What are fall arrest bags? If you are an employee or employer working with heights, you will need to understand the safety requirements of working at height. Fall arrest bags are an important part of working at height safety.
What Are Fall Arrest Bags?
Fall arrest systems typically include the equipment necessary for reducing the impact of a fall for those employees or builders working at significant heights where they could be subjected to a detrimental injury or perhaps even death.
It's best to search for all possible options other than working at height, and only then, when you physically cannot complete the work without going up high, should you invest in fall hazard protection gear and fall arrest bags.
The word 'arrest' suggests that the equipment ceases a more impactful fall; it cannot prevent it altogether but successfully stops severe injuries and fatalities whilst on-site. Fall arrest typically comes in mats or outer bags, yet they can also be safety nets. For this article, we will be focusing predominantly on soft landing systems (SLS).
What Is A Soft Landing System Made From?
Soft landing systems are collective fall arrest systems utilised to protect a team of personnel instead of personal fall arrest systems that solely protect those wearing the appropriate gear.
Mats and landing bags are suspended beneath the subject area or are laid on the ground to protect the builders or workers above from falling.
The mats are air-filled woven fabric in balloon-type structures, which have been pre-filled with internal pressure giving them immense durability, which you can purchase at the most suitable length for your site.
You maintain a supplied soft landing system using high-quality pumps, or you can purchase them with pre-filled air pockets, and they are delivered as they would typically be whilst on site.
Pre-filled lorry bag installation is more energy-efficient than other inflatable units as they don't use pumps or power sources. Soft-filled bags or mats tend to be filled with tear-resistant material in cushion structures.
How Do Fall Arrest Bags Work
A soft fall landing system aims to reduce the fall impact with airbags. The fall arrest bags are placed tightly together, and the material absorbs the overall impact of the falling person, taking a large amount of strain from the falling person's body.
It's essential that whoever installs the fall arrest checks the SLS thoroughly in case there are any additional risks, such as you're system not being positioned correctly or inflated enough.
One of the most significant risks can include 'bottoming out', which is when the landing bags begin deflating. Deflated fall arrest systems are no longer helpful as they don't provide protection in the form of a soft cushion to fall onto, and impact will be almost as hard as hitting the concrete. Putting soft landing systems in place throughout your construction site location still isn't enough to prevent the possibility of injury.
The velocity of a person falling gradually increases depending on the height of the fall, making the final impact much stronger. However, a soft landing reduces the acceleration rate and softens the landing to prevent strain on specific body parts, especially the knees, ankles and backs.
How many fatalities are due to falls from height?
There were a series of stats released by the Health and Safety Executives (HSE) from earlier in the year, and it displayed that there were approximately 35 fatalities during the year 2017-2018.
The results also showed that the leading cause of death for many UK workers was a fall from height.
The construction sector was responsible for the highest number of deaths.
How to Minimise injury risk
The Health and Safety Executives (HSE) recommend utilising tower scaffolds to minimise risk and prevent falls from heights.
However, if you misuse the towers or it is poorly erected in some way, this can be even more dangerous.
Fall arrests are primarily designed and manufactured to offer a thoroughly cushioned, safe landing. The bags absorb the weight of workers required as they fall, reducing the injury risk and preventing a severe impact.
Fall Arrest Bags Protection for housebuilders
Throughout the house building market, numerous contractors carry out work without significant protection if they fall through roof trusses or floor joists. Standard fall arrest bags are one of the most versatile uses of fall protection.
Builders and professionals can use them for concrete buildings or applications, timber framed developments, lorry bags/beds, traditional brick-built properties, scaffoldings and many more. Get in touch with your local fall protection professionals when they are available between Monday-Friday for more information if you have an enquiry or a free quote.
Fall Arrest Bags offer harness-free work
Suppose the construction project or task ahead dictates it so. In that case, your workers will have plenty more freedom to roam around their platforms or levels, handling a wide range of tools and materials freely without any harnesses.
A harness is an incredibly restrictive piece of protective equipment designed for climbing, abseiling and moving from level to level on construction; however, performing work can be challenging to complete a task precisely.
Soft landing system training
Anyone using SLS must have thorough, efficient training to understand how best to position and maintain the equipment. It's paramount that these systems receive inspection checks or stringent tests regularly, especially before use on each project. It would be wise to ask yourself the following questions before beginning any work:
- Is it placed in the correct position to protect your workers?
- Has your fall arrest equipment been affected by damage or harsh weather conditions, or is it still safe for use on your project?
- Is the inflation level correct?
- Within the last seven days, has your SLS been inspected for safety?
- Is your arrest system stable and strong enough to arrest fall impact? You'll want to check for damage and deflation thoroughly.
- Your workers' safety is paramount, part of their working rights and outweighs the time or costs for a competent individual to suitably and appropriately set up and check the soft landing system each time you begin construction at heights.
When To Use Fall Arrest Bags
Soft landing systems (SLS) can provide a safe and practical solution for minimising the impact of a significant fall from heights at the workplace or during official construction jobs.
Fall arrest bags offer immense flexibility with a broad range of weights and sizes that allow them to fit comfortably into numerous spaces and provide the durability to suit ever-changing environments.
However, it's paramount to remember not to utilise a soft landing system and no other accessories or easy solutions, as this can be dangerous or less efficient.
There is somewhat of a safety hierarchy when working at heights; therefore, it's essential to put a soft landing system in place alongside various other protective equipment, such as harnesses, to achieve the full benefits.
That way, when one system fails, there will always be your soft landing fall arrest bags to land on that will cover the impact of the fall. Other forms of fall protection consist of fall restraint systems, which prevent workers from entering high-risk areas, such as using guardrails. Employers on construction sites must carefully assess how they can prevent their workers from possibly reaching the fall hazard areas.
For example, you may be able to put up sufficient guard rails to prevent falls or add fences to create a safety zone. In some circumstances, there may be no alternative other than a simple soft landing system and no other protective products to coincide. In this case, it's vital to follow the safety instructions in the fall bag or mat's manual. Contact your local professionals today for further details of prices or to discuss your requirements.
If you are working on a construction project in Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Kent or London, you will be considring the safety requirements of your workers. Follow the links below for construction site safety nets, crash bags hire and edge protection hire.
Construction Safety Nets Kent Fall Arrest Bags Kent Edge Protection Systems Kent