One of the leading occupational dangers in today's workforce is the risk of death or injury due to falls. Falls from ladders, scaffolds, buildings, or other elevations have become the second most significant cause
of death in the workplace. (Falls are the number one cause of death in the construction industry.) In addition, falls in the workplace are the third leading cause of injury involving days away from work.
This catalog is a guide to the full line of Occupational Protective Equipment (OPE) manufactured by Klein Tools, Inc. to help safeguard professionals in a wide variety of work situations and locations. This specialized OPE catalog is directed to
industries concerned with personal occupational protection. Products in this catalog include harnesses, connecting devices, Lineman Climbing Equipment and Pole, Tree and Ladder Climbing equipment. It is important to note that OPE equipment must be used
only for the personal-protective purpose for which it is designed. Misuse can result in serious personal injury or death.
The major U.S. governmental agency regulating the use of OPE equipment is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Although OSHA regulations generally require workers to utilize fall protection when exposed to a fall of six feet or more,
Klein strongly recommends using fall arrest protection when working at any elevated position. If you have any questions or any doubt as to what regulations apply to you or what safety equipment is required, contact your regional OSHA office.
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| The A-B-C Rule
An OPE system is more than just a combination of equipment. In order to function properly, the system must be custom-designed for the specific application, environment, and work-site requirements. A simple rule to follow when assembling an OPE system
is the A-B-C Rule. The system must contain all of the following components: (A) anchorage, (B) body wear, and (C) connecting device.
- (A) Anchorage. OSHA defines anchorage as "a secure point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards, or deceleration devices." A proper choice of anchorage is determined by the type of fall protection needed
(i.e., fall-arrest, or fall-arrest combined with positioning, suspension, retrieval, and/or ladder-climbing functions). The anchorage must be identified and evaluated by a competent person, as defined by OSHA, at the job-site before the appropriate OPE
equipment can be selected. Typical anchorages could be an I-beam or other structural members.
- (B) Body Wear. OPE harnesses and belts are the second component of an OPE system. In order to select the right harness for the job-site requirements, a competent person, as defined by OSHA, must determine the type of
fall protection needed, i.e., fall-arrest, or fall-arrest combined with positioning, suspension, retrieval, and/or ladder-climbing capabilities. Whenever there is a risk of a fall, fall-arrest protection must be used. The use of a body belt for
fall-arrest was strictly prohibited by OSHA.
- (C) Connecting Device. The third component of an OPE system is the connecting device. Examples Include lanyards, rope grabs, and deceleration devices. As with anchorages and body wear, the choice of a proper
connecting device is dictated by other system components and job-site requirements. Only use connecting devices equipped with locking snap-hooks. The use of connecting devices without locking snap-hooks for use in any fall-arrest system is strictly
prohibited by OSHA.
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| To be complete, an OPE system must include all the components of the A-B-C Rule (anchorage, body wear and connecting device). Some systems may include multiple pieces of OPE equipment for a component. The proper choice of equipment
depends on specific job-site facts and application limitations. A competent person, as defined by OSHA, must make these equipment decisions. |
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