Work more safely near edges with Edge Tested lanyards
By Dirk van Blijswijk, Manager, Safe Site – Powered by Mennens Expertise Centre
Imagine you’re working at height. Naturally, your first choice should be a lanyard that prevents you from falling over the edge. To be 100% safe, the lanyard must be shorter than the distance between the anchor point and the edge. In many situations, however, this is not practical, so users opt for adjustable safety lines or self-retracting lifelines. I’d like to share my insights on this. We have also developed a free white paper containing a wealth of information about working safely at height and in confined spaces.
If adjustable safety lines or self-retracting lifelines are used incorrectly, a misstep could cause you to fall over the edge of a flat roof or other elevated surface. Your fall protection equipment will arrest your fall, but when you look up, you may see that the lanyard or lifeline is rubbing against the sharp edge. Is it designed to withstand this? In situations like these, an Edge Tested lanyard or lifeline is crucial.
Second Opinion on a Lanyard
A few years ago, I was approached by an investigation company: “Could you provide a second opinion on a lanyard that was used in an accident?” An employee had fallen through a plastic skylight while working at height. During the fall, the sharp plastic unexpectedly cut through the line.
Edge Tested: For Working Around Sharp Edges
During my second opinion, I discovered that the lanyard did not feature an Edge Tested pictogram. What does this mean? Edge Tested lanyards and lifelines are specifically tested for falls over sharp edges. They have either a larger line diameter or a reinforced line, making them more resistant to abrasion than standard lanyards and lifelines.
‘Edge Tested’ or ‘Tested for Horizontal Use’
The above terms are often used interchangeably, but they do not mean the same thing. An adjustable safety line can almost always be used horizontally unless otherwise stated in the instructions for use. With self-retracting lifelines, this is different, as they can be tested in accordance with the EN 360:2002 standard. This can cover vertical, horizontal and diagonal use, unless otherwise specified in the instructions for use.
Whether a lanyard or lifeline may be used vertically, horizontally or diagonally does not, however, indicate whether it has been tested for a fall over a sharp edge.
Additional RFUs (Recommendations for Use)
There is another important point to consider: the current EN standards for lanyards and lifelines do not specify test methods for sharp edges. For this reason, additional European-recognised test methods have been developed: the CNB standards. RFU CNB standards exist for self-retracting lifelines, energy-absorbing lanyards and temporary vertical lifelines. Equipment tested in accordance with the relevant RFU CNB will carry the appropriate designation, and the corresponding pictogram will appear on the product.
Not All Equipment Is Edge Tested
Fall protection manufacturers decide for themselves whether to subject their equipment to these additional test methods. This means that not every lanyard or lifeline is Edge Tested. Yet this is relevant more often than you might think.
Working While Attached: Always Safe?
Consider situations in which a restraint system is used. The worker cannot fall over the edge because the line is attached to an anchor point. However, many surfaces, such as roofs, are not equally wide or long on every side. If a worker does not move directly towards an edge but instead moves towards it diagonally, there may still be a risk of falling over the edge. It is also possible for someone working at height to fall through a roof, potentially creating sharp edges in the process.
Aside from the potential pendulum effect, where the worker swings uncontrollably from side to side, there is also a risk that a sharp edge could cut through the lanyard or lifeline if it is not Edge Tested.
Relevant to All Industries
If you work near a sharp edge, an Edge Tested lanyard or lifeline is highly recommended. This may be the case in construction, for example, where concrete and steel beams are commonly used. Concrete edges are often rough and sharp, while steel beams can also have sharp edges.
But sharp edges can occur in many other working environments too. Consider the aluminium edge of a flat roof or, as in the real-life example above, the plastic edge of a skylight.
Match Your Lanyard or Lifeline to the Working Conditions
The key message is simple: always select your lanyard or lifeline according to the working conditions. Where will you be working? Are there any sharp edges? If so, always choose Edge Tested equipment.
No-Obligation Assessment
My colleagues and I can advise you on this. Would you like to know whether your current fall protection equipment is suitable for your work and working conditions, and whether Edge Tested lanyards or lifelines are required? Contact me by email or call 010 - 437 30 33 for a no-obligation consultation.
Safety Scan: Make Sure You’re Properly Informed
Would you like to identify all the opportunities for your organisation to work more safely at height or below ground level? Contact us for a Safety Scan by email or call 010 - 437 30 33. We identify all relevant areas for attention based on applicable legislation and regulations and use our findings to prepare an advisory report.
Would you like to learn more about the correct use of lanyards and lifelines? Download our free white paper now.
RFUs for Using Lanyards and Lifelines Near Sharp Edges = Horizontal Use
The following equipment can also be used in situations where sharp edges are present. In such cases, the equipment must additionally have been tested in accordance with the RFUs listed below.
EN 360 – Self-Retracting Lifelines
CNB/P/11.060: test method for sharp edges with an edge radius greater than 0.5 mm.
EN 354 + EN 355 – Energy-Absorbing Lanyards
CNB/P/11.074: test method for sharp edges with an edge radius greater than 0.5 mm.
EN 353-2 – Temporary Vertical Lifelines
CNB/P/11.075: test method for sharp edges with an edge radius greater than 0.5 mm.
