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Today we finish this series on the danger posed by dropped objects, their risks, causes and preventions. As we promised at the beginning of this journey, we will tell you about the solutions that we offer from EGA Group to help you.
We manufacture a whole range of ANTIDROP® products and solutions that have been designed to control and prevent object dropping when working at height.
These products have been designed to allow a comfortable, productive and efficient use of tools while assuring workers’ and equipment safety against object dropping.
On the one hand, we offer belts and retractable lanyard with carabiner.
They are designed to fit the worker´s body, to enable user freedom and provide maximum tool fixing points, and to make internal hooks safely to retain tools while the operator is climbing or moving location
They are designed for maximum safety and to give an optimum working freedom. The many systems provide all the necessary solutions for a safe and comfortable use at heights, and at the same time, they ensure a better shock absorption.
PREMIUM TOOLS FOR INDUSTRIAL USE
On the other hand, we offer different ranges of ANTIDROP® premium tools for industrial use: non-sparking, insulated 1000V, ESD, non-magnetic. These have attached a thermo-shrink system and retention ring, following DROPS recommendations. Such system is much effective and safe, and also it avoids damages on the properties of the tool.
It is true that most of the tools can be turned in ANTIDROP®, we discourage to put sleeves oneself. It is not economic nor safe, since one must put it registering temperature, time, diameter of sleeve and length of sleeve. And then, TEST it.
If the tests succeed, then for that particular code the design parameters are settled, and the rest of ANTIDROP® tool units of that code are manufactured according to these parameters.
Without having made TESTS to the design parameters, they can never assure that the outcome will perform properly in the first fall. They can’t assure safety; if they make the tests, it will cost them much more than buying complete ANTIDROP® tools.
Which are these tests?
While it is necessary to take into account exclusively the FREE FALL test, it must be kept in mind However, whenever a cord suffers a stress from the fall of a tool, it must be removed from service until the trained and authorized personnel review it and can put it back into service. Responsibility for this operation and its consequences rests with such authorized personnel.
that there is a lack of clear regulation, so there are products on the market that show tests, which are in principle irrelevant, but that generate confusion in the user when it comes to deciding. Therefore, here we show 3 typical testing methods and their values, so that the reader can compare them, and remember that it should always be attended exclusively to that of free FALL.
Anyway, lanyards, fasteners and tools are certified according to these three tests:
- FREE FALL: The lanyard is attached to an anchor point and the weight is applied to the other end. Then the weight is elevated and dropped vertically, five times.
- PENDULAR TEST: The lanyard is attached to an anchor point and the weight is applied to the other end. Then the weight is elevated above the anchorage point and dropped, five times.
- STATIC LOAD TEST: The lanyard is attached to an anchor point and the weight is applied to the other end for 10 minutes.
In such tests the maximum weight required that they bear is checked:
However, whenever a lanyard suffers a stress from the fall of a tool, it must be removed from service until the trained and authorized personnel review it and can put it back into service. Responsibility for this operation and its consequences rests with such authorized personnel.
ANTIDROP® TOOLS CONTROL
Finally, tool control is essential in many applications, especially on those where “forgotten” tools create high safety risks and decrease safety such as airplane repair, wind turbine maintenance, construction at height…
This is the reason why we offer exclusive and totally customized tool control system solutions. Just decide which tools you need, and we will design, and manufacture customized the set you require, with Bi-colored foam trays that perfectly fit tools and visually warn of any missing element. For more info, please check
IN SUMMARY
ANTIDROP® tools are ideal for many manufacturing, construction, installation and maintenance activities, both onshore and offshore.
Some applications: oil rigs, wind turbines, power lines, cranes, buildings, scaffoldings, bridges, telecom towers, airplane maintenance, speleology, mining…
Our ANTIDROP tools have been carefully designed not only to avoid accidental dropping, but also to ensure maximum safety. All tools are equipped with heat shrink system which offer superior safety compared to other systems, such as directly holding tools with a knot.
Of course, all tools keep the original and well-known our industrial tools features: safety, resistance, durability, efficient and comfortable use.
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