G.1 Technique 1
G.1.1 Precautions prior to commencing work
G.1.1.1 Before work commences, the work positioning lanyard should be checked to ensure that the
maximum rated load is not exceeded, i.e. that the maximum rated load of the lanyard exceeds the sum of user’s body weight plus clothing and all tools and equipment that are to be carried.
G.1.1.2 The support structure around which the work positioning lanyard is to be passed should be checked
to ensure that it is unquestionably reliable, i.e. strong enough and stable enough to support the user.
G.1.1.3 The user should ensure that they are familiar with the manufacturer’s instructions for adjusting
the work positioning lanyard and for connecting the work positioning lanyard to their harness, in particular that they know the correct alignment for the particular type of connectors that they are using (see G.1.2.3).
G.1.1.4 The user should don their harness in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and should
take care to ensure that it is correctly adjusted.
G.1.1.5 During ascent, descent and movement between positions of work, the work positioning lanyard
should be carried in such a way that it does not get in the way of the user, e.g. by connecting the lanyard by both connectors to one side attachment point on the user’s harness.
G.1.1.6 On arriving at the work position the user should connect first to the safety back-up personal fall
protection system.
G.1.2 Passing the work positioning lanyard around the support structure and attaching it to the
user’s harness
G.1.2.1 Once the user is connected to the safety back-up system the work positioning lanyard should be
passed around the supporting structure and secured and adjusted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Passing the lanyard over abrupt or sharp edges should be avoided wherever possible. Work positioning lanyards made from webbing should be positioned so that they sit flat on the supporting structure and, if necessary, should be untwisted to allow this. Adjustment buckles should be pointing outwards.
G.1.2.2 If at all possible the work positioning lanyard should always be passed around the supporting
structure in such a way that it cannot slip downwards, e.g. by passing it above a cross-member or other projection. When this is not possible, the lanyard should be passed around the supporting structure a number of times, to give additional grip.
G.1.2.3 The work positioning lanyard should then be attached to the user’s harness. The user should take
care to ensure that the gate mechanism of each connector is fully closed and secured and that the connector is aligned correctly in the harness attachment point. In some designs of connectors the gate mechanism should be away from the body, in others nearer the body. An example of the correct alignment for one type of connector is shown in Figure G.1. Failure to ensure that the connectors are aligned correctly creates a risk of inadvertent disengagement of the connector during work (known as “roll-out”) (see 12.5).
G.1.2.4 The point at which the work positioning lanyard passes around the support structure should be
positioned so that it is at least above the waist of the user. The lanyard should be adjusted to the shortest length possible without compromising comfort or ease of work. This is to ensure that if the user loses their foothold, any swing fall into the structure is minimized, and therefore the potential for injury is reduced. (See Figure G.2.) Care should be taken when adjusting the work positioning lanyard to ensure that this is done in a controlled manner. Otherwise there is a risk that the entire lanyard could pass through the adjustment device until the stop is reached, and the resulting large loop would be likely to lead to instability and a fall.
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G.1.2.5 The safety back-up personal fall protection system should be adjusted so that there is a minimum
amount of slack in it. This is essential in order to ensure that should the user suffer a fall, the safety back- up fall protection system arrests the fall before the user is subjected to any force from the work positioning system.
G.1.2.6 The user should then slowly lean back into their harness, until the tension in the work positioning
lanyard supports the user’s weight (see Figure 35).
G.1.3 Preparing to move to another position
After work at a particular position is completed, the user should assume a safe standing position, with the safety back-up personal fall protection system still connected to the support structure. The work
positioning lanyard can then be removed from the support structure.
G.2 Technique 2
G.2.1 Precautions prior to commencing work
G.2.1.1 Before work commences, the anchor line should be checked to ensure that the maximum rated load
is not exceeded, i.e. that the maximum rated load of the anchor line exceeds the sum of user’s body weight plus clothing and all tools and equipment that are to be carried.
G.2.1.2 The anchor to which the anchor line is to be connected should be checked to ensure that it is
unquestionably reliable, i.e. strong enough and stable enough to support the user.
G.2.1.3 The user should ensure that they are familiar with the manufacturer’s instructions for adjusting
the anchor line and for connecting the anchor line to the anchor and to their harness, in particular that they know the correct alignment for the particular type of connectors that they are using (see G.1.2.3).
G.2.1.4 The user should don their harness in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and should
take care to ensure that it is correctly adjusted.
G.2.1.5 During ascent, descent and movement between positions of work, the anchor line should be carried
in such a way that it does not get in the way of the user, e.g. by keeping it to one side or stowing it in a suitable bag.
Key
1 Harness side waist attachment point 2 Gate
3 Work positioning lanyard 4 Connector
Figure G.1 — Example of correct alignment of connector in side waist attachment point on user’s harness
1
2
3
4
G.2.1.6 On arriving at the working surface the user should connect first to the safety back-up personal fall
protection system.
G.2.2 Connecting the anchor line to the anchor and attaching it to the user’s harness
G.2.2.1 Once the user is attached to the safety back-up system the anchor line should be connected to the
anchor and attached to the user’s harness, and secured and adjusted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Passing the anchor line over abrupt or sharp edges should be avoided. Anchor lines should be
a) Lanyard too long. User suffers large swing fall into structure
b) Lanyard correct length. User suffers small swing fall into structure NOTE Safety back-up personal fall protection system not shown for clarity.
Figure G.2 — Potential swing falls into structure while using work positioning technique 1, assuming that the work positioning lanyard does not slide down the structure
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protected at all times from abrasion or other causes of damage (e.g. hot or sharp surfaces). Where necessary, additional protection for the anchor line should be used, e.g. a canvas rope protector.
G.2.2.2 The user should take care to ensure that the connections at the attachment points on the harness
and the anchor line have been made correctly by ensuring that the gate mechanism of each connector is fully closed and secured and that the connector is aligned correctly in the attachment point. Failure to ensure that the connectors have been aligned correctly creates a risk of inadvertent disengagement of the connector during work (see G.1.2.3).
G.2.2.3 Before the user moves to the work position, the anchor line should be completely pulled through
the adjustment device so that there is no slack as the user descends down the working surface, for example a roof.
G.2.2.4 Once the work position is reached, the anchor line should be adjusted to the shortest length
possible, to eliminate slack, without compromising comfort or ease of work, and kept as nearly as possible perpendicular to the anchor. This is essential to ensure that should the user lose their foothold, any swing fall across the structure is minimized, thus reducing the potential for injury.
G.2.2.5 The user should then slowly lean back into their harness until the tension in the anchor line
supports the user’s weight.
G.2.3 Moving up and down the working surface by varying the anchor line length
G.2.3.1 The anchor line should be kept under tension, otherwise slack might form which could lead
to a fall.
G.2.3.2 The adjustment device should be operated in such a way that the length of the anchor line is only
altered by a small amount at a time. During adjustment, tension should be maintained in the anchor line so that it continues to support the user.