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Working safely at height—that sounds logical, but how can you be sure that your harness or fall arrest block is truly reliable? That's what the inspectors at Mennens are there for. In a workshop full of fall arrest blocks, fall lines, and tools, they battle wear and tear, rust, and brakes that may no longer be working properly on a daily basis.  Today, we take a look behind the scenes at the inspection of fall arrest blocks, and believe us: there's more to it than you think.

In 2025, the Safety Expert platform will be going on tour! In collaboration with partners and experts, they will be organising meetings throughout the year on various topics related to working safely.

In 1991, cable manufacturer Verto Staalkabelfabriek – of which Mennens was then a part – supplied two tow cables for wheel excavator 024 belonging to steel manufacturer Tata Steel, raw materials logistics department (GSL) in IJmuiden (formerly Hoogovens). Now, 34 years later, these cables need to be replaced. Steel cable experts Ben Haarsma and Frits van Boetzelaer from Mennens were involved both times and talk about this special project.

As a safety expert, do you know enough about working in crawl spaces, ship holds, container storage, silos and everything in between? Broaden your knowledge during the introductory afternoon “Working safely in confined spaces” organised by DVK-on-tour on Thursday 22 May. Refresh your knowledge, get tips and advice, and learn how you can contribute to optimal working conditions.

A fall arrest block is a handy piece of fall protection equipment. You click it onto an anchor point and can move freely, while still being safe if you fall. Inside is a centrifugal braking mechanism that activates in the event of a sudden movement. This means that the fall distance is very short. The forces on the body are reduced to a maximum of 6 kN (= 600 kg).