The same question every day on the scaffolding, in the high rack or at another exposed location: Is the personal fall protection equipment (PPE) selected and attached in such a way that it will safely catch the user in the event of a fall? In order to determine the fall height - i.e. the distance required below the anchor point - a number of parameters must be taken into account: Location of the anchor point, length of the lanyard, weight of the user, length of the free fall and finally the break-up of the energy absorber. You can do the addition without a math degree - but it's still not an easy task in the working environment.

Is the fall height sufficient for safe fall arrest?

Users of the SpanSet SP140 and DSL2 fasteners now receive smart help. The Übach-Palenberg-based company has launched an app for calculating the lintel height for all variants. It works very simply. The app provides information on whether the fall height is sufficient for a wide range of application scenarios. Click on the lanyard used, define the work situation with a few taps and let the application calculate whether the person will be safely caught in the event of a fall. The program uses a data set that SpanSet has collected and verified in extensive series of tests.

The user specifies the lanyard, its length, the user's weight and the position of the stop. © SpanSet

The fitter or worker can simply make the calculation using their smartphone and then knows how effective their protective equipment is. This information on the display alone can save lives. "Nothing is worse than someone not even putting on the PPE because they wrongly assume that lanyards and energy absorbers won't protect them from an impact anyway," warns Jörg Scheilen, Head of Height Safety Technology at SpanSet. The application engineer thus addresses a sore point in every fall arrest concept: the unwillingness of employees to actively participate. Scheilen repeatedly observes dangerous negligence in practice. The new app reveals in just a few seconds how well the PPE ensures safety. This motivates employees to actually put on the unpopular equipment.

Document risk assessment

The fall height calculator app is also a valuable and sometimes legally relevant tool for managers. They can show the result of their risk assessment directly to the individual worker and either approve the specific situation or request changes - such as the selection of a different anchor point. The SpanSet app also offers a documentation function that should not be underestimated. The results of the calculation can be sent to any recipient by email. "This means that you still know later how you assessed individual hazardous situations," says Scheilen. The app is available as a free download for Android and Apple in 14 languages.

According to documents from SpanSet / am