An anchor point is a component of fall protection. Fall protection is used to reduce the risk of falling and to work safely at height.
There are different types of anchor points for fall protection. Do you know which one to choose for your company's work activities?
For example, anchor points for roofs are different from anchor points for scaffolding.
What is an anchor point and why do you need it?
The greatest danger when working at height or in a confined space is that a worker may fall. So, they must always wear a fall arrest harness. This does not prevent the fall, but ensures that the wearer does not hit the ground.
A fall arrest harness is attached to a special safety lifeline. You attach this safety lifeline to an anchor point. Anchor points for fall protection can be metal loops or portable tripods fastened to a wall.
Where do you attach your fall protection?
Before using a fall arrest harness, you must first determine what you can safely fasten yourself to. Is there a suitable existing structure?
There is an existing structure
Are there concrete vaults, beams, racks or other solid structures at the work site? Then attach yourself to an individual anchor point, a loop or a beam clamp.
Of course, the structure must be strong enough to bear your weight in the event of a fall. This is true when the structure can bear a load of at least 12 kN (kilonewtons) for at least 3 minutes.
The technical specifications state whether the structure you want to use meets these requirements. Not sure about it? Then have the structure tested by our experts.
There is NO existing structure
If there is no structure to attach a fall arrest harness to, using mobile fall protection is a good alternative. For this, you use a dead weight/counterweight anchor, a tripod, or a davit system. To guarantee safety, the load-bearing surface must be sufficiently solid.
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Another option is to set up a structure, for example, in the form of beams or a steel structure.
Our fall protection expert can quickly and professionally install this at your company premises.
Let's have a chat about fall protection
How do you attach yourself to an anchor point?
There are different types of fasteners to attach yourself to an anchor point. Which one you use depends on how high the anchor point is in relation to your body, among other things. The height at which you work is also important.
A fastener is not just for attaching yourself to an anchor point. It also catches a fall and slows it down. This keeps the forces exerted on your body below 6 kN. Otherwise, you could still get hurt.
Fall arrest lifeline
A fall-arrest lifeline is a line maximally up to two metres long with an integrated shock absorber. It must be long enough to be comfortable to work with, but also short enough to keep you at least one metre above the ground if you fall.
The correct length is determined by calculating the fall distance:
Life line length + maximum length of shock absorber + person's length + required free space (1m)
In a worst case scenario, the fall distance is 6,75 meters.
- Life line length: 2 meters
- Maximum length of shock absorber : 1,75 meters
- Person length : 2 meters
- Required free space : 1 meter
Fall arrest device
These fall arrest devices are similar to the operation of a car seat belt. These automatically roll back and block after a short braking distance in case of a large sudden acceleration of the person attached to such a device. It also reduces the impact of the fall.
This type of fastener is suitable for work activities at workplaces that are not far above the ground because it takes effect almost immediately.
Vertical or horizontal lifeline with clamp
Another fastener for attaching your fall arrest harness to an anchor point is a lifeline with a line clamp. There is a short lifeline on the clamp and a ring that you attach to the fall arrest harness.
A line clamp blocks a fall even faster than a fall arrest device, which is very important when working on sloping surfaces. So, this fastener is very suitable for anchor points on roofs. A line with a clamp also offers a lot of freedom of movement.
Best practices for using anchor points
First of all, anchor points for fall protection must always be attached above your head. If you secure the anchor point to the ground, the fall distance is greater.
It is also a good idea to replace a lifeline with a fall arrest device for extra safety.
Beware of the pendulum effect
In the ideal situation, someone falls straight down. But in practice, a body usually moves irregularly during a fall. This particularly true when the anchor point is not directly above your head. In this case, you quickly experience the 'pendulum effect'.
Your body swings, but the anchor point remains in the same place. The danger here is that during a fall you might, for instance, swing against a wall or a machine and be injured.
The angle that you work at must not exceed 30°.
When working on flat or slightly sloping roofs, always make sure that the device is suitable for horizontal use. Of course, these blocks are also subject to the pendulum effect but have a cable that is more resistant to abrasion over edges of horizontal structures.
Fall protection on your site
Would you like to know more about working safely at height with permanent and mobile fall protection solutions? Then be sure to download our white paper.
Would you like to purchase fall protection or make sure that everything concerning anchor points and fall protection is in order in your company? Then make a quick appointment with our experts in fall protection. During a site visit, we will look for a targeted solution that fully meets your needs.
Also read:
- Working at height and why the of hierarchy of controls is important (vdp.com)
- 6 fixed fall protection ideas to work safely at height (vdp.com)
- What is a davit system and when do you need it? (vdp.com)
- How to choose the right anchor points (and how do you attach yourself)? (vdp.com)
- What is The Harness Suspension Trauma and How To Prevent It? (vdp.com)