Dears Fellows,

Is it safe to use the handrail (steel structure) as anchor point for tying the safety harness?

Regards.

Mohamed

Is its intended use 'work positioning' or 'fall arrest?'
Simon

Definitely not.

As a default, no. And then certainly not without justifying it with evidence.

It may well be a steel structure but I'd be just as interested in its fixings to the substrate it is placed in/on.

The selection of anchor points is often done by 'common sense' and whilst there are some situations where you can be satisfied e.g. massive RSJ's that are structural elements of a building, there are equally some e.g. cradle track RSJ's installed as guiderails and not for uplift etc. which may shift under dynamic lateral load. Hands up who has seen abseilers foolishly using these for anchorage?

Fall arrest training or even IRATA Level 3 does not make you a structural engineer.

Also bear in mind that, with fall arrest, you need a rescue plan and someone else may have to use that exact same anchor point to both secure themselves and effect a means of rescue....AFTER it has been subjected to a shock loading.


Could I respectfully suggest that a handrail COULD be used as an anchor point for fall restraint because it shouldn't be loaded in the same way. Its also inherently safer.

I would go with a dedicated anchor point that has been inspected & certified - I have copied and pasted the following which I found a useful reference;

http://www.totalaccess.c...Protection-Anchor-Points

It is a legislative requirement that eyebolts and single point anchors for the purpose of fall protection are inspected and certified a minimum of once every twelve months; abseil anchors must also undergo a six monthly visual inspection under LOLER, all must be performed by a suitably qualified person.

Anchor points for fall arrest must be "unquestionably sound" this can only be decided by a competent experienced operator.
Fall factor 2 in fall arrest can generate forces into 1000's of Kilos.

If in doubt have some anchor points to the relevant EN installed. And always have a rescue plan. ( not dial 999 / 112 )

Phil

NO

Sorry for one post after the other but here's a quote from http://webcommunities.hs...ight/view?objectId=12179

The standard points out that anchor points for restraint systems should be strong enough and stable enough to restrain the user at the extremes of their range of movement.

For single person use, it is recommended that the minimum breaking strength of the anchor point should be equivalent to at least three times the user’s body mass in the direction in which the load is to be applied in service.

Where several users are to be connected to the same anchor point, the recommended minimum breaking strength is that equivalent to at least three times the combined body mass of the users, in the direction in which the load is to be applied in service.

NOTE For example, three users, each with a body mass of 100 kg, all connected to the same anchor point for restraint purposes, would require an anchor point with a minimum static breaking strength equivalent to 3 × 100 × 3 = 900 kg, which would be approximately 9 kN.

Where a horizontal anchor line is used, it should be so positioned that any deflection generated by a user pulling on it at the extreme of their range of movement does not allow a free fall to take place.

If your handrails are designed and tested to withstand 5000 LB surely you can use them as anchorage point for safety harness. But most of the handrails are not designed for anchorage point because they only tested for 200 LB outward or downward force