RIGGERS SAFETYriggerssafety.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Harness-Manual-2015... · All PFAS are required to comply with ANSI Z359.1-2007 and prevent free fall or limit it to 6 feet

HARNESS / LANYARD / CARABINER

Riggers Safety LLC

267 Winfield C

r Corona, C

A 92880 (951) 371-8685 riggerssafety.com

Use and Safety M

anual RIGGERSSAFETY

Table of Contents

WARNINGS 3

Definitions and Functions: 4

PFAS Applications 5

System Requirements: 6

Specifications: 6

Anchorage System: 6

Fall Arrest Clearance: 7

Standard Fall Clearance Calculation 8

Limitations: 8

Harness & Lanyard Operation and Use: 9

Harness Donning 9

Carabiner Operation and Use: 11

Inappropriate Connections 11

Training: 12

Inspection and Maintenance: 12

Record All Inspections: 14

Product Labels: 15

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PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS:

The first rule of safety is: If it is unsafe, don’t do it.

These instructions must be provided to all users to read, understand and follow accordingly.

This manual should be available at all times for reference with extra copies on file.

A competent person, fully aware of applicable safety regulations for use, in-spection and maintenance should ensure harnesses, lanyards and carabiners are connected to a compatible Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS), anchorage point and additional fall arrest components to prevent damage to the equip-ment or injury to the user.

All PFAS are required to comply with ANSI Z359.1-2007 and prevent free fall or limit it to 6 feet or less.

Confirm that there is adequate fall clearance and that there are no obstruc-tions below the work area to prevent the user from striking lower levels. (Note: The amount of appropriate fall clearance is dependent on the PFAS used.)

Carabiners can reduce, but cannot eliminate the possibility of roll-out.

Never use PFAS components for material handling applications.

Consult a physician if there is concern or doubt about employee fitness level or ability to absorb shock from fall arrest prior to using this product.

This instruction manual is intended to meet the “Manufacturer’s Instructions” as required by ANSI and should be used as part of an employee training program as required by OSHA.ALL COMPONENTS MUST BE INSPECTED: PRIOR TO EACH USE, BY A COMPETENT PERSON, OTHER THAN THE USER, AT LEAST ANNUAL-LY. Federal and State laws require that the user of this equipment receive Safety Training prior to its use. Use of compatible compo-nents is mandatory. This manual must be: provided to all users prior to use, part of user safety training and kept on file for reference and inspection. All us-ers must read, understand and obey all manufacturer instructions, company safety regulations and state and federal regulations, instructions, markings, warnings and product limitations.FAILURE TO PROPERLY USE, INSPECT, MAINTAIN AND REMOVE FROM SERVICE DAMAGED OR DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT, AS WELL AS, COMPLY WITH ALL INSTRUCTIONS HEREIN MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. DOING OTHERWISE WOULD PLACE ANY INCIDENT UNDER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OPERATOR AND/OR EMPLOYER.

WARNINGS!

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Before operating, a worker should be:

• mentally and physically fit for the purpose, especially at heights or in confined spaces

• free from the influence of alcohol or drugs

• trained under safe conditions for working under the above requirements

Safe Conditions: Training must include: equipment use, maintenance, inspec-tion and rescue protocol.

Rescue protocol must be determined in advance and put in writing by the authority in charge of the equipment. Training must be carried out under conditions that exclude the risk of fall.

Do not allow PFAS to be used near any physical hazards like electrical, weld-ing, heat, severe cold, corrosive, chemical, moving machinery, sharp edges or any other hazard that can injure the employee, cause a fall or damage the equipment.

Never disassemble PFAS components or use an altered or misused harness, lanyard or other PFAS components.

Remove from service equipment that is deemed unsuitable upon inspection.

All equipment associated with the use of the carabiner, harness or lanyard must comply with applicable safety regulations. Riggers Safety denies liability for incidents that occur due to non-compliant components.

Riggers Safety assumes no liability for the adequacy of installations incorpo-rating the harness or carabiner beyond the limitations set by this manual.

Riggers Safety denies any responsibility for the consequences of altering the carabiner, harness or lanyard beyond the specifications described in this manual. No attempts at repair should be made without Riggers Safety written authorization.

