Hazards with individual fall-arrest systHazards with individual fall-arrest systems

Hazards with individual fall-arrest systems

If a person using an individual fall-arrest system falls, the system may act as a pendulum, and in some situations the user may hit the ground (called ‘swing down’: see Figure 23) or swing back onto the building or structure (which is called ‘swing back’: see Figure 24).

Swing down can occur if the lanyard slides back along the perimeter edge of the roof until it is vertical. When this happens, the person may hit the ground, or the lanyard may break as a result of its contact with the edge of the roof. Measures to address ‘swing down’ include:

• the installation of guard rails
• placing the anchorage point at a right angle to the position of the lanyard at the perimeter edge (for example, by using a mobile anchorage)
• the installation of a second anchorage point and belay devices (intermediate anchorages).

Figure 23: During ‘swing down’ the length of the lanyard and positioning of the anchor allow contact with the ground.

Figure 23 shows that during ‘swing down’ the length of the lanyard and positioning of the anchor allow contact with the ground.

Figure 24: During ‘swing back’ the length of the lanyard and positioning of the anchor contact may allow the worker to hit the structure.

Figure 24 shows that during ‘swing back’ the length of the lanyard and positioning of the anchor contact may allow the worker to hit the structure.