Northern Strands is excited to announce our latest service, Fall Protection Design Lunch & Learns. In person or via webinar. Learn the ins and outs of the fundamental principles of Fall Protection Design. Our team can teach the key points in Fall Protection design
Some of the topics covered in the Lunch & Learn will include: CSA Z259, Lifeline Design, Fall Protection Design, Anchor Loading, Fall Protection Layout, ANSI Fall Protection, Suspended Access, and more. For qualified companies we are offering Fall Protection Design lunch and learns in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
+(1).JPG)
\
Fall Protection is a serious business. Designing Engineered Fall Protection systems is a responsibility and privilege that we do not take lightly.
Design experience is paramount. Backed by an experienced team with a thorough understanding of the applicable engineering principles, Northern Strands applies these principles to both flexible and rigid systems.
For More Information or to Book a Lunch and Learn Contact Us Today!
Engineered Fall Protection Systems Brochure
Engineered Fall Protection Division
3235 Millar Ave, Saskatoon SK, S7W 0S8
Dave Perrin - Fall Protection Sales
Fax: (306) 974-5527
Fall Protection is a serious business. Designing and supplying Engineered Fall Protection systems is a responsibility and privilege that we do not take lightly. Northern Strands is excited to offer our customers the Gorbel Rigid Rail Tether Track Fall Protection Systems. These systems provide workers with increased mobility and can accommodate multiple workers. The Tether Track Fall Protection System is available in a number of configurations to assist in all types of applications.
Bridge Systems
The Tether Track Bridge System consists of two runways and a traveling bridge. This offers users maximum coverage in a rectangular area. Multiple bridges can be used to support several workers. The bridge(s) can be use for ceiling mounted or free standing systems. This allows for multiple users to use the system at the same time.
Free Standing Monorails
Free Standing Fall Protection Systems are designed to protect workers maintaining, inspecting, or loading & unloading rail cars and tankers. Heights from 16' up to 26 and standard lengths up to 204' in single and dual track styles are available. The Dual bypass track allows workers to pass each other without having to disconnect from the system. Outdoor coatings are offered to maximize protection and the Free Standing Monorail is designed for wind, snow, and ice.
Ceiling Mounted Monorail
Ceiling Mounted Monorails are ideal for situations where floor space is very limited. This system can provide fall protection by using existing support steel and is ideal for production and warehouse facilities. Workers have increased mobility using the curved track and numerous hanger options for all types of building structures
Fold Away Systems
The Fold Away Tether Track System can be deployed when needed and retracted when the job is complete. This system is best used on work cells that require overhead cranes where floor space is minimal or when fall protection is not easily accessible and is required. Single or multiple workers can easily bypass one another without disconnecting when using the dual bypass track.
Swing Arm Systems
This system provides compact circular or semi-circular protection and can swing back in when not in use. The swing arm is able to be maneuvered over the work space whenever it is needed. The track is able to accommodate a single worker or multiple people at the same time.
Single Pole Systems
If space is an issue and fall protection is required, the Single Pole Fall Protection System is a great alternative to standard multi-column systems. This system is popular for servicing tank cars or heavy duty truck maintenance. The Single Pole System requires a single foundation and can span from 10' to 53' in length.
Contact Us:
Engineered Fall Protection Division
801 57th Street East, S7K 5Z2
Dave Perrin - Fall Protection Sales
Fax: (306) 974-5527
Did you know that Northern Strands now offers a variety of Gorbel Fall Protection Products? Gorbel offers a number of Fall Protection Systems that provide users the tools needed to make any job or maintenance application easier!
Ranger Mobile Anchor
The
Ranger Mobile Anchor is a popular fall arrest anchor that can be quickly attached to a towing device. The Ranger Mobile Anchor is easy to operate because the anchor point is above the user. Northern Strands is proud to offer this system to our customers!