Definitions and Functions: Personal Fall Arrest System: PFAS includes compatible components such as an anchor, full body harness, a connecting subsystem or lanyard and an effective rescue procedure.

Fall Arrest: The action or event of stopping a free fall or the instant the down-ward free fall has been stopped.

Fall Restraint: a system of components used to prevent the user from reach-ing a fall hazard. Restraint systems typically include an anchorage, full body harness and a restraint lifeline. Free fall is not permitted.

Work Positioning: a system of components that supports or suspends the user so that he can work hands-free. This system may include an anchorage, full body harness and positioning lanyards. Free fall distance must be limited to a maximum of 2 ft.

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Personnel Riding: a system of components that suspend or transport the user vertically. Personnel riding systems typically include a full body harness, boatswain’s chair or seat board and a back-up PFAS. Vertical free fall is not permitted.

Rescue: The process of removing a person from danger, harm or confinement to a safe location. Rescue components vary depending on the type or rescue. Vertical free fall in not permitted. Ladder climbing: The use of a fall restrict system that travels on a vertical lifeline or rail.

Rescue: The process of removing a person from danger, harm or confinement to a safe location.

Harness: Riggers Safety harness is to be incorporated in a PFAS where worker fall protection is a required. The function of a full body harness is to support

WARNING: USE OF BODY BELTS FOR FALL ARREST IS PROHIBITED BY LAW.

PFAS Applications

Anchorage Connector

Back-up Fall Arrest System

Anchorage Cable

Cable Sleeve

Ladder

Full Body Harness

Work Positioning

Fall Protection

Ladder Climbing

Fall Restraint

Anchorage Connector

Connecting Subsystem (self-retracting lifeline) Restraint Lanyard

Full Body Harness

Anchorage

Back D-Ring

Full Body Harness

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Anchorage System:

System Requirements: Questions regarding the appropriate usage of this equipment may be directed to Riggers Safety.

the user during and after a fall and to distribute impact forces.

Shock-absorbing lanyard: Riggers Safety lanyard is designed for use as a connecting device in a PFAS. The lanyard connects the user’s harness to an anchorage point, anchorage connector or rope grab with self-locking snap hooks. The shock-absorbing component extends the deceleration distance minimizing the momentum energy.

Carabiner: Riggers Safety carabiners are designed to be incorporated in a personal fall arrest system where worker fall protection is required. The prima-ry function of a carabiner is to connect compatible components of a PFAS.

Specifications: The Riggers Safety self-locking carabiner is a self-closing and self-locking con-nector that includes a pin that may be used to retain a permanently connect-ed lanyard or lifeline. ANSI Z359.1-2007, ANSI A10.32-2004

• ANSI Z359.1-2007 requires carabiners to self-close and lock.

Materials: Alloy Steel, Zinc plated. Minimum Breaking Load: 5000 lbs.

Riggers Safety carabiners are individually sequential serialized.

Gate Strength: 3600 lbs. Side Load: 3600 lbs. Meets ANSI Z359.1 -2007

Capacity: 310 lbs. (one person)

The Riggers Safety vest harness and shock-absorbing lanyard meet ANSI Z359.1 -07, ANSI A10.32-04.

Materials: Polyester minimal tensile strength 5,000 lbs.

WARNING!

Warning: No more than one worker should be attached to a shock-ab-sorbing lanyard at once and each employee should have a separate anchor point and/or lifeline.

Harnesses, lanyards and carabiners are parts of a PFAS and are intended to attach to an approved anchorage.

The combined user weight, clothing and tools must not exceed 310 lbs.

An anchorage point is a secure point of attachment for lanyards, lifelines or other anchorage connectors and must be independent of the means of sup-porting the worker and must have been identified by a qualified person.

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Fall Arrest Clearance: Consult local government regulations for allowable free fall distances.

Users must calculate an appropriate fall clearance below an elevated work area that is free from obstructions to a potential fall. When calculating fall clearance it should be noted:

• During a fall arrest and after a fall a harness can stretch by approximately 1 ft.

• Shock absorbers can elongate by an additional 3.5 ft.

