Anchor Points Offer Versatile and Inexpensive Fall Arrest Protection

Understand The Where, How and Why of Using An Anchor Point or Anchorage Connectors

Anchor points for fall protection, and specifically, for fall arrest protection, provide a fixed tie-off solution for workers in elevated workspaces. They are particularly ideal when installed in locations such as on a roof to provide an anchorage, e.g., when performing HVAC maintenance, or directly above a piece of machinery where the work being done does not require any significant lateral movement. Because of the danger of swing falls, however, anchorage points should not be used in situations where the work area covers any significant horizontal distance.

Single-Point Anchors Can Be Used When Other Solutions Are Impractical

Single-point anchors are commonly installed in manufacturing plants, distribution centers, steel mills, and other industrial facilities where workers must climb up on large machines to service them, or where ceiling features, such as pipes and air ducts, prevent the installation of a lifeline. They are also combined with SRLs to provide fall arrest coverage for fixed vertical ladders. A series of fixed posts might also be used in some instances as an alternative to horizontal lifelines. For example, a building might have a wide roof where most work areas do not present a hazard. It might be too expensive and impractical to install a lifeline or guardrail system that covers the entire roof, but steel posts can be installed along the roof edge to provide tie-off locations for workers in that specific area.

We Offer Custom Fabrication and Installation For A Variety of Solutions

FallProof provides design, engineering and installation services for the following, such as when the equipment you need is not in inventory or otherwise available, we will custom fabricate it for you:

• Fixed-Rigid Anchors are permanent, steel posts or other non-movable bases that are installed on rooftops or other work areas.

• Rooftop Tip-Over Posts can be attached with screws to a rooftop or other work area. A built-in shock absorber in the tip-over post bends to absorb the energy created by any potential falling worker. These are often used on roofs without a steel beam structure to which a fixed rigid post could be bolted or welded.

• Deadweights and Counterweights are capable of being quickly moved, assembled and used as part of a temporary arrest or restraint system in a variety of locations without penetrating the roof or other surface.

• Vacuum Anchors are portable and can only be attached to a dry, clean, smooth surface. Best used only in situations such as an airport maintenance facility where they must be re-attached to a smooth surface (e.g., airplane wings or the top of a bus) several times a day.

Depending on your specific needs, we also provide specialty solutions such as beam clamps, beam straps, D-rings, and concrete, roof and other miscellaneous anchors.

Our experts are experienced in installation on a variety of surfaces and in a variety of work areas, and all of our solutions meet or exceed OSHA and ANSI standards. Below are a few examples. Regardless of whether your company specializes in steel production, industrial products, manufacturing or distribution, or anything else, we can help. Give us a call or use our quick contact form that will allow you to upload drawings and other information that will help us with a preliminary assessment of your needs.

Single-point anchors can be as simple as a temporary beam strap; however, one has to consider what they are attaching to in addition to the equipment they are using to attach to it. Pictured above, this beam strap in ANSI rated, ensuring its capacity. In order to ensure proper tie-off, however, to be used for fall protection, this beam strap must be used in conjunction with an anchor point rated for 5000 pounds.

Fixed anchor points, or safety tie-back fall arrest posts, provide a fixed tie-off point in many applications. They are commonly used on rooftops as single-point anchors or in connection with horizontal cable lifelines to allow workers to be tied off at height. FallProof has its own engineered fall protection post, but we can design and engineer any post as needed for the application at hand.

Fall protection anchor points also can be installed in concrete slabs or surfaces. They come in both permanent and temporary applications. They are commonly used on construction jobsites; however, FallProof has installed these for many Fortune 500 companies as a means of permanent fall protection.

Permanent I-beam trolleys, as pictured above, can provide an anchor point for your workers to tie off to. These systems work well where existing building structures both support the load and are adequately located above or adjacent to the elevated work surface. One must consider fall clearance, imposed buildings loads and swing clearance when considering this type of solution.

Non-penetrating anchor points also come in a wide range of temporary solutions and systems. As shown above, they can be used as a fall restraint system for a person who needs protection only for a short time, such as for a roof repair. These can easily be assembled and taken down as needed, providing the necessary protection.

Click to Call

or

dial us at 1-(855) 279-2000

In addition to our own proprietary equipment, we are authorized distributors and installers for the following manufacturers:

• Capital Safety/DBI Sala;
• Guardian Fall Protection Systems; and
• Miller Honeywell Safety Products