The Ranger Mobile Anchor features & applications include the following:
- Steel construction
- Max towing speed of 25 MPH
- Not rated for HWY towing
- Max capacity of 310 pounds
- Indoor and Outdoor use
- Aircraft Maintenance
- Industrial Equipment Maintenance
- Tanker Car Maintenance
- Heavy Machinery Maintenance
Road Ranger Mobile Anchor
The
Road Ranger Mobile Anchor is similar to the Range Mobile Anchor and is also rated for highway towing up to 104 km/hr (65 MPH). This makes the unit extremely versatile for a range of applications!
The Road Ranger Mobile Anchor features include the following:
- Max towing speed of 65 MPH
- Adjustable height 2 inch ball coupler
- Adjustable anchor height
Contact Northern Strands Fall Protection Division today for more information
Call: 1-800-242-7073
email: lifelines@northernstrands.com
Did you know that a wire rope lanyard designed for fall arrest is not the same
as a wire rope sling that is designed for lifting?
When used as a fall arrest lanyard, wire rope by itself is unable to absorb any type of energy. Because there is no elasticity or stretch, this will subject a worker to a injury or even a potential amount of fatal arrest-force should they happen to fall while wearing it.
When wire rope is used as a connecting device, it is absolutely essential that a Personal Energy Absorber is used along with it. A PEA should actually be used with any lanyard or connecting device that allows for potential free fall, despite the fact that the webbing or rope of some lanyard types does actually absorb small amounts of energy.
Most jurisdictions, including Saskatchewan, prohibit fall
forces in excess of 8 kilonewtons. Therefore, employers are
legally required to ensure that a personal fall arrest system used by their
employees is set up in order to prevent arrest forces in excess of 1800 pounds.
The amount of force a human body can withstand has not
technically been verified by modern science. Less arrest force is generally easier on a person's body than more fall force. Additional information on this topic can be found here.
Wire rope slings should never be used as connecting devices in a Personal Fall Arrest System; it
will subject a falling worker to more fall force than a proper energy-absorbing lanyard would.
Northern Strands provides training on both the proper use of fall
arrest equipment and the proper use of rigging equipment. If you
would like more information one either of these programs, please contact us.
Contact us at:
training@northernstrands.com
306-242-7073
The Term MAF, also known as Maximum Arrest Force, comes directly from Section 102 of The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996 under clause (c) which states that "An employer or contractor shall ensure that a personal fall arrest system required by these regulations...applies a peak fall-arrest force not greater than eight kilo-newtons to a worker..."
A kilo-newton is a force that is equal to approximately 225 lbs-force. Where the Saskatchewan fall-arrest legislation states Max Arrest Force is 8kN, this is equal to 1800 lbs-force. So how do we abide by this legislation and what does it mean?
In the Northern Strands Fall Protection course, they train that Personal Fall Arrest Systems should be a last resort, but S102(c) was put in place to make sure that the risk of injury from the fall-arrest equipment itself is reduced.
There are 3 principal ways we can make sure that we don't exceed the MAF:
1) Keep Free Fall to a minimum - use the shortest possible lanyard, anchor well overhead, and use retractables.
2) Minimize Weight - limit the number of tools that will be supported by the full-body harness.
3) Use the Most Distance possible to come to a stop.
This last point might be hard to imagine, but picture it like this: would you rather bring your vehicle to a stop using brakes over a distance of a block, or would you rather bring your vehicle to a stop against a brick wall? The energy of any moving object whether its a falling person or a moving vehicle has to be reduced gradually or there will be an excessive stopping (arresting) force put on the object.
These two controls are actually outranked by another. What about not performing the work at heights in the first place? Obviously this is not always a practical solution, but nonetheless its worth considering. Even trying to relocate certain job steps to the ground level is better and safer than performing 100% of the work at heights. Give us a call and we can help you out with some more proactive fall protection solutions.
Contact us at:
training@northernstrands.com
306-242-7073