Pro Series Safety Winch
Operator’s Manual
8
October 18, 2011, Rev 05
2. INTRODUCTION to WINCH APPLICATIONS
Congratulations on your purchase of a Best Safety Systems Pro-Series Man-Rated Winch as part of your
safety at heights equipment.
Pro-Series winches combine many advanced safety features, including multiple brake pawls, a secondary
inertia actuated brake, easy to read visual brake wear indicator, visual overload indicator integral to the
snap hook, and optional usage indicator.
Some versions of these winches feature a unique drive input hub design which allows the winch to be
easily switched from a manual crank to various power drive options to allow the winch to be driven with
different types of corded and cordless power hand drills (See Section 6 for further information on Power
Drive options).
The winch may be equipped with a variety of winch line options including, stainless or galvanized steel
cable in various diameters, and ropes in various diameters and constructions to meet your specific job
requirements.
This product has been specifically designed and carefully manufactured to provide reliable operation in
many different safety-at-heights applications. These include, but are not limited to:
2.1 WORK POSITIONING
The winch may be used for the suspension of a worker at a work position for the performance of a task.
When a worker is suspended in a work seat or harness, a secondary personal fall arrest system must be
used in addition to the suspension line. Personal fall arrest systems used with this winch must meet
applicable OSHA or other local requirements.
NOTE: OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L considers this application to be a single point suspension scaffold,
and requires treatment as such.
2.2 RESCUE
The winch may be used as part of a system to allow for the post-fall rescue of a worker protected by a
personal fall arrest system. This winch meets the requirements of ANSI/ASSE Z359.4 for use as a
rescue device.
2.3 CONFINED SPACE ENTRY / RETRIEVAL and RESCUE
The winch may be used as part of a system to facilitate access to and egress from a confined space as
well as non-entry rescue in the event of an emergency. This winch meets the requirements of OSHA
1910.146, and ANSI/ASSE Z117.1 for use as a confined space entry/retrieval and rescue device.
