Fall Protection Kits/self retracting fall lifelines - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

nwksremodeler · 02-04-2008, 11:31 PM

As the title suggests, I am looking into the purchase of some sort of a fall protection device for roofing, But I am not sure what I should be looking for or what I need. Basically I have a couple of steep barn roofs to install metal roofing on in the very near future, and I am having some doubts about some of the safety factors. I'm not really wanting to invest a ton of money into a device, but I also know it is hard to put a price on a life. I would probably only use it maybe twice a yr at best. I have never been around any of this equipment and none of the other carpenters in my area have anything like this that I know of. I'm not even sure how these devices really work. I am guessing that the self retracting fall lifelines work similarly to a seatbelt in a car possible, retracting in and out as you move and then catching if you fall?? What about the rope style kits? Can anyone recommend a good device for the money, that is very user friendly, and well constructed? I'm sure some of your mobility is limited with these harnesses, but in the end are well worth the hassel.

A W Smith · 02-04-2008, 11:51 PM

I think this is the one i got. but im not sure because i only used it for one job. It takes getting used to when you have to back yourself down the roof again. I only got it because my then partner would not work on the roof we were doing without it. Which he wouldnt anyway so i used it.

Fall Protection Bucket

cleveman · 02-04-2008, 11:59 PM

Go to your contractor supply houses and look around. They should have a fall arrest system. They are OSHA or maybe NIOSH approved.

The first thing you'll need is a harness. You don't want to just tie a rope around your neck and connect the fall arrest system to the rope.

Secondly, you need some connector to connect the fall arrest system to your harness. This seems simple, but it should be something strong, yet easy to connect and disconnect.

I seem to remember some system which was infinitely adjustable. You just ran a rope through it and it would only let you fall like 6 inches before it stopped you. But you could move downsteam with no problems, as long as you weren't falling.

This is the seat-belt mechanism you mentioned.

I don't know about you, but I'm hesitant to trust such a system. What happens when the rope is all dirty, or wet? You have to use a rope with some elasticity in it as well. I think nylon is a good choice. Look up rope on-line and research it.

I've used a system whereby I have several knots in a rope and I just let myself out by slipping down a few knots. When I go up a roof, I make sure that I take up knots. This is what would keep me from falling very far. I have never fallen and I'm operating off of toe-holds.

The best tip is not to work too much and watch the weather. If you are having to free hand it, it is not wise to do this when your arms are shot, or when it is 120 degrees warm or the roof is wet or icy.

Finally, you may want to have a safety rail at or near the edge of the roof.

Further, clean up the area around the ground. You don't want to fall on any machinery.

If you take a lot of preventative steps, it will help. It would be a biatch to almost stop sliding before going off the edge with no safety rail, then fall not very far onto a bunch of rip-rap, only to find your cell phone with no battery and your revolver with no bullets and your utility knife too dull to slit your throat.

A W Smith · 02-05-2008, 12:04 AM

Cleveman that system i showed is complete. has the harness, the rope, the anchor, the arrest, the lead , everything. And even if the rope is soaking wet and dirty it cannot slip. the fall arrest clamps down on the rope and you wont move. One thing you don't want to do is make your own. you can easily be killed by mismatched rope or components.

cleveman · 02-05-2008, 12:15 AM

You are absorutery collect. And the photo is so pretty.

Jason W · 02-05-2008, 11:45 AM

I have a [FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']Sala, 30’ self retracting life line. It got used for a commercial job last year and won't be used again. Let me know if you're interested. I was about to put it on ebay for $200 plus shipping.[/font]

[FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']This is the one http://secure2.data-comm.com/servlet...9;-Galv/Detail[/font]

nwksremodeler · 02-13-2008, 07:26 PM

Thanks for all of your input guys, I ended up buying a Sala self retracting life line, and a miller harness. Hope it was the right thing to do for what it costs!

cleveman · 02-14-2008, 08:39 PM

I read in the northwest kansas newspaper today that some remodeler fell off a roof and broke his heart. Let's hope it's not our guy.

A W Smith · 02-14-2008, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cleveman

I read in the northwest kansas newspaper today that some remodeler fell off a roof and broke his heart. Let's hope it's not our guy.

Broke his heart? On Valenties day? boy that sucks.

Jason W · 02-14-2008, 08:44 PM

See!!!! $200 looks pretty cheap for a heart now doesn't it?

Going once.................
Going twice...................

TempestV · 02-14-2008, 10:26 PM

for fall protection, I prefer a climbing saddle, where the rope attaches to the front, at waste level, rather than the back. that way I can sit in the harness and use it to actively keep me on a steep roof, rather than just something to catch me should I fall. I've done some tree work before where you couldn't stand on anything, you just had to hang from the rope in order to reach the work. I generally use a prussic knot or a figure 8.

TempestV · 02-14-2008, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A W Smith

I think this is the one i got. but im not sure because i only used it for one job. It takes getting used to when you have to back yourself down the roof again. I only got it because my then partner would not work on the roof we were doing without it. Which he wouldnt anyway so i used it.

Fall Protection Bucket

I just realized, that is set up wrong- the rope grab and lead don't connect the rope to the roof anchor, the rope connects to the anchor, the rope grab goes on the rope, and the lead connected to it clips to the harness. I don't know- it would make me a little nervous to buy fall protection from a company that doesn't know how to set it up properly before photographing it.

Edit: also, is there any advantage to having the shock absorber on the rope instead of the lead, where most kits put it? If you have a bad fall, those shock absorbers have to be replaced. The rope and the rest of the kit is probably good for 10 to 15 falls, but with that setup, would have to replace the whole rope, which is way more expensive than a shock absorbing lead.

also, fall protection, and particularly the ropes is not something that you want to buy uses unless you know it's history- it's rated for number of falls before you shouldn't trust it, and there isn't really any way to test it to see how much life it has in it.

A W Smith · 02-14-2008, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TempestV

I just realized, that is set up wrong- the rope grab and lead don't connect the rope to the roof anchor, the rope connects to the anchor, the rope grab goes on the rope, and the lead connected to it clips to the harness. I don't know- it would make me a little nervous to buy fall protection from a company that doesn't know how to set it up properly before photographing it.

yes I noticed that as well after i posted it. it would be kind of difficult to move anywhere away from the ridge the way they got it rigged. I think its a retailer though that had that picture. there is no other decent picture available. In fact there is no web site for MSA Safety/InCom that I can find

Kgmz · 02-14-2008, 11:31 PM

http://www.msanorthamerica.com/

A W Smith · 02-14-2008, 11:49 PM

they have it connected correctly