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Ensure that the structure to which you are attaching your anchorage connector is capable of
meeting the above requirements and that your anchorage connector is installed in accordance
with the manufacturer’s instructions. Also be sure to check that the anchorage connector is
compatible with your connecting device (lanyard, SRL, vertical lifeline)and that it securely retains
the connecting device without inhibiting its function. If you are unable to determine whether your
connecting device and your anchorage are compatible, please immediately consult with a
competent person or your immediate supervisor. For more details on anchorages, please see
section 5 of this instruction manual.
2.2: Body-wear
Body wear for any application where this Beam Anchor is to be used will be defined as a full
body harness specifically manufactured for fall arrest. If being used for restraint applications
where the user is restricted from reaching a fall hazard, a body belt may be used as an
alternative. Be sure to read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions included with your full
body harness or restraint belt at the time of purchase.
2.3: Connectors/Connecting Devices
Connectors and Connecting Devices are terms that are sometimes used interchangeably. It is
important to note the differences between these two terms in order to help distinguish the parts
that these components play in the rigging of your PFAS. In both cases, these
products/components are required to have a minimum static strength of 5,000 lbs. For additional
details on requirements for connectors and connecting devices, see OSHA 1926.502 at
www.osha.gov as referenced in section 1, advisory #1.
A
connector
is any metallic, mechanical element such as a carabiner, snap hook or rebar
hook that physically links one or more elements of a your PFAS together in a manner such that
they will remain engaged to one another unless they are intentionally disengaged.
A
connecting device
is an element that connects your full body harness to the anchorage in
an effort to ensure that you remain attached or tethered to the structure upon which you are
working. In other words, the connecting device is that element which secures you to your
anchorage.
2.4: Deceleration Devices
A
deceleration device
is the element of a Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) which is
activated during a fall event and reduces the forces exerted on the user’s body and on the
anchorage during the arrest of the fall. In the case of Shock-Absorbing Lanyards and Self-
Retracting Lifelines, these products are both a connecting device and a deceleration device as
they will keep you attached to your anchorage and will reduce the forces on your body in the
event of a fall.
2.5: Fall Arrest
Fall Arrest
is an area of Fall Protection which focuses on stopping a fall once it has occurred.
Personal Fall Arrest Systems typically consist of an anchorage, a full body harness and a self-
retracting lifeline, shock-absorbing lanyard or other deceleration device designed to bring a falling
user to a stop in the shortest possible distance while limiting the force imparted to the user’s
body.
