4.4 Personal Fall Arrest System Anchorage Strength:
An anchorage selected for PFAS application must have the
strength to sustain a static load applied in the direction permitted by the PFAS of at least:
a.
Two times the maximum arrest force permitted when the certification exists, or
b.
5,000 lbs (22 kN) in the absence of certification
5.0 Installation and Use
WARNING
Do not alter or intentionally misuse this equipment. Consult FallTech when using this equipment in
combination with components or subsystems other than those described in this manual. All components or
subsystems used with the FBH discussed in this manual must be in compliance with ANSI Z359, CSA Z259,
and/or OSHA.
Do not use rebar hooks, large carabiners, or large snap hooks to connect to the FBH dorsal D-rings or to any
small diameter non-compatible anchor point as this may cause a roll-out condition and/or unintentional
disengagement.
Use caution. Take action to avoid sharp and/or abrasive surfaces and edges when possible.
5.1. Plan the Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS):
Examine the work area and take action to address hazards. Falls
are a serious hazard when working at height. Training and equipment are the tools of fall hazard management.
There are several closely related facets of fall hazard management with a PFAS;
•
Anchorage
•
Minimum Required Fall Clearance (MRFC)
•
Swing Fall and Expanded Work Zone
•
Overhead (above the FBH D-ring) Anchorage
•
Non-Overhead (below the FBH D-ring) Anchorage
•
Rescue Plan
5.2 Minimum Required Fall Clearance:
The MRFC is the minimum distance a user needs between himself and
the nearest obstruction (or ground) below the walking/working surface to avoid serious injury or death in case
of a fall event. The user of this equipment must determine the MRFC for units discussed in this manual to ensure
adequate clearance exists. Connecting subsystems are Self-Retracting Lifelines (SRLs), Energy Absorbing Lanyards
(EALs), and Fall Arresters. Refer to the user manuals to determine the specific MRFC for additional information.
In addition to the fall clearance information of the connecting subsystem, the FBH will stretch during a fall event.
FallTech® recommends using 1.5 ft (0.46m) to account for overall stretch and D-ring length added to the MFRC
calculation. If a D-ring extension is being used, the length of the extender will need to be added to the overall fall
clearance calculation.
5.3 Rescue Plan:
Rescue operations require specialized equipment that is beyond the scope of this manual. See
ANSI Z359.4-2013 or CSA Z259.2.3-16.
5.4 Pre-Use Inspection:
FallTech requires that the following steps be taken during each inspection prior to use of
this Full Body Harness.
1.
Check the webbing for cuts, fraying, and signs of damage from excessive wear or abrasion. Also
check for excessive dirt, grease, oil, paint, or other surface contamination or discoloring. If any
of these conditions are discovered during the inspection, remove the FBH from service.
2.
Check all stitch locations. Ensure that each stitch is intact with no loose, frayed, or torn threads. If
any of the stitch locations shows signs of damage or excessive wear, remove the harness from
service.
3.
Look for signs that the harness has been exposed to fall arrest forces. Every FallTech FBH has two
load-indicating safety pleats with labels stitched on the back torso straps, below the back D-ring. If
these stitched pleats are torn or if the warning is exposed on the safety tabs, remove the harness
from service. See Figure 3.
4.
Ensure that the labeling is present and legible. If the labels and warnings are missing or illegible,
remove the harness from service.
Figure 5 : Impact Indicator
A
A
B
B
Impact Indicator Intact
Impact Indicator Has Been Subjected to Fall
Event or Equivalent Forces
IMPACT
INDICAT
OR
IMPACT
INDICAT
OR
! STOP!
REMOVE
FROM SER
VICE
A
Impact indicator intact
B
Impact indicator broken, or has been
subjected to a fall event or equivalent
forces
A
B
Figure 3 - Impact Indicator
4.3 Making Connections:
Only use self-locking connectors with this equipment. Only use connectors that are
suitable to each application. Ensure all connections are compatible in size, shape, and strength. Do not use
equipment that is not compatible. Visually ensure all connectors are fully closed and locked. Connectors (snap
hooks, rebar hooks, and carabiners) are designed for use only as specified in each product’s user instruction
manual.
MFBH04 Rev A
121219
6
http://www.bestmaterials.com | 1-800-474-757
http://www.bestmaterials.com | 1-800-474-7570
[email protected] | http://www.bestmaterials.com | 1-800-474-7570
http://www.bestmaterials.com | 1-800-474-757
http://www.bestmaterials.com | 1-800-474-7570
[email protected] | http://www.bestmaterials.com | 1-800-474-7570
