NINETEEN FALL ARREST LANYARDS from various manufacturers were utilized to perform each of the five separate drop scenarios. Some didn’t fare well. NATE’s SEMC will be publishing a white paper with the results of two days of testing in Ohio. An informative video of the testing event can be viewed here.
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association unveiled a video today highlighting a recent fall arrest lanyard testing event that the Safety Equipment Manufacturers Committee (SEMC) held at the University of Dayton Research Institute in Dayton, Ohio.
The #ClimberConnection video conducts a deep dive into SEMC’s protocols and procedures that were implemented to test fall arrest lanyards by replicating how they are utilized by technicians in the field at tower sites and other elevated locations. Nineteen fall arrest lanyards from different industry manufacturers were utilized to perform each of the five separate drop scenarios throughout the two-day event.
“This video does a great job of breaking down the comprehensive nature and the technical steps involved in the SEMC’s recent Fall Arrest Lanyard Testing Event,” said NATE Board of Directors member Bryan Lee. “The NATE SEMC’s mission is to test equipment based on how it functions in real world, field-based environments, and our dedicated group of subject matter experts were successful at this testing event due to our common goal of keeping elevated workers safe at heights in the communications infrastructure industry,” added Lee.
The three key points that are emphasized in the video are 1) Never connect a Factor 1 lanyard to take a Factor 2 fall; 2) Never connect a lanyard back to itself (unless designed for it); 3) Always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
NATE SEMC plans to release a Fall Arrest Lanyard Testing Results white paper later this year to detail the specific results of this initiative.