A few words about installing a lifeline
Lifeline installation is a modular system developed specifically to
maintain the safety of workers at height. Lifeline installations consist of cables made of rigid profiles or steel, which
stretch along the work path, to which the worker connects with the help of
special harnesses. The dynamic load on a lifeline system may reach 3.5
tons, therefore extra care is required in the assembly. But at the same time as
securing him and preventing falls, the system has to allow the worker at height
to move freely.
What does the law say about the installation of a lifelines?
Today, following the ‘Height Labor Law’ that came into effect in 2008 (or 2007 see Article III)?, every place where height work is carried out, i.e. when the worker is two meters above the ground, anchor lines must be installed by a company with special permits. This means, the installation of a lifeline system must – from the planning stage until obtaining the approval of a structural engineer – be carried out correctly and professionally by a proven expert.
How to know which system use?
Different types of lifeline systems are specifically tailored to the
workplace, work needs, and customer budget.
To understand which system is right, you must first understand the process of
installing such lifelines.
Step 1 – Characterization and planning of lifeline installation
The most crucial step when installing a lifeline on a building’s roof is an
analysis of the circumstances to then characterize, plan, and select the
appropriate system. Proper understanding of each customer’s unique needs and
mappings of the area on which the system will be installed, determine the type of
lifeline system which has to be designed. A skilled team scans the area and selects
the safest and thus best options for installing the system according to the
type of roof (tiled roof, concrete roof, tin roof, old and worn roofs), the
structure of the roof, the actual condition of the roof and all requirements of
the ‘Work at Height Law’.
A lifeline system is best planned as a modular system that can be adapted to
various scenarios. For example, to concrete-on-concrete roofs lifelines can be
anchored directly. Tin roofs on the other hand require additional constructs to
anchor the lifelines safely. The final plans of the anchoring system have to be
approved by a structural engineer specialized in the field, and only after
receiving authorization can the actual installation stage begin.
Step 2 – Actual lifeline installation
After the approval of the plan by a structural engineer, a professional and
skilled team takes over. All staff must be trained in accordance with the
statutory regulations. They begin with installing a docking system for work at
height. For the lifeline installation, the team connects the anchor points
accurately and follows the plans approved by the engineer. If the working area
is too unstable to connect the anchor points, and the system cannot be
connected safely, an additional construct must be built near the workplace
where the anchor points can be installed. After determining and installing the
actual anchor points, high-quality cables with heavy load resistance are
stretched. The cables all meet European standards and height-work regulations.
Step 3 – Engineer approval
As a lifeline system is not an ordinary security system, the approval of an
expert engineer is required at the end of the installation again.
The engineer’s approval is obtained after testing the system in the field.
He carefully inspects the entire system and ensures that the installation can
withstand the necessary loads required by law, where the maximum load according
to the number of employees connected to the lifeline system at a certain time
is given. In addition, the engineer makes sure that cables connecting the
worker to the system can resist the traction load at the time of a fall.
Considering that it possibly is a question of life or death, the most
important thing when planning a lifeline installation, is to work with a
professional company. Only then meticulous adherence of all required stages,
starting with proper planning and professional assembly, continuing with a crew
that has undergone appropriate training as prescribed per the law, a
professional system checks after installation and ending with the approval of
an expert engineer in the field, is guaranteed. When working according to all
stages in an orderly manner, unfortunate cases of injuries during work can
be effectively prevented.
With a lifeline system and a professional company with years of experience
in the field, you can work with peace of mind and be sure that all employees
return home safely.