SpanSet launches fall arrest lanyard that retracts when falling
18 October 2016 by Sotiris KanarisSpanSet has unveiled its new fall arrest lanyard, the DSL 2, which improves on the original retractable DSL by retracting even when a user is falling, reducing fall distance while still allowing flexibility to work.
“The DSL achieves a 50% improvement on the requirements set out in EN355 and opens up the potential to effectively protect workers in previously difficult locations as well as improving security further for all others,” SpanSet said.
The company said that when it comes to fall arrest lanyards most users currently choose a full 2m version for maximum freedom of movement, but in doing so have to accept they will allow potentially longer falls even when the full freedom of movement is not required.
“The problems with falling are twofold: The further the fall (the freefall distance) the longer it takes to arrest or stop the fall in a controlled manner, and the further you travel during either the freefall or the arrest phase the more likely you are to collide with obstacles or the floor. “
Having a lanyard the right length for each task would keep the potential fall to the minimum.
When the original DSL was launched in 2012 it allowed users to have a full length lanyard with the capability to be anchored at its full extent below the worker if required, but retractable to remove excess length when not needed, providing users with a far higher level of security especially when working at low levels or above hazards such as machinery or structural elements.
The DSL 2 retractable lanyards go further, extending and retracting in use as required, but additionally during a fall they continue to retract resulting in significantly reduced falls that are consequently quicker to arrest.
“The benefit is so significant that in tests the DSL arrests the falling mass completely before a conventional lanyard even becomes taught,” the company said.
The DSL 2 has also been tested for users up to 140kg.
