Work Positioning System

What Does Work Positioning System Mean?

A work positioning system is a fall protection device that is used for doing work on vertical surfaces where there is no platform for the worker to stand on. Once attached to the system, the user can stabilize themselves with their feet, leaving their hands free to work.

When used properly, a work positioning system will hold the worker in a safe position and keep them from falling. It also limits their potential free fall distance to two feet, minimizing the risk of injury or death in the event of a fall.

Safeopedia Explains Work Positioning System

Work positioning systems are used by a number of different professions, including:

• Construction workers
• Rope access workers
• Window cleaners
• Steel workers
• Painters
• Arborists
• Maintenance workers

Components of a Work Positioning System

Work positioning systems consist of five basic components: anchorