For decades, leading causes of death on construction jobsites in the United States have been “Falls” and “Struck by Object” according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In 2015, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) recorded 364 deaths from falls (38.8% of the total construction deaths) and 90 deaths from being struck by objects (9.6% of the total construction deaths). That’s a total of 454 workers whose lives could have been saved with the right training and equipment. See stats. According to the BLS, there are more than 50,000 “struck by falling object” OSHA recordable incidents every year in the United States.

It’s vital to protect workers and objects from falling because, frankly, people’s lives depend on it.

3M™ DBI-SALA® Fall Protection has a complete line of supplies to keep people safe on worksites that require them to work at heights.

KEEPING WORKERS FROM FALLING

A typical Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) incorporates three components, often described as the ABCs of fall protection. The anchorage/anchorage connector, body support and connecting device – when used together – form a complete system for maximum worker protection.

The ABCs of fall protection are:

• Anchorage
• Body support
• Connecting device

KEEPING WORKERS SAFE FROM FALLING OBJECTS

Protecting workers takes more than just keeping them from falling. Workers can also get hurt from falling objects. Tools that fall from above can cause severe personal injuries, as well as equipment damage and tool loss, yet these hazards are often overlooked when planning workplace safety.

Standard: The danger of falling objects is addressed by the ANSI/ISEA 121-2018 Dropped Objects Standard. This standard establishes minimum design, performance, testing and labeling requirements for equipment solutions that reduce dropped objects incidents in industrial and occupation settings. Dropped objects include hand tools, instrumentation, small parts, structural components and other items that need to be transferred and used at heights. These objects have the opportunity of becoming dropped objects potentially resulting in a struck-by injury or fatality or in damage to equipment.

Four individual categories have been established to address specific solutions:

1. TOOL TETHERS – Lanyards or materials designed to connect tools to approved anchor points.
2. TOOL ATTACHMENTS – Attachment points designed to be field installed onto tools or equipment to provide appropriate connection points for tethering.
3. ANCHOR ATTACHMENTS – Attachment points designed to be field installed on structures, equipment or workers, to provide appropriate connection points for tethering.
4. CONTAINERS and BAGS – Devices designed to carry or transport tools and equipment to and from heights.

3M has recommendations for everything you need to stop the drop. Just like the ABCs of fall protection for workers tools and objects also require proper anchorage, connector and attachment point (body support). The tool tether is only part of a complete Fall Protection for Tools 3-point system solution. You also need an attachment point and anchorage to ensure they’re secure.

3M recommends:

• Attachment points
• Connectors
• Anchorage

Body support (tool attachment points)

Attachment points function similarly to a worker’s safety harness in that it must be a secure point on the tool that is load-rated for at least the total weight of the tool. Once a tool contains an attachment point, it’s considered “tether-ready.”

Types of Attachment Points: 

• Quick Spin and Quick Ring Attachment
• D-ring Cord
• D-ring & Quick-Wrap Tape
• Tool Cinch Attachments

Connectors

Just like lanyards or personal self-retracting lifelines for personnel, tools require a connector to ensure they remain securely attached to an anchorage in the event the tool is dropped. There are two common types of connectors for tools: retractors and tethers.

• Tool Tethers
• Hard Hat Tether

Anchorages

The final component of the 3-point system for securing tools from drops is the anchorage. A tool anchorage can take many forms because of the wide variability of sizes and weights of the most commonly used tools, but at a high-level there are two types of anchorages for tools: off the body for any tool over 5 lbs. (2.3 kg), and on the body anchorages (only for tools under 5 lbs.), such as:
 

• Tool Belts and Belt Loops
• Holsters
• Wristbands

Blackhawk is proud to partner with 3M to provide the necessary equipment to protect workers from falls. For additional questions about 3M safety equipment sold by BlackHawk Industrial, give us a call. We’re happy to help. Our mission is to provide innovative, value-added services and products that reduce our customer’s total cost. Feel free to contact us for more information.

BlackHawk Industrial

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Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012

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