Safety Harnesses and Lanyards

Fall arrest, restraint and work positioning lanyards

A fall arrest lanyard stops a fall that has already started, a restraint lanyard stops the user reaching the edge at all, and a work positioning lanyard holds the user in place with both hands free and needs a separate fall arrest backup wherever a fall is possible.

Shock absorbing lanyards

A shock absorbing lanyard is the fall arrest connection between harness and anchor, with an energy absorber that extends in a fall to cut the force reaching the body. HERMEQ supplies the shock absorbing webbing lanyard and kernmantle rope versions, each with a fall indicator label that reads NOT OK once the lanyard has arrested a fall. The label is part of the check before every use, and a lanyard showing NOT OK is taken out of service.

Y forked lanyards

A Y forked lanyard, also called a double or twin leg lanyard, lets the user clip the second leg to the next anchor before unclipping the first. On scaffolding, lattice steel and fixed ladders this keeps the user connected at all times while passing intermediate anchors, where a single lanyard leaves a moment with no connection. For fall arrest, the choice is between the Y forked kernmantle lanyard and the forked shock absorbing webbing lanyard. For restraint along a run of anchors, the Y forked restraint lanyard gives the same continuous connection.

Restraint lanyards

A restraint lanyard is a fixed length of kernmantle rope, chosen so that from its anchor the user cannot reach the edge or a fragile surface. It suits flat roofs, loading edges and MEWP baskets.

Work positioning lanyard

The adjustable work positioning lanyard is shortened or lengthened to hold the user against the structure, leaning into the harness with both hands free. It suits station holding on steelwork, poles and ladders, and wherever a fall is possible it is worn together with a fall arrest lanyard on a separate anchor.

Matching the harness, lanyard and anchor point

Attachment points

Fall arrest lanyards connect to the dorsal D-ring between the shoulder blades, or to front points marked for fall arrest. Sternal points at the chest are the connection for fixed ladders and inclines, where the user faces the structure and a front connection keeps the lanyard in view. Side D-rings and other points marked for work positioning take a work positioning lanyard only, never a fall arrest lanyard.

Webbing or kernmantle rope

Webbing lanyards are flat, light and pack small in a kit bag. Kernmantle rope has a load-bearing core (the kern) inside a woven sheath (the mantle) that protects the core from abrasion, and it suits scaffolding and steelwork where the lanyard rubs against tube and steel all day.

Fall clearance below the user

A shock absorbing lanyard needs clear height below the user, because the user drops the length of the lanyard plus the extension of the energy absorber before coming to rest. Before choosing one, compare the free height below the anchor with the clearance given in the manufacturer's instructions. Where there is little height below, as in a MEWP basket or at low level, a restraint lanyard that cannot reach the edge is the right choice, in single or Y forked form.

Karabiners and rebar hooks

The connector at the anchor end decides what a lanyard can clip to. The kernmantle rope lanyard with thimble eye needs a karabiner at the anchor, and the steel screw locking karabiner is the everyday choice for that connection. The aluminium karabiner does the same job at a lower weight for rescue kits. For reinforcing bar and large structural members, the rebar hook has a wide gate and is tested to EN 362 Class T. Anchors and the other components that complete the system are in fall arrest systems.