PPE

Because of OSHA’s various fall protection anchor point requirements over the years, it’s easy to think that every fall protection anchor point needs to be able to withstand a force of 5,000 lb. But that may not be true.

In this article, I will show you how you can choose a fall arrest...

During fall arrest your body needs a way to reduce the amount of force, and that happens through a shock pack. Shock packs can be added to your personal fall protection system as an extension lanyard, and as part of a single or double leg lanyard. In addition, shock packs can also be ...

Not all safety harnesses are created equal.

It is easy to think that because a harness has ANSI stamped on it that it will be safe and compliant with OSHA. That is not necessarily the case. How do we assure that the harness we purchase is currently designed to hold my weight and body...

Fall hazards are abundant and varied, making them difficult to protect against.  Every single situation is different and employers need to work with employees to ensure that the correct solution is in place.  The solutions may be easy or they may be complex but, either way, we have the...

One of the most versatile pieces of fall protection equipment is the double tie off lanyard, also known as the Y-lanyard. This new breed of lanyard has become a popular choice among safety professionals in recent years. The Y-lanyard attaches two lanyard legs to a shock absorber and snap...

Safety Harnesses are meant to protect your life. But a safety harness that has been worn improperly can put you at risk in multiple ways. This article will equip you with some basic information so that you can ensure you are using your safety equipment effectively.

This is the second article...

We often talk about harnesses in a very general sense, as if there was only one brand and one type to choose from, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. While each of the safety harnesses you should be selecting should perform as well as the next, based on the fact that they...

There are some things you can hand to somebody with no instructions and they’ll know how to use them: a pair of boots, a pair of gloves, safety glasses.  A fall protection harness is not one of these things.  To the untrained eye, a harness is just a jumble of straps and buckles with no...

I recently wrote an article detailing how to ensure you are using your fall protection equipment properly.  If you are the inquisitive type, it may have left you asking the question, “How, exactly, does a safety harness work?”  In reality, there is a fairly simple answer to this question:...

There is nothing simple about roof anchor points.

Being that is our aspiration to create simple and safe solutions for all workers at heights, we felt it necessary to address one of our most commonly asked questions.

Unfortunately, like many...

Who is responsible for your safety?  Is it the safety manager?  Is it your supervisor?  Is it the owner of the company for which you work?  Sure, each of these people plays a part in building a framework that allows you to perform your job in a safe working environment, but in the end, the...

The moment you see or hear the word "mezzanine" in your workplace, your thought should immediately turn to fall protection. In general industry, the minimum height at which fall protection is needed is 4’. Because mezzanines are typically used to store goods or machinery up off the floor...

Go to You Tube, search any topic, and you’re bound to come up with videos showing what you’re looking for.  Fall protection situations are no exception.  With a little searching, you can find videos showing good examples of fall protection, bad examples of fall protection, complete lack of...

The following safety huddle topic is an overview of OSHA personal protective equipment for the construction industry. All information has been extracted from OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart E. This information is for informational purposes only. Employers should always create a written policy...

Simplified Safety welcomes William Haflidson from AiX Safety as a new guest blogger. William is located in Ontario, Canada and will be providing insights to health and safety issues in Canada.

Unfortunately fall injuries happen in almost all types of workplaces. Falls are the number two...

In 2017, OSHA updated its regulations for walking-working surfaces making ladder cages an ineffective means of fall protection. OSHA 1910.29(i) states that all new or replacement ladders 24 feet or higher installed on or after November 19,...

Point of Beginning, a publication for surveyors, has released an article about vehicle safety.  While the article has a section about PPE in a vehicle for a surveyor, the overall thrust of the article is general. Having PPE available in vehicles is important for employees who are on the go.  The...

Inspecting your harness is critical to ensuring that you are safe while working at heights. Tomcat, a staging lighting and support system company, has released a video that covers four basic inspection steps to go over before wearing your harness.

Sean McNulty is glad he wore his fall protection harness! On Monday, January 10, 2011 he lost his footing when a beam shifted on the roof of a demolition project. The fall protection deployed and stopped him from falling more than six stories.

The article notes: "If he didn't have his fall...

Trains, Planes, and Automobiles… what do they all have in common?  Someone has to work on top of them for a living.

This means that someone is working at height, is exposed to risk, and needs to be protected.

OSHA requires fall protection for any employee on a walking-working surface with...