Page 85 - OHS, October 2021

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trending up, it is clear the mere creation of a standard is not enough.
As an industry, we must continue to not only raise awareness of the risk but also emphasize the importance of widespread adherence to ANSI/ISEA 121 as a way to mitigate it. With tool lanyards among the most integral and common equipment used to tether tools for prevention of dropped objects, ensuring ANSI- 121 compliance on as many worksites as possible is a major step.
So, is your lanyard legit? Are you choosing and purchasing the right tool lanyards for your workers? Check your options for tool lanyards against this checklist to make sure it meets the requirements of ANSI/ISEA 121-2018.
Five Must-Haves for Every ANSI-Compliant Tool Lanyard
In order for your tool lanyard to be ANSI-compliant, you must have a captive eye, a locking carabiner eye, 121 marked labeling, product instructions and a COC: Certificate of Conformaty. Let’s break each of these items down in to more detail:
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As an industry, we must continue to not only raise awareness of the risk but also emphasize the importance of widespread adherence to ANSI/ ISEA 121 as a way to mitigate it.
■ Captive Eye. ThThe captive eye secures the tool lanyard to the carabiner and ensures the webbing will not roll onto the gate or become disconnected. An example of a captive eye is pictured below.
■ Locking Carabiner Eye. The locking carabiner eye prevents the tool from disconnecting during use. An example of a locking carabiner eye is pictured below.
■ 121 Marked Labeling. If a tool lanyard is legit, the lanyard will clearly state required working lanyard information including: maximum weight rating, manufacturer information, warnings and lanyard length.
■ Product Instructions. Instructions should include installation illustrations, as well as use, care and replacement guidelines.
■ COC: Certificate of Conformity. The certificate of conformity identifies where and when ANSI/ISEA 121-2018 testing occurred.
Nate Bohmbach is the Product Director for Ergodyne.
OCTOBER 2021 | Occupational Health & Safety 81