DO YOU NEED AN EXPERTS HELP? PICTURE THIS...

Maybe you’re in the planning phase of your facility’s annual maintenance shutdown, or perhaps a major equipment replacement is about to occur. In either case, permit required confined space entries will be a must. As your company’s safety professional, you’ve been tasked with making sure they happen safely. With appropriately trained workers and a solid permitting process in place, you’re now in the process of addressing your rescue plans.

Your first step toward a successful rescue plan is a comprehensive evaluation of the present confined space and the hazards. The configuration of the space, the environment within it, and the types of work to be performed will all play a role in determining the rescue plan along with numerous other factors. 

Next you'll need to compare the requirements of the rescue plan against the resources you have available to put the plan into action. Is your local fire department the extent of your rescue resources or do you have an in-house rescue team? If you do, will they be readily available during a special project or maintenance shutdown? Do they have the right training and/or specialized equipment for more complex rescue scenarios?

If you’re struggling to confidently address any part of this planning process, we can help. Ark Safety has the ability to assist you at any stage.

Our experts can assess and develop space specific rescue plans for a complex project or for an entire facility. If you need more than expert consulting, we can also provide an entire team staffed by rescue professionals. Every member of our standby staff has an extensive emergency services background and are prepared to stand by on site for the duration of your project. Our team also comes backed by a comprehensive cache of the most up to date rescue equipment in the industry. When you enlist our professionals and equipment, you can have confidence that every rescue need that may arise can be completely addressed.

As you begin to assess the safety aspects of the confined space entries to occur during your upcoming maintenance shutdown or special project, you’re now armed with the knowledge that you can reach out to a trusted partner for help. Our experienced rescue professionals are ready to put their expertise to use and become a part of your team. With Ark Safety's assistance you can ensure a successful project. Contact us to get started.

HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT SYSTEM

Every day, countless workers across the United States exercise tasks at height to perform their job. Improper protection for this workforce results in thousands of injuries every year; even worse, deaths. Among those tasks are those who are performing work at height on rooftops.  Ark Safety is committed to coming alongside our customers to learn their unique job specifications and determine a solution that not only gets the work done, but most importantly protects their workers. Although there are many solutions for rooftop fall protection, the basic factors to consider when choosing a horizontal lifeline system will be the focus on this article.

Without question, it is critical to choose a system that has been tested and engineered to meet OSHA requirements. Proper engineering and development of the system components requires a trusted manufacturer, as well as a knowledgeable, experienced and certified installer. You can rest assured knowing that Ark Safety only distributes and installs brands that meet the most rigorous requirements. Our installers are also the best in the industry. From first assessment through installation and training, our customers experience the difference of enlisting the help of true fall protection experts.

In addition to quality services and products, anchorage structure majorly influences what type of system is required. Sloped or Flat. Wood, concrete or steel. Commercial or residential. The roof differentials go on and on. The type of roof you are working with determines the fall protection system components that are needed and whether or not additional structural reinforcement is required. Both are imperative to determine the correct solution.

The clearance requirement of a system is the distance between the work area and the next level or obstruction below. Clearance requirements determine the anchorage height, the type of lifeline and the length required to meet compliance. Our fall protection experts will assist you in calculating this requirement and ensure that all hazards are properly accessed.

Another factor to consider is whether the needs of the job require that the system be permanent or portable. Temporary projects are most often associated with portable systems that can be easily moved from one location to another. On the contrary, most applications require a permanent solution. The majority of roofs have areas that must be accessed easily and often and in those cases a permanent solution is the best choice.

When choosing a lifeline type, it is essential to consider the environment and application of the system. Stainless steel or galvanized lifelines offer resistance against abrasion and corrosion. Synthetic lines, however, benefit by providing a more lightweight solution. 

Finally, the number of users a horizontal lifeline system needs must be considered when choosing a system. It is vital to choose a configuration that can accommodate all users safely while still being able to fulfill the workers' job requirements.

Both pre-engineered and completely customizable horizontal lifelines are available. When you work with Ark Safety, you can rest assured that the most optimal selection has been made and that it has been installed properly. No matter what solution is chosen after considering all of the above factors, the goal is the same; 100% continuous fall protection for all workers attached to the system. With every horizontal solution we provide, as with everything we strive toward as a company, keeping your workforce safe is our number one priority.

Pictured: 3M Roof Safe Cable and Anchor System