Dos and Don'ts for Lanyards and Self Retracting Lifelines On the Construction Site

Safety is paramount when working above the first story on any construction site or signage project. Falls of as little as 10 feet can lead to serious injury or even death for your workers. Not only do you need to support your team with quality fall protection to attract the best talent, but it's also essential for avoiding costly fines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Yet it's all too easy to make simple mistakes with lanyards and self-retracting lifelines (SRLs). These connection elements of the fall protection system require more care than you might think. Make sure you're using them properly with these tips.

Do: Know When Lanyards Are Recommended in Place of Self Retracting Lifelines

Even high-quality lanyards like the DBI-SALA® 6 ft Adjustable Web Positioning Lanyard from 3M can't be used in place of SRLs where they're required. Lanyards have a short length and can only absorb a small amount of shocking force. They're good for situations where your workers are operating around guardrails and only moving a short distance from an anchor point. Lanyards are recommended for leading-edge work since they remind the worker not to lean or move too far out from the edge.

For situations where a longer fall distance is possible, SRLs are required or recommended. The internal braking mechanism of a connection device like the 3M™ DBI-SALA® Nano-Lok™ Edge Personal Self-Retracting Lifeline can prevent serious injury when a worker falls from a higher height. Advanced SRLs such as this model allow for foot-level tie-offs along with dorsal height or overhead mounting options, making it easy to use SRLs across the worksite—instead of relying only on lanyards.

Don't: Assume Guardrails Eliminate the Need for Harnesses and Anchor Points

Guardrails around the edges of fall hazards like window openings and roof lines can reduce the risk of falls. They even work on booms, lifts, and other essential pieces of equipment used for lifting workers and materials alike. However, guardrails aren't automatically a replacement for full-body harnesses and the corresponding connection equipment. OSHA requires the use of both types of fall prevention for most construction work situations that occur above the first floor of a structure. That includes when the work is occurring on scaffolding or a lift outside of the building.

Do: Maintain, Clean, and Inspect the Connection Devices Regularly

All connection devices must be cleaned and stored with care at the end of every work day. Leaving the lanyards and SRLs piled together in a tool chest will only lead to wear and damage. You should also inspect the connection equipment on a weekly to monthly basis, depending on how often it is used. SRLs and lanyards that receive daily use need weekly inspection because dangerous amounts of wear or damage can occur faster than you might think.

To inspect construction harness lanyards, check the webbing material for shiny spots, fraying, color changes, and other signs of wear. Even minor signs of rubbing or fraying indicate the need for replacement. Ensure that any stitching or weaving used to secure the clips on the ends remains intact, tight, and free from fraying.

When inspecting SRLs, you'll need to fully extract the wire or cable to inspect it. Again, this metal or nylon material should be flexible, intact, and free from any wear marks or signs of damage. Use the retraction feature and make sure that the cable recedes smoothly into the housing. Once you're sure the wire or cable is fine, pull sharply on it to activate the automatic braking system. Take any SRLs out of service that are slow to respond, and replace any that fail to brake.

Don't: Use Any Devices with Signs of Wear or Malfunction

Connection products from 3M like the DBI-SALA® 6 ft Adjustable Web Positioning Lanyard are built with durability in mind. Yet it's easy to overlook a slight shininess to the surface or scraped material that is a warning sign that the lanyard is ready for replacement. If there is any question about whether a connection device is functioning properly or has been in use too long, take it out of rotation and order a replacement. It's best to give any suspect connection devices a thorough inspection to verify if they're still appropriate for construction use, since failure can become a matter of life and death.

Do: Keep Track of What Anchor Arrangements Are Allowed

Not all lanyards and SRLs work for all anchor arrangements. For example, foot-level tie-offs are not generally recommended for SRLs because having a wire extended at ankle height poses a trip hazard for other workers. The 3M™ DBI-SALA® Nano-Lok™ Edge Self-Retracting Lifeline is unique because its back-mounted design allows for safer use for this kind of tie-off, allowing for more flexibility when arranging anchor points for construction work at height. Check the manufacturer's recommendations on anchor arrangements, along with connection arrangements with various types of harnesses, to ensure you're getting the best results from your fall prevention equipment.

With correct use, connection devices like SRLs and lanyards are essential pieces of construction safety equipment. The key is making sure to inspect and replace these devices as needed because even regular wear and tear leads to weakness in the webbing or wire material. CW Hayden can help by supplying you with all of the best connection and fall-prevention devices for your construction needs. Whether your team is working on a multi-level structure or relies on lifts and boom trucks to complete their tasks, there is a harness, connection, and anchor system that will work for your situation.