A fall arrest anchor must meet some set standards and pass some tests so that the manufacturer can make sure that the equipment will perform as required. These set standards are the defenses put in place to help save lives even when working at a certain height. Considering this, why would anyone want to connect an anchor that hasn’t been tested or certified as ideal for fall protection?
Workers in the wind industry keep connecting fall protection equipment to incompatible anchors. What if they aren’t designed to be used as a fall arrest anchor? Just because the anchor seems convenient, it doesn’t mean that you should rely on it.
Fall arrest anchors are placed in a wind turbine in three key areas:
• Anchorage points supporting the ladder safety system to access the nacelle.
• Assorted arrest and rescue anchors inside the nacelle.
• Fall arrest and rescue anchors on the top of the nacelle.
All these three areas create different challenges for those who are working, and it’s unnerving to think that the anchors aren’t sufficient enough, whether regarding the design, strength or both. In some cases, the turbines may not have been designed in Canada and the safety systems are designed to the set requirements of that country and may not meet the requirements here. Other anchorages may have been designed for restraint, but they are used for arrest instead, while others aren’t designed for fall protection.
Ladder safety system
Ladder safety systems like pipe or rail units spread the fall arrest loads over various rungs. A cable system needs one anchor at the top of the ladder. The anchor point at the ladder top should meet the requirements stated by the manufacturer. The figure usually depends on the workers climbing the ladder each time.
Anchors in the nacelle
A fall arrest anchor is supposed to meet the minimum 5,000 strength. Finding this strength in most turbines isn’t an issue. The problem is that most of them were not designed for fall protection. The best way to reduce the exposure to danger is to use an anchor that is designed for fall protection.
Anchors on top of nacelle
Roof anchors have same design requirements as those located in the nacelle. The same compatibility issues will come into play. Depending on the weight of the worker, the location of the pipe, and the lanyard used, the forces on the anchorages can vary since the free-fall distance has increased. If you want to learn more, visit Pro-Bel Group.