Deceleration Distance: the additional vertical distance a falling person travels, excluding lifeline elongation and free fall distance, before the deceleration de-vice begins to operate. Deceleration distance must be included in the calcula-tion of total necessary fall clearance. (Employment of a rope grab will increase the deceleration distance.)

Swing Falls: can occur when the worker moves laterally from the anchorage point and can cause serious injury. If the worker cannot work directly under the anchorage point then he must not exceed a 30° angle from either side.

Harness: for fall arrest purpose, the use of an approved full body harness is mandatory. Attach the lanyard to the back D-ring of the harness.

Lanyard: for fall arrest, a shock-absorbing lanyard must be used to ensure that the impact force does not exceed 1,800 lbs. (8 kN).

The lanyard maybe be permanently fitted to a harness or attached to the back D-ring using approved connection hardware. Do not tie a knot in the lanyard; the strength will be greatly reduced.

• Never clamp or knot any shock-absorbing lanyard.

• Never disable locking keeper or alter the connection device in any way.

• Do not attach the lanyard back onto itself.

Personal fall arrest ANSI Z359.1-2007 systems and components for non-certi-fied anchorages must be attached to compatible anchorages able to sup port at least 5000 lbs. (22.2 kN) per attached worker. Regulations are subject to revision.

The anchor point should be directly over the user’s head. Do not work above the anchorage point.

Never use an anchor point that prevents connecting hardware from closing or causes any form of gate loading.

The anchorage point combined with the lanyard should not permit a free fall distance of more than 6 ft., but users should verify this distance in consistent with local, state, federal and provincial regulations.

Clear the work area below of all obstructions to a potential fall path.

Always construct your PFAS in a way that prevents risk of swing fall.

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Limitations: Corrosion: metal components of the harness, lanyard or carabiner should not be left in environments where corrosion can occur. If these components are exposed to corrosive elements such as sewage, fertilizer or seawater then inspection frequency must be increased.

Electrical Hazards: Use caution when working near high voltage power lines: electricity can pass through the metal components and could electrocute the user.

Temperature: Riggers Safety equipment is not designed for high temperature environments that exceed 93°C (for Nylon) and 82°C (for Polyester). Keep equipment away from heat flames/sparks.

Chemical Hazards: While the materials in this equipment have some chemical

6 ft. Length of Lanyard

3.5 ft. Deceleration

Distance

18.5

ft. T

otal

Fal

l Cle

aran

ce6 ft. Height of Worker

3 ft. Safety Factor

Back of Worker Before Fall

Front of Worker After Fall

Energy Absorber Elongation (3.5 ft.)

ANCHORAGE

• Do not subject webbing to sharp edges, heat or chemicals.

FALL CLEARANCE CALCULATION

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Harness & Lanyard Operation and Use:

Step 1 Step 2 Step 4Step 6 Step 7

Step 3Step 5 1. Holding harness by

D-ring; inspect and un-tangle.

2. Place over the shoul-ders.

3. Adjust harness �t.

4. Connect and adjust leg straps.

5. Connect and adjust chest strap.

6. Inspect back for proper �t.

7. Inspect front for proper �t.

(Inspect all PFAS com-ponents prior to each use)

resistance it best to inspect equipment for color/texture changes and stiffness or cracks in the webbing.

Abrasives: Contact with abrasive surfaces or sharp edges should be avoided or softened by cushioning. Use edge protection padding to wrap around the abrasive surface or edge to protect to protect the PFAS.

Ultraviolet light: Precautions should be taken to avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight and/or fluorescent lights, which can degrade equipment.

Impact: Any harness, lanyard or carabiner subjected to fall arrest forces shall be removed from service and destroyed.

HARNESS DONNING

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Harness Set-up:

1. Pick up your harness by the D-ring on the black back plate and inspect before use. (The horizontal chest strap is the front of the harness.) (Fig. 1)

2. Untwist and untangle the harness by shaking. Unfasten leg and chest straps so they hang freely. Once harness is untangled inspect for poten-tial damage. (Fig. 1)

3. With front chest straps open, put arms through shoulder straps as one would a jacket. (Fig. 2) Adjust front buckles so that subpelvic straps will fit snugly below the buttocks.

