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Minimum Clearance Distance in Fall Arrest Systems with Energy Absorber Lanyards

Author

Listed:
  • Elena Ángela Carrión

    (Building & Urban Development Department, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
    Civil Engineering Department, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain)

  • Belén Ferrer

    (Civil Engineering Department, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain)

  • Juan Francisco Monge

    (Center of Operations Research, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain)

  • Pedro Ignacio Saez

    (Building & Urban Development Department, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain)

  • Juan Carlos Pomares

    (Civil Engineering Department, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain)

  • Antonio González

    (Civil Engineering Department, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain)

Abstract

Accidents due to falls from height are one of the main causes of death in workplaces. Fall arrest systems (FAS) are designed to arrest the fall safely without injuring the accident victim. Their main mission is to restrain the body so as to prevent it from hitting the ground, generating forces and accelerations in the arrest process that are not harmful. A lack of empirical evidence and scant technical information provided by manufacturers regarding minimum clearance distance (MCD) below anchorage makes it necessary to study the safety distances required in the use of Energy Absorber Lanyards (EAL). This paper aims to determine the MCD below anchorage to arrest a fall using an EAL without hitting the ground. The real deformation of EAL when stopping a fall is studied. Ten EAL models distributed internationally by six manufacturers were chosen. Dynamic behavior tests were performed on the samples. Using image processing the total elongation of the equipment (elastic plus plastic) is obtained. The main conclusions are that maximum plastic elongation could be reduced by 29%. The method described in EN 355: 2002 underestimates elongation by up to 70% for some equipment 20% of EAL’s exceed the maximum arrest force ( Fm ) allowed in EN 355. The MCD data provided by manufacturers is not reliable. The data provided by manufacturers are incomplete. It is recommended that quality control for EAL’s be strengthened to ensure that products launched onto the market meet the requirement of EN355. The findings of this study recommended increasing MCD distance longer than that calculated according to EN355, at less than 1 m.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Ángela Carrión & Belén Ferrer & Juan Francisco Monge & Pedro Ignacio Saez & Juan Carlos Pomares & Antonio González, 2021. "Minimum Clearance Distance in Fall Arrest Systems with Energy Absorber Lanyards," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-19, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:11:p:5823-:d:564606
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pedro Ignacio Saez & Elena Ángela Carrión & Encarnación García & Manuel Ollanta Aparicio-Flores, 2021. "Vertical Archaeology: Safety in the Use of Ropes for Scientific Research of Pre-Columbian Andean Cultures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-27, March.
    2. Elena Ángela Carrión & Pedro Ignacio Saez & Juan Carlos Pomares & Antonio Gonzalez, 2020. "Average Force of Deployment and Maximum Arrest Force of Energy Absorbers Lanyards," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-22, October.
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    1. Pedro Ignacio Saez & Elena Ángela Carrión & Encarnación García & Manuel Ollanta Aparicio-Flores, 2021. "Vertical Archaeology: Safety in the Use of Ropes for Scientific Research of Pre-Columbian Andean Cultures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-27, March.
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