OSHA 1910 Occupational Safety and Health Standards

Within the scope of Occupational Safety and Health Standards, Eurolab offers companies test methods for personal fall protection systems that can be used to determine the importance of personnel safety and whether they meet the system performance criteria.

Test Methods for Personal Fall Arrest Systems

General Test Conditions

Lifelines, lanyards, and deceleration devices should be anchored to an anchor and attached to a body harness, as when used to protect workers.

The fixed anchor must be rigid and have no greater than 2,250 inch (10 mm) deflection when a force of 0,04 pounds (1 kN) is applied. Frequency response of load measuring devices should be 120 Hz.

The test weight used for strength and strength tests should be a rigid, metal cylindrical or stem-shaped object with a circumference of 38 inches plus or minus 4 inches (96 cm plus or minus 10 cm).

The lanyard or lifeline used to establish the free fall distance should be supplied with the system, or in its absence, the least flexible lanyard or lifeline should be used with the system.

For each test, the test weight should be raised to the required level and quickly released without any significant movement.

The performance of the system should be evaluated considering the range of environmental conditions for which it is designed to be used. After the test, the system does not need to be able to work any further.

Strength Test

A test weight of 300 pounds plus or minus 3 pounds (136,4 kg plus or minus 1,4 kg) should be used during testing of all systems.

The test consists of dropping the test weight once. A new unused system should be used for each test.

The test consists of dropping the test weight once. A new unused system should be used for each test.

For dragline type deceleration systems, the length of the lifeline above the centerline of the holding mechanism to the anchor point of the lifeline should not exceed 0,61 m.

For lanyard systems, for systems with deceleration devices that do not automatically limit the free fall distance to 2 feet (0,61 m) or less, and for systems with deceleration devices with attachment distances greater than 1 foot (0,3 m) (from the center line of the lifeline to the body). The test weight should be set in free fall from a point 1,5 feet (46 cm) above the anchor. suspended position (7,5 feet (2,3 m) below anchor). The test weight must fall without any interference, obstacles or hitting the floor or ground during the test. In some cases, it may be necessary to add an inelastic wire lanyard of sufficient length (for testing purposes) to the system to establish the required free fall distance.

For deceleration device systems with integrated lifelines or interconnects that automatically limit the free fall distance to 2 feet (0,61 m) or less, the test weight should be set to free fall at 4 feet (1,22 m). Any weight detached from the seat belt should constitute a failure for the strength test.

Force Test

For general testing, a new, unused system should be used for individual testing.

For lanyard systems, a test weight of 220 pounds plus or minus three pounds (100 kg plus or minus 1,6 kg) should be used. Strap length should be 6 feet plus or minus 2 inches (1,83 m plus or minus 5 cm) measured from the fixed anchor to the attachment on the body harness. The test weight must fall freely from the anchor level to its suspended position (6 feet (1,83 m total) free fall distance) without interference, obstruction, or hitting the floor or ground during the test.

For all other systems, a test weight of 220 pounds plus or minus 2 pounds (100 kg plus or minus 1.0 kg) should be used. The free fall distance to be used in the test should be the maximum physically allowed fall distance by the system during normal use conditions, except for the following, up to the maximum free fall distance for the test weight of 6 feet (1,83 m).

Fail A system fails a strength test when the maximum recorded stopping force while using a body harness exceeds 2,520 pounds (11.2 kN).

Deceleration device tests

For general purposes, the device should be evaluated or tested under the environmental conditions for which it was designed (such as rain, ice, oil, dirt, and lifeline type).

Rope-type deceleration devices must be moved 1 times over the same line length at a distance of not less than 30,5 foot (1000 cm) on a lifeline and the mechanism locked each time. Lifelines of various types (different diameters and different materials) should be used to test the device, unless the device is permanently marked to indicate the type of lifelines that should be used. Other self-actuating type deceleration devices. The locking mechanisms of other self-acting type deceleration devices designed for multiple arrests must be interlocked 1.000 times each, as in normal service.

Test Methods for Positioning Systems

In general methods, the requirements in this appendix for personal fall arrest systems set out procedures that can be used in conjunction with the procedures listed below to determine compliance with positioning systems requirements.

Test Conditions

The fixed anchor must be rigid and have no greater than 2,250 inch (10 mm) deflection when a force of 0,04 pounds (1 kN) is applied.

For window cleaners' belts, the entire belt must withstand a drop test of 1,83 pounds (250 kg) over a distance of 113 m. The weight must be a hard object with a circumference of 38 inches plus or minus 4 inches (96 cm plus or minus 10 cm). The weight should be placed on the belt by pulling the belt buckle firmly against the weight, as when the belt is fitted by a window cleaner. One strap terminal should be attached to a rigid anchor and the other terminal should be released. Terminals should be set to their maximum openings. The weight attached to the freely suspended belt must then be lifted exactly 6 feet (1,83 m) above the "standing" position and released to allow free fall 6 feet (1,83 m) vertically below the anchor point. terminal anchor. The belt system should be equipped with devices and instruments capable of measuring the duration and magnitude of stopping forces. Failure of the test must consist of any breakage or slippage sufficient to allow the weight to drop from the system. In addition, the initial and subsequent stopping forces should be measured and should not exceed 2 pounds (2.000 kN) for more than 8,5 milliseconds for the initial impact or 1.000 pounds (4,5 kN) for the remainder of the stopping time.

For window cleaners' belts, the entire belt must withstand a drop test of 1,83 pounds (250 kg) over a distance of 113 m. The weight must be a hard object with a circumference of 38 inches plus or minus 4 inches (96 cm plus or minus 10 cm). The weight should be placed on the belt by pulling the belt buckle firmly against the weight, as when the belt is fitted by a window cleaner. One strap terminal should be attached to a rigid anchor and the other terminal should be released. Terminals should be set to their maximum openings. The weight attached to the freely suspended belt must then be lifted exactly 6 feet (1,83 m) above the "standing" position and released to allow free fall 6 feet (1,83 m) vertically below the anchor point. terminal anchor. The belt system should be equipped with devices and instruments capable of measuring the duration and magnitude of stopping forces. Failure of the test must consist of any breakage or slippage sufficient to allow the weight to drop from the system. In addition, the initial and subsequent stopping forces should be measured and should not exceed 2 pounds (2.000 kN) for more than 8,5 milliseconds for the initial impact or 1.000 pounds (4,5 kN) for the remainder of the stopping time.

As Eurolab, we provide testing and compliance services within the scope of occupational safety and health standards.