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GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR WORK AT HEIGHT

Suspension

Work positioning

Fall-arrest

The user is working in suspension when s/he no longer has weight on his/her feet, but is supported primarily by the harness. The load is thus shared between the waistbelt and the leg loops/seat.

A work positioning system supports the user and allows him/her to be precisely positioned with weight on the feet. This system is not designed to arrest a fall; the user must keep his/her body weight on the positioning system.

The work positioning system must be used together with a fall-arrest system.

Warning You must have understood and retained the information from your products Instructions for Use to be able to apply the techniques presented in this document

Learning appropriate techniques and methods of protection is your own responsibility. Petzl solutions are given for information purposes only, with no guarantee of their effectiveness in your specific working situation. The relevance of these solutions varies by context, so always carry out your own risk analysis in the field

Mastering the techniques presented here requires specific training and practice. Work with a specialized organization for all of your training activities

The fall-arrest system is a belay system that is independent of the means of progression or work positioning.

The fall-arrest system prevents the user from falling to the ground in the event of a fall. Its role is to arrest the fall while limiting the impact force experienced by the user. It must therefore be used with enough clearance to allow for a free fall.

General information on falls The risk of falling is a key concept to master when working at height. The severity of a fall depends on independent factors:

The weight of the user, including equipment:

The greater the weight, the more energy to be dissipated during the fall.

The length of the fall:

The longer the fall, the more energy to be dissipated during the fall. The risk of hitting an obstacle is also greater.

The position relative to the anchor:

When the worker moves above his/her anchor, the severity of the potential fall increases. The fall factor concept is sometimes used to describe the worker s position relative to the anchor and the severity of the fall. This concept applies to climbing, restraint, or work positioning situations, when a dynamic rope lanyard is used.

Precautions for the type of system used: the Instructions for Use specify the limitations for use of equipment, particularly in terms of fall distance and the worker s position relative to the anchor.

Restraint A restraint system limits the work zone, keeping the worker from entering an area that may present a fall risk. This system is not designed to arrest a fall from height.