At first glance these terms may seem indistinguishable since they both fall under the “Fall Protection” umbrella, but they have very different implications. A fall restraint system is designed to restrain a worker from reaching the leading edge of a hazard, typically via a fixed length lanyard or retractable leash.
Fall arrest can be more beneficial because it allows works to access more locations on a site. Although accessing certain locations on the jobsite can be potentially dangerous, the worker may need access to that area. Typical energy absorbers used in fall arrest systems include shock packs, rip stitch lanyards, or disk break mechanisms. These are all designed to “arrest” — after a person freefalls, the system stops a worker’s fall that has already happened.
The Beamer 2000 by Guardian is the go-to anchorage support system to tie off to a steel beam and is at the head of its class when compared to many fall arrest systems. Depending on the application it can be used as either a personal fall arrest system or a fall restraint system. It is important to learn and understand the difference and how they may be used on the jobsite because the difference between “arrest” and “restraint” can be the difference between life and death.
BEAMER 2000
- Bronze-manganese components resist weld slag and other contaminants
- Trails along with user during work
- Compatible with a wide range of beam dimensions
- Can be used overhead or at foot level
- Adjusts with simple toggle release
- One-handed operation welding spatter doesn’t stick to aluminum bar
- Connects to top or bottom of beam flange
- The nylon bushings slide easily along a steel beam and also act as an impact indicator in the event of a fall.
For additional technical and safety information, please visit: https://www.guardianfall.com/performance-safety-products/anchor-points/product/beamer-2000