Retrofit your Tools for Tool Drop Protection
Staying Compliant with Tool Drop Safety Regulations is as Easy as 1. 2. 3.
Turn Your Toolbox Into a Tether-Ready Tool Set
By following the 3 Point Tool Drop Prevention Model you can be on your way to staying safe & compliant while working at heights. This 3 point system consists of Attachment Points, Connectors, & Anchorages.
Point 1 of the 3 Point Tool Drop Prevention Model is Attachment Points.
Attachment Points are components of tool drop safety that are retrofitted to existing hand tools, power tools & other equipment to make them "tether-ready".
When retrofitting your tools, you must never modify the tool to install an attachment point. These retrofitted components also must not interfere with the work efficiency of the tool once attached. Finally, the user must ensure that the attachment point being used has the proper weight capacity for the tool being retrofitted.
Popular Attachment Points Include:
D-Rings & Quick Wrap Tape
D-Ring with Cord
Tool Cinches w/Wings & Quick Wrap Tape
Tool Cinches
Quick Spins
Quick Rings
Point 2 of the 3 Point Tool Drop Prevention Model is Connections.
Once your tool is "tether-ready" you will need the proper tether or lanyard to connect to the attachment point.
With a wide range of sizes & styles, you will be able to find an appropriate tether for your next job & application. When selecting your tether, you must be sure that the tether has the proper weight capacity that the tether is being connected to. Tool tethers & lanyards are offered in weight capacities that range from 5 lbs. all the way up to 80 lbs.
Different Styles of Tethers & Lanyards:
Web Lanyards
Bungee Tethers
Coil Tethers
Hard Hat Tethers
Retractable Tethers
Point 3 of the 3 Point Tool Drop Prevention Model is Anchorage.
The final step before you can safely start working at heights is securing your tool (using the other end of your tether or lanyard) to an approved anchorage point.
Anchorage points can be a variety of things because of the wide range of sizes & weights of the tools being used. For safety reasons, anchorage points can be broken down into 2 types: "Off-Body" Anchors & "On-Body" Anchors.
"Off-Body" Anchors are required for tools weighing more than 5 lbs. These anchor points can be a railing, scaffolding, rebar, or any other approved tie-off location in the work area of the user. "On-Body" Anchors are used for tools weighing under 5 lbs.
"Off-Body" Anchor Point Examples
Railing
- Scaffolding
- Rebar
- Other Approved Tie-Off Location
Common "On-Body" Anchor Point
- Tool Belts & Belt Loops
- HolstersWristbands