Tool Lanyards for Safety and Efficiency

Any dropping object poses great danger. A tool falling from a considerable height endangers people’s lives and can also damage other objects. Falling tools will increase your cost of production, workers compensation claims and cost of new tools and equipment. Tool tethers are the most effective way of safeguarding your employees, their tools and the worksite in general.

Falling objects are a leading cause of workplace fatalities, and OSHA reports that 50,000 people are struck by falling objects yearly. The impact that damaged or lost tools has on productivity, job delays and equipment replacement cannot be underestimated. Any trade or task involving the use of tools at heights should use tool lanyards. This includes; roof and tower workers, electricians, plumbers, scaffolders, and rope access workers.

What is a tool lanyard?

Tool lanyards are devices that prevent accidents by securing tools to ensure aerial height safety. There are a number of manufactures making these devices. They come in different designs and lengths with a connection between the tool operator and the tool; such that accidental release doesn’t result to falling of the tool.

Tool Lanyards for Safety

To prevent tools from dropping while working at heights, one must use the most appropriate tethering system. Tool lanyards are fast becoming the tool tethering method of choice for people for aerial height workers. However, the tool lanyard has to meet the minimum safety standards. Before using any lanyard, you must check its load rating to ensure you don’t exceed it

Elements of a Lanyard That Enhance Safety;

• Connection to the user. This is usually in the form of a choking strap or snap hook for direct connection to the tool operator.

• Connection to a structure. A heavy tool falling on a lanyard exerts a lot of force and can have a huge impact on the user which may put them at a risk of falling. In such a scenario it would be more prudent to attach the lanyard to a structure rather than the user.

• Lanyard element. Tool lanyard elements come in various forms. Fixed length, adjustable, elasticated and retractable are just bust some.

• Connection to the tool. In some instances, anchor elements are required to be fitted to the tool before the connection to the lanyard is secured.

Tool lanyards are effective where there is a risk of injury or damage to people and objects in the underlying area. They also ensure that tools and equipment are not misplaced or fall and get damaged when people are working at heights. It is critical that lanyards are selected carefully to match the requirements of the attached tools and equipment. Workers at heights should know they have a legal obligation to prevent accidents by securing tools and loose objects.

Make Sure Employees are Aware of the Importance of Tethering

For a successful tethering safety program safety engineers should partner with employees. A properly tethered tool ensures safety and efficiency. It simplifies every project by ensuring tools are handy and accessible. Lanyards that complement the tool, worker, and application are an asset to every project and ensure no unforeseen costs crop-up. There is a lot to aerial height safety, and key among them is ensuring that equipment and workers are secure.