We use overhead cranes and they have inertia. attached which we hook the guys harnesses onto when they are working at
height on some large pieces of equipment.the height is between 3 to 8 meters We have all the controls in place where crane and any other overhead crane are locked off so there is no movement.etc etc. One question I have been asked is can we hook our harnesses straight onto the crane hook should there ever be a case of the inertia reels being out of action or we need to put up another person for a more complicated job. Is there any reason that we shouldn't hook the harnesses / guys straight onto the hook. Any thoughts would be appreciated .

TD
If this is a regular occurrence I would look at putting other measures in place like working platforms to access the equipment (working through the working at height hierarchy of control). I would not use a Inertia Reel as the problem with using these type of systems if an operative should walk across the equipment as the Inertia Reel extends out then the level of protection from falling is greatly reduced for the operative ie hook placed in centre of equipment operative walks 3 meters across the equipment then slips of the edge of the equipment falls you will get a pendulum effect allowing the operative to come into contact with the floor
I would suggest a fixed lanyard to mitigated the risk of falling should you go down that route

Chris

Good. Where there is a risk of a person falling, your guys would have had to use fall arrest as opposed to restraint.
As you mentioned an initial distance of 3m, the clearance should someone fall would be insufficient as the lanyards extend to around 1.7m plus the height of the person.