanyards are essential for protecting workers who perform tasks at height. Falls from heights are among the leading causes of workplace injuries and fatalities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, falls from height accounted for 14% of all workplace fatalities in the United States in 2019. There were 5,190 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2021, an 8.9-percent increase from 4,764 in 2020, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See chart one and table 1.) The fatal work injury rate was 3.6 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalents (FTE) workers, up from 3.4 per 100,000 FTE in 2020 and from the 2019 pre-pandemic rate of 3.5. (See chart 2.) These data are from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI).

Safety lanyards can prevent falls and save lives by providing a secure connection between the worker and the anchor point. Such as this fall self-retracting lanyard

Self-protecting or self-retracting safety lanyards

Self-protecting safety lanyards are an innovative type of safety lanyard that offers additional protection to workers who perform tasks at height. They are designed to automatically activate and arrest a fall when the worker exceeds a predetermined speed or force threshold. This means that in the event of a fall, the self-protecting safety lanyard will deploy and stop the worker's fall, preventing injury or death. Examples of this kind of product include the MSA Latchways Sealed Self-Retracting Lanyards.

Benefits of self-protecting safety lanyards.

Self-protecting safety lanyards are designed to stop falls before they become catastrophic, which can save lives and prevent serious injuries. There are several benefits to using self-protecting safety lanyards over traditional safety lanyards. One of the primary benefits is that they offer additional protection to workers who perform tasks at height. Another benefit of self-protecting safety lanyards is that they provide peace of mind to workers performing tasks at height. Knowing that they are using a safety lanyard designed to activate automatically in the event of a fall can help workers feel more secure and confident in their ability to perform their job safely.

Self-protecting safety lanyards can help employers meet their obligations under OSHA regulations. OSHA requires employers to provide fall protection to workers who perform tasks at height. Self-protecting safety lanyards can be an effective way to meet this requirement and keep workers safe. Safety lanyards are a critical component of PPE for workers who perform tasks at height. Self-protecting safety lanyards offer additional protection and can help prevent severe injuries and fatalities from falls. By using self-protecting safety lanyards, workers can feel more secure and confident in their ability to perform their job safely, and employers can meet their obligations under OSHA regulations.

Where Safety Lanyards are used

Safety lanyards are used in various industries and work environments where workers perform tasks at heights or near dangerous equipment. Some examples of where safety lanyards are commonly used include

1. Construction sites: Construction workers often work at heights, and safety lanyards are critical to their PPE. They are used for scaffolding, roofs, and other elevated structures.
2. Oil rigs and offshore platforms: Workers on oil rigs and offshore platforms often perform tasks at height, and safety lanyards are used to prevent falls and protect workers from serious injuries.
3. Tree trimming and arborist work: Tree trimmers and arborists often work at height while pruning trees, and safety lanyards are used to protect them from falls.
4. Window cleaning: Window cleaners often work at height while cleaning skyscrapers and other tall buildings, and safety lanyards are used to prevent falls and protect them from injury.
5. Firefighting: Firefighters may need to perform tasks at height, such as climbing ladders or rappelling from buildings, and safety lanyards are used to protect them from falls and ensure their safety while performing their duties.

Overall, safety lanyards are used in any work environment where workers perform tasks at height or near dangerous equipment and need to be protected from falls and other hazards.

Must one be trained in using safety Lanyards?

Yes, training is essential for the proper use of safety lanyards. Workers who use safety lanyards need to be trained to inspect, put on, adjust, and use the lanyard correctly. They also need to be trained on how to select the appropriate lanyard for the specific job, properly connect the lanyard to the anchor point and their harness, and identify potential hazards that may affect the lanyard's effectiveness.

Training should also include information on how to care for and maintain the lanyard, including regular inspection and proper storage. Workers need to understand the importance of following the manufacturer's instructions and the company's policies and procedures regarding using safety lanyards.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide training to workers who use personal protective equipment, including safety lanyards. Formal training ensures that workers understand the importance of using safety lanyards and how to use them correctly, which can help prevent accidents and injuries. The training should be conducted by qualified personnel knowledgeable in properly using the equipment and the hazards associated with the work environment.

What we must know before Buying Safety Lanyards

Before purchasing a safety lanyard, several factors should be considered to ensure that the lanyard is appropriate for the specific job and will provide adequate protection to workers. Some of the critical factors to consider include the following:

1. Job Requirements: The type of job that the safety lanyard will be used for should be considered, including the height of the work and the type of equipment used. The lanyard should be selected based on the job's specific requirements to ensure adequate protection.
2. Length and weight capacity: The length and weight capacity of the safety lanyard should also be considered to ensure that it is suitable for the job. The lanyard should be long enough to provide workers with enough freedom of movement while working but not so long that it becomes a hazard. The weight capacity of the lanyard should also be sufficient to support the worker's weight and any equipment they may be using.
3. Material: The material of the safety lanyard should be considered to ensure that it is durable and appropriate for the job. Common materials used for safety lanyards include nylon, polyester, and Kevlar, each with its strengths and weaknesses.
4. Connection mechanism: The connection mechanism of the safety lanyard should also be considered to ensure that it is compatible with the worker's harness or safety belt and the anchor point. The connection mechanism should be easy to use and provide a secure connection.
5. Compliance with standards: The safety lanyard should comply with national and international safety standards, such as those set by OSHA and ISO. Compliance with these standards ensures that the lanyard meets minimum safety requirements and has undergone rigorous testing.

By considering these factors before purchasing a safety lanyard, employers can ensure they provide their workers with appropriate and effective protection when performing tasks at height.