To begin with, it’s difficult because they’re sold separately.
"Use fall arrest equipment when working at heights."
"Use the absorber."
"That's something you hear a lot, but it's true in its own way."
However, when it comes time to actually make a purchase, isn’t the fact that harnesses, waist belts, and lanyards are all sold separately what ends up confusing craftspeople?
It’s true that when something breaks, you can replace just the specific part, which I think is a really good thing.
However, because they are sold separately, improper usage has become widespread.
Things That Might Be Used Incorrectly
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Full-body harness with a Type 1 energy absorber
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If you do this, you won't be allowed to hook at a low position.
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Compared to Type 2 absorbers, Type 1 absorbers stretch much more, which increases the likelihood of a ground fall.
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Type 1 is triggered by a 4 kN impact load from a fall.
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Type 2 is activated by a 6 kN impact load from a fall.
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Type 2 Absorber on the Waist Belt
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Conditions for Activating the Absorber
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4 kN for Type 1 absorbers
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6 kN for Type 2 absorbers
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When using a Type 2 harness, the system does not activate until the waist belt absorbs 6 kN of force, and if the waist belt absorbs 6 kN of force, it could result in serious injury. In the worst-case scenario, the impact could cause severe injury.
To begin with, an absorber is designed to absorb impact by causing the stitched threads to break when subjected to a shock.
It's just like peeling off Velcro.
Since the absorber uses two different types of thread—one that breaks at 4 kN and another that breaks at 6 kN—
If a crash occurs without the absorber engaged, the system activates only when the impact load from the crash exceeds a certain threshold.