4. Dorsal D-ring should rest at user’s middle-back between the shoulder blades; adjust accordingly. (Fig. 3)

5. Secure subpelvic strap in place by bending slightly forward from the hips and reaching between the legs for leg straps. Attach leg straps to hip connectors. (Fig. 4)

6. Adjust leg straps by sliding excess webbing through male adjuster buckle so that legs straps are appropriately snug (an open hand should fit be-tween thigh and leg strap.) (Fig. 4)

7. Connect chest strap and position across chest approximately at nipple level. (Fig. 5)

8. The chest strap should be comfortably snug, but not so that shoulder straps are pulled inward. Female users should position chest strap slightly above breast level as is comfortable for the user. Secure loose straps. (Fig. 5)

9. Ensure synthetic loop is adequately adjusted to quick-connect buckle to prevent accidental disengagement. (Fig. 6 & 7)

10. Finally, remove all coins, keys or large object from pockets before working in the harness. Ensure all connectors are fully closed and locked.

Lanyard Connection:

1. For fall arrest applications, shock-absorbing end of a lanyard must always be attached to pre-inspected, dorsal harness D-ring and other end must be connected to an appropriate anchorage point. Do not connect shock absorbing end of lanyard to an anchorage.

2. Lanyards should only be connected with compatible connectors.

WARNING!

Never rely only on the sound of the snap hook closing. Check visually that the snap hook is properly attached and closed. Have a second per-son verify that the equipment is safely connected.

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3. A person other than user should verify that rear at-tachment D- ring of harness is properly connected to the user’s shock-absorbing lanyard.

Y Lanyard Connection:

4. The Y lanyard is intended for work positioning or travel restraint, fall arrest applica-tions that require that the one user be 100% tied-off, while maintaining enough mobility to ascend, descend or move laterally between workstations to complete a task.

5. For fall arrest applications, shock-absorbing end of a lanyard must always be

attached to user’s pre-inspected, dorsal harness D-ring and other ends must be connected to an appropriate anchorage point. Do not connect shock-absorbing end to anchorage and never attach more than one person to a Y lanyard.

6. When attaching Y lanyard legs to anchorage points be sure that the angle between the lanyard leg and horizontal, anchorage does not exceed 30 degrees overhead and ensure the distance between two legs does not exceed 1.7 times the length of the lanyard. If using Y lanyard to leapfrog from one anchorage point to another, do not connect legs to anchorage points that are further away than length of the lanyard.

WARNING!

Failure to comply with these instructions could cause lanyard overload-ing. This misuse increases risk of the equipment failing in the event of a fall. Note: If one Y lanyard leg is unused, this leg non-anchored leg can-not be attached to the harness unless the harness has a lanyard retainer, designated for that purpose.

Y LANYARD USE

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Carabiner Operation and Use: Captive Carabiner Installation: drive roll pin through both pre-drilled car-abiner holes and tap it with punch tool until flush with outside of carabiner. This captive eye pin shall not be removed once installed.

Carabiner Operation:

• Manual locking connectors should be used when the user does not have to attach and remove the connector many times during a working day.

1. Connect the carabiner to the connection point by twisting the locking mechanism and pulling the gate open. For carabiners with a triple-lock-ing mechanism pull up on the gate before rotating it in the clockwise motion.

2. When positioned correctly on anchorage or connection point, release gate and confirm that it fully closes and locks.

Inappropriate Connections:

Roll-out: when a snap hook or carabiner become disengaged. To avoid higher risk of roll-out follow these precautions:

1. Do not use carabiner or snap hook that will not completely close and lock over the attachment. (Fig. A)

2. Do not connect to small rings or other non-compatible anchors (Fig. B)

3. False engagement: Insure that carabiner or snap hook has completely closed and fully engaged to the anchor point. (Fig. C)

4. Do not loop lanyard or rope through carabiner or snap hook and tie-back. (Fig. D)

INAPPROPRIATE CONNECTIONS Inappropriate Connections

A. B. C. D.

E. F. G. H.

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Training: • User should not attempt to use the PFAS lanyard or harness unless prop-

erly trained.

• It is the user’s responsibility to use only compatible PFAS and subsystem components (harness, lanyard, lifeline, etc.)

• User must obey all manufacturer instructions.

• User shall be instructed on use, limitations, care and inspection of all fall-protection components used. Use this product manual as a sup-plement to a recorded comprehensive Fall Protection Safety Training Program.

