The “Identity Crisis” in Confined Space Gear
Simon Lunt (PQS): Stuart, why do these two pieces of equipment get mixed up so often?
Stuart Raby (Globestock): “It’s because a fall arrest block and a personnel winch can both be used when lifting people. The easiest way to distinguish them is by their job description.
A fall arrest block is designed for fall protection. It is PPE and only activates in the event of a fall from height. A personnel winch, on the other hand, is not PPE. It is specifically certified for the routine raising and lowering of personnel.
Confusion often arises because some fall arrest blocks include a rescue winch, such as Globestock Safety’s SAVER SRL-R. However, this rescue winch is for emergency use only and is not certified for routine personnel lifting.
In most cases, an SRL-R should be used alongside a personnel winch to provide a secondary safety system if the winch were to fail. If personnel are being lifted, you would normally use both, not one or the other.”
When Is a Fall Arrest Block a “Must-Have”?
Stuart: “If there is a risk of a fall from height that cannot be removed or prevented, users must wear PPE to minimise the consequences should a fall occur. That’s where fall arrest blocks, often referred to as SRLs, come in.
Teams are also required to have a specific rescue plan in place before any work at height or confined space access begins. This plan must clearly explain how a user would be rescued following a fall.
Using a fall arrester that includes a rescue winch, such as the SAVER, can help satisfy this requirement. However, it’s important to remember that the SAVER’s winch is intended for emergency rescue only.”
When Is a Personnel Winch Essential?
Stuart: “That comes down to access requirements. If there’s no ladder or safe climbing route, raising or lowering personnel with a dedicated personnel winch may be the best solution.
However, not just any winch can be used. It must be specifically certified for lifting personnel, which the Globestock WINCH is.
In most applications involving personnel lifting, a fall arrester should also be used alongside the winch. For down-hole operations, a SENTRY Tripod is often the ideal anchorage solution for the WINCH.”
Stuart’s Top Tip for Site Managers
Stuart: “Always ask yourself: ‘If my colleague goes down and the main device fails, do I still have a way to recover them?’
If your setup doesn’t include a recovery method, then your rescue plan is missing its most important link. The right equipment can turn a crisis into a controlled recovery.”
Why Source Your Globestock Equipment from PQS Survey?
At PQS Survey, we make sure your confined space equipment is ready for the demands of site work.
Ready to gear up? Explore the full confined space equipment range at PQS Survey.
