Working at height requires the proper knowledge and equipment to ensure safety. Below, we have outlined the key safety systems and considerations for working at height.

Four Types of Work at Height Systems:

Work Restraint

Purpose: Prevents a person from reaching areas where there is a risk of falling.

Components:

Limit of the user’s movement

Harness attachment point

Anchor

Lanyard

Fall risk area

Work Positioning

Purpose: Allows a person to work while supported by personal fall protection equipment (PFPE) in tension, preventing a free fall.

Support: The system can fully or partially support the user's weight.

Fall Arrest

Purpose: Protects the user in case of a fall by using interconnected components to arrest the fall and decelerate the user.

Key Objectives:

Prevent workers from reaching a hazard by arresting the fall.

Absorb the energy of the fall to reduce impact force (impact force must be no more than 6 kN as per EN 363).

Provide a specified deceleration distance (varies by system).

Rope Access - Work in Suspension

Purpose: Uses ropework to safely access difficult-to-reach areas.

System: Technicians work while suspended from ropes, either descending, ascending, or traversing. A redundancy system (e.g., two ropes) should always be used for fall protection.

Work at Height Key Considerations:

Minimum Free Space Required:
The space below the worker must be sufficient to arrest the fall before the worker contacts any structure, object, or the ground. Consider the following:

Length of device under tension

Length of deployed shock absorber (if used)

Maximum distance between the user’s feet and the anchor point on the harness

Recommended safety clearance

Fall Factor:
The fall factor is determined by the position of the user’s attachment point relative to the anchor point.

Calculation: Fall factor = Free fall distance / Lanyard length

For a 2-metre lanyard:

Anchor above the user: Free fall distance = 0.5m, Fall factor = 0.25

Anchor at shoulder level: Free fall distance = 2m, Fall factor = 1

Anchor at foot level: Free fall distance = 4m, Fall factor = 2

Pendulum Effect:
The pendulum effect occurs when a worker swings from a pivot after falling. This swing can cause the worker to collide with structures, so the position of the worker, swing trajectory, and the angle of the lanyard should be considered to avoid this hazard.

How to Select the Right Equipment:

To select the appropriate height safety equipment, consider the following factors:

Available free space beneath the work area

Position of the anchorage point and fall factor

Risk of swinging and potential pendulum effect

Choosing the correct height safety equipment is essential for preventing accidents and ensuring worker safety.

If you need further support, please contact our Technical Support Team using the email: technical@jspsafety.com or contact us via WhatsApp.