Instruction Manual

TABLEOFCONTENTS

1.DESCRIPTION
2.APPLICATION
2.1Purpose
2.2
FallArrest
2.3
Restraint
2.4WorkPositioning
2.5Suspension
2.6Rescue
2.7ApplicationLimits
3.SYSTEMREQUIREMENTS
3.1Capacity
3.2
CompatibilityofComponents
3.3MakingConnections
3.4AnchorageStrength
4.INSTALLATIONANDOPERATION
4.1Inspection
4.2PlanfortheApplication
4.3ClearFallDistance
4.4SwingFall
4.5CaptivePinInstallation
4.6CarabinerInstructions
4.7AttachingtheCarabinertoAnchorage
4.8AttachaSubsystem
4.8.1PolyesterRopeConnections
5.SPECIFICATIONS
6.MAINTENANCEANDSTORAGE
7.INSPECTION
7.1InspectionProcedures
8.MARKING
APPENDIXA–Ta
ble1,ListofAcronyms,Figures1–9,Inspection
Record


1.DESCRIPTION
FallTech®carabinersareforgedsteeloraluminumconnectorcomponentswithanormallyclosedgatewhichisopenedtoallowconnectionto
othercomponents.Thegateauto
maticallyclosesandlockswhenreleased.Thegatewillremainclosedandlockeduntildeliberatelyopened.Some
modelsareequippedwithanoptionalcaptivepin,toisolateattachedhardwarecomponentsandavoidcontactwiththegate.Carabinersare
availableinthreebroadsizecategories,Compact,MediumandLarge.SeeTable1inAppendixA(allfigureandtablereferenceshereafterareto
AppendixA).SeeFigure1.
AlistofacronymsusedinfallprotectionandfallarrestisprovidedinAppendixA.
Forpurposesofthismanual,thecarabinersmaybereferredtoastheconnector,theequipment,ortheunit.
2.APPLICATION
2.1Purpose:ThecarabinerscoveredinthismanualareintendedasconnectorcomponentsinPersonalFallArrestSystems(PFAS).Other
applicationsareRestraint,WorkPositioning,PersonnelRidingSystems,SuspensionandRescueSystems.SeeFigure2.
2.2
PersonalFallArrestSystems:ThecarabinermaybeusedasacomponentofaPFAS.APFASisanassemblyofcomponentsandsubsystemsused
toarrestapersoninafreefall,andwilltypicallyincludeananchorage,anenergyabsorbingconnectingsubsystem,eitheraShockAbsorbing
Lanyard(SAL)oraSelf‐RetractingDevice(SRD)orafallarrestor(ropegrab)orlifeline,oranysuitablecombination,connectedtothedorsalD‐ring
onaFullBodyHarness(FBH).Maximumpermissiblefreefallis6’.
2.3Restraint:RestraintsystemsaredesignedtorestraintheuserfromreachingafallhazardandtypicallyincludeanFBHandarestraintlanyardor
restraintline.Verticalfreefallisnotpermitted.
2.4 WorkPositioning:WorkPositioningsystemsareanassemblyofcomponents,subsystemsandconnectorstopartiallysupportandstabilizea
workeratanelevatedwork
locationandallowtheuserfreeuseofbothhands.
Thesystemshallbesecuredtoananchoragecapableofsupportingatleasttwicethepotentialimpactloadofanemployee’sfallor3,000lbs.,
whicheverisgreater.Eachworkpositioningsysteminstallationmustbeindepend
entlycapableofsupportingtheseloads.Workpositioningsystems
allowamaximum24”offreefall.
2.5 Suspension:Suspensionsystemstypicallyincludebodysupportandaback‐upPFASwithanFBH,withasuspensionlineandbosun’sseat
connectedviaacarabiner.
2.6Rescue:RescuesystemstypicallyincludeanFBH,andaspecializedsetofequipmenttorescueaworkerafterafallevent.
2.7ApplicationLimits:Takeactiontoavoidsharpedges,abrasivesurfaces,andthermal,electricalandchemicalhazards.Considersystem
requirementswhenmakingattachments.
DONOTusethecarabinerstohoisttoolsormaterials.
3.SYSTEMREQUIREMENTS
3.1Capacity:ThecapacityofthecarabinersinSpecificationsislistedas425lbs.(193kg).
NOTE:TomaintainANSIZ359compliance,limittotaluserweighttonomorethan310lbs.,(140.6kg),includingclothing,tools,etc.
NomorethanonePFASmaybeconnectedtooneanchorageatonetime.
3.2
CompatibilityofComponents:FallTechequipmentisdesignedforusewithcompatiblecomponentsandsubsystemsonly.Substitutionsor
replacementsmadewithnon‐approvedcomponentsorsubsystemsmayjeopardizecompatibilityofequipmentandmayaffectthesafetyand
reliabilityofthecompletesystem.Connectorsareconsideredtobecompatiblewithconnectingelementswhentheyhav
ebeendesignedtowork
togetherinsuchawaythattheirsizesandshapesdonotcausetheirgatemechanismstoinadvertentlyopen.ContactFallTechifyouhaveany
questionsaboutcompatibility.Connectors(hooks,carabiners,andD‐rings)mustbecapableofsupportingatleast5,000lbs.(22kN).Connectors
mustbecompatiblewiththeanchorageorothersystemcomponents.Donotuseequipmentthatisnotcompatible.Non‐compatibleconnectors
mayunintentionallydisengage.Connectorsmustbecompatibleinsize,shape,andstrength.Self‐lockingsnaphooksandcarabinersarerequiredby
ANSIZ359andOSHA.
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