Published on: May 25, 2014
Rigid Rail fall protection systems increase the safety of employees who work in elevated areas. Airline, energy and recreational companies are several common employers that require their workers to labor at dangerous heights. The security system’s advantages include its cost effectiveness, extra safety features and durability.
Cost Effective
With a rigid rail fall protection system, companies can attach additional sections to it to expand the security structure’s capacity. Some systems can even be designed for future extensions. When companies order a system that they can add extensions to later, they will decrease their future unit expansion costs. The safety system requires minimal ongoing maintenance. It also increases efficiency and provides peace of mind for company owners, managers and workers.
Year-Round Safety
Fall protection systems have an enclosed track. This feature eliminates the buildup of snow and ice during the winter months. One of the system’s most important safety features is its retractable lifeline because the device stays over a worker’s head at all times to provide him or her with additional support on slick surfaces. A rigid fall protection system is easier for employees to use since it allows them to move around an elevated worksite more freely than other types of fall protection equipment. While using the safety system, workers can lock the retractable lifeline to gain added support when they need to walk along an elevated surface. The system is ideal for tasks that workers must perform on top of a railcar or truck. It also provides flatbed fall protection as well as extra security for those who work in elevated warehouse areas.
Features
Rigid rail fall protection systems do not have the wire sag that other types of safety systems frequently feature. As a result, rigid safety equipment decreases the distance that a worker would plummet if he or she fell. This type of safety system functions effectively in elevated work areas with reduced headroom. In addition, rigid rail systems require less clearance from the anchor spot to the ground. Since the rigid anchor system remains stable and decreases a person’s falling distance, a worker is less likely to swing into an object or the surrounding structure if a fall should occur.
Equipment Stability
The safety system’s structural elements feature technological advancements. For instance, support pieces are hot-dipped galvanized to increase the system’s durability and effectively eliminate corrosion. Since the equipment item comes with Teflon wheels, the safety unit’s coating will not become damaged. This feature decreases the need for maintenance.
System Advantages
A rigid rail fall system lets workers cover longer distances between support sections than other kinds of safety equipment. This type of setup is less expensive since rigid safety equipment requires fewer materials. The anchorage type is also easier and cheaper to install as there are fewer limitations for the unit’s foundational sections. When an elevated task requires multiple workers, a rigid anchor system is safer because if one worker falls, then the other employees will not be affected. When a fall does happen, the enclosed track section will not bend or refract. Consequently, workers are able to continue moving around an elevated worksite with ease. Rigid rail systems can be arranged into various configurations for extensive coverage. For instance, workers can modify the equipment to permit forward and backward movement. The system type also lets workers move left and right across a large area.
Final Considerations
Companies that require workers to complete tasks in elevated areas have the option of installing safety equipment that the Occupational and Safety Administration, or OSHA, has assessed. OSHA fall protection equipment certificationprovides an extra layer of security for employees and workers.