Staying Safe with Self-Retracting Devices

When working at heights, every second counts in the event of a fall. That’s why self-retracting lifelines (SRDs) have become one of the most reliable pieces of fall protection gear on job sites.

An SRD works much like a seatbelt—it extends and retracts as you move, providing freedom of mobility – letting you keep your hands free and focus on the work and tools. But if a sudden fall occurs, the SRD locks almost instantly, arresting the fall within inches (check the manufacturers instructions to confirm how many inches) and reducing impact forces on the body and total fall distance.   Just like getting in a car accident – your seat belt locks and stops you from flying into the windshield.

So, when working at heights, if you cannot work in fall restraint, consider the benefits of and SRD.  While in most cases they will NOT stop you from falling, they may make arresting our fall less painful and the after-fall rescue easier.