• OSHA mandates users shall not be exposed to a hazard during training.

• OSHA requires users be trained prior to being exposed to a hazard and specifies ongoing training requirements.

• Document and maintain records of all safety equipment and application training.

ANSI and OSHA specify PFAS requirements comply with specifications re-garding – Anchorage Strength, Maximum Fall Arrest Forces, Swing-Fall, Free Fall Distance and Total Fall Distance, Body Connection, Body Support, Rescue and more. Consult applicable standards and a safety professional to develop your PFAS and write a Standard Operating Protocol. Provide comprehensive training to all users prior to using this product.

Inspection and Maintenance: A COMPETENT PERSON, OTHER THAN THE USER MUST INSPECT ALL FALL PRO-TECTION COMPONENTS AT LEAST ONCE ANNUALLY.

THE USER MUST INSPECT ALL PFAS COMPONENTS PRIOR TO EACH USE.

(This is subject to local, state, federal and provincial law, which can require more than one inspection a year.)

5. Do not connect carabiners or snap hooks to other carabiners or snap hooks. (Fig. E and H)

6. Do not install more than one snap hook or carabiner into a single connec-tion. (Fig. F)

7. Connect carabiner so load is on the carabiner’s fixed steel portion only. Never allow load to be directed to the gate. (Fig. G)

8. Do not use knots to attach carabiner.

9. Attach PFAS to ANSI Qualified Person Rated or 5000 lbs. anchors only.

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Harnesses and Lanyards:

Harnesses and lanyards can be washed in cold-water with a mild detergent. After washing, they must be thoroughly rinsed with clear water and hung to dry (away from sunlight or high heat).

Items can be cleaned as often as necessary in order to extend the life of the equipment. Clean equipment is easier to inspect for damage.

Do not machine wash or clean with solvent agents, acids etc.

Harnesses and lanyards should be stored in a clean dry environment free of corrosives and harmful fumes and out of direct sunlight.

Inspect visually:

• Complete and legible markings and labels should be present.

• Webbing: webbing should not show any tears, cuts, fraying or signs of excessive wear or heat/chemical damage. Stitching should also be intact. (Inspect by beginning at one end and bending a portion of approximate-ly 6 in. into a “U” between hands.)

• Discoloration, fused, melted or brittle fibers may indicate exposure to one or more of the equipment limitations listed previously.

• Shock absorber tear webbing activation or deployed fall indicator tabs must show no signs of deployment.

• Harness D-ring should pivot freely and should be free of distortion or cracks.

• Harness buckles should be free of distortion, move freely and fully en-gage.

Carabiner:

Always clean carabiner prior to inspection. Use rags and compressed air to remove dirt and other particles. Use dry graphite lubricant on hinge.

Inspect visually for:

• The presence of complete and legible markings.

• Corrosion, defects, damage, cracks, sharp edges, burns, dents, deforma-tion, distortion or missing parts.

WARNING!

Extreme working conditions may require that the user inspect equip-ment more frequently. Read and follow all markings and/or labels on the harness or lanyard. Markings and labels should be intact and easy to read. Never remove a label from a piece of equipment.

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Record All Inspections: Date of Manufacture:____________ Date Put In Service: ____________

Serial # Date Inspector Pass / Fail Maintenance Performed

If fall occurs, the operator must await rescue and must not manipulate the shock-absorbing lanyard. Rescue of fallen worker should not be delayed.

Rescuers must be trained according to appropriate rescue procedure.

Rescue protocol is required prior to using PFAS and training.

• Gate must close properly, fully engage carabiner nose and self-lock. If gate does not self-close completely and lock, it fails.

WARNING: ALL PFAS EQUIPMENT THAT FAILS INSPECTION OR IS EX-POSED TO FALL ARREST FORCES MUST BE PERMANENTLY REMOVED FROM SERVICE AND DESTROYED. RIGGERS SAFETY PFAS EQUIPMENT CANNOT BE REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO SERVICE.

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Product Labels:

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Riggers Safety, LLC 267 Winfield Cr. Corona, CA 92880

(951) 371-8685www.riggerssafety.com

RIGGERSSAFETY

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