Telus bucket truck evaluation system - A student's guide
Scribed by Lord Narayana
This is a Blackzine Prodoktion

Telus linemen are tested on this, amazingly, so I figured I should help
some of you future applicants to the Telco with this one. If you're 
climbing poles or walls, this may also be some useful information.

1. Components of a Fall Restraint/Arrest system

When considering the use of a fall restraint system, four specific 
components can be identified. All four components must be present
to have a complete and properly functioning means of protecting 
a worker.
        
        1) Anchor
        2) Conector(s)
        3) Body Holding Device
        4) Self Rescue or Evacuation

2. Anchors

As the first component of a fall arrest system, the anchor is the fixed 
object upon which the entire fall protection system is reliant. An anchor
may be engineered or improvised. These objects must be of unquestionable
strength. Anchorages can come in various forms, the floor, an overhead
I beam, a davit arm, or a boom on a boom truck.

For a worker weighing 100 kgs (around 220 pounds) should have a minimum 
breaking strength of an anchorage of 2300kgs, or 5000 pounds, as a general
rule of thumb. Take into consideration the freefall distance, the mass, 
and the type of connector. You can generate a tremendous amount of force 
on a fall. This is used in most provinces and many organizations governed by
Labor Canada. So the fall arrest anchor and fall restraint anchor must
hold a minimum of 5000 pounds (lbs). 

In the fall protection industry, anchorage strength is measured by referring 
to its minimum breaking strength (MBS).  This is the load that your equipment
is able to withstand without permanent deformation.  MBS is different, 
however from the rigging term, "safe working load". 

3. Connectors
The means of connecting a workers body holding device to an anchorage point,
has a wide variety of equipment, each serving a different purpose. Names
of some of these are the carabiner, which is a metal D shape which has one
end screwing into the other end. There is the snap hook, much like the snaps
on your lunch box. The shock absorber, which is the snap hook refined with
an extra piece to it to absorb the shock of the fall. The retractable lanyard
and the lanyard.

Roll out is a term ass ociated ith the use of snap hooks. this is the action 
that occurs when a snap hook unintentionally releases from its connection 
point.. This can occur in two instances, in which the equipment isn't 
compatible. The non locking snaps, and the non compatible hardware which
is termed the forced rollout.

Carabiners are more widespread, as it is a link which connects to compatible 
items together. Autolocking carabiners are the link of choice in this 
category, a little different than the screw together carabiner. 

Cross gate loading is a situation whereby a load is inadvertently placed
on the cate of the carabiner. This results in significant strength reduction.

Shock gate absorbers are incorporated into the lanyards, which absorb the 
shock which occurs during the fall on the anchorage and the user. Steel
cable lanyards must incorporate a shock absorber. Keep in mind, a fall of
one foot can create an impact force of up to 1000 lbs. A fall of five can
create a fall force of 3500 lbs.

4. Body holding devices.
The means of either supporting a workers body during a fall, or restraining 
the worker from reaching a fall hazard. This generally refers to waist belts
and full body harnasses.

As the third component of a fall arrest system, the body holding device is 
attached to the connector, thus completing the first three components of
a fall arrest/restraint system:
        
        Anchor ==> Connector ==> Body Holding device

There are two categories of a body holding device. The waist belt, and the
full body harness. The evolution of body holding devices commenced with the 
sole method of holding a worker. Today the height workers predominantley use 
a full body harness. 

Harness fittings should recieve special attention to allow increased 
suspension time and minimize injuries during a fall. The key to 
donning a full body harness is to follow the manufacturers recommendations.
The CSA standard Z259.10 indicates the folowing points. 
        
        1. When you purchase a full body harnass, each one shall include 
           written instructions and diagrams pertaining to proper fitting 
           and adjustment
        2. Audio visual training would assist in the process of proper fit 
           and adjustment.

Harness fitting, step by step.

   1) Undo all the buckles
   2) Hold up the harness by the D ring to see if the buckles and straps 
      hang free
   3) Lay the harness down on a flat surface.
   4) Don the harness, placing straps over your shoulders with the D ring
      at your back
   5) Slide the keepers away from all the buckles.
   6) Using the buckles in front (waist level) adjust the subpelvic strap
      so that it lies under your buttocks.
   7) Secure the leg straps around your thighs and snugly tighten the straps
      using the friction buckles.
   8) Slide all the keepers up next to their respective buckles.
   9) Secure the chest strap to prevent the shoulder straps from falling off.
  10) Adjust the dorsal D-Ring so that it is located between the shoulder 
      blades.

The only approced connection point on a harness for mast fall protection 
systems is the Dorsal D-Ring. There are some rare instances where this 
is not the case, but this affects only highly trained professionals, 
using very specific techniques. 

4. Self rescue and retrieval.
If you ever find yourself suspended by a fall protection system, attempt to
assess whether or not you are injured. IF you are not injured, you may be 
able to rest a foot on a nearby object to take some weight off the harness.
The harness should distribute the weight of the fall over various areas of 
your body, but they also become very uncomfortable over a short period of 
time. usually after dangling for a half hour, you get pins and needles in
your body and feel a little light headed.. It's not an emergency, but don't
as a resuer, put yourself in jeapordy because if you get into trouble while
helping a person, you won't be of much help.. Call 911 if need be. Most
places also have an Emergency help response plan which would be of some use.



March 25, 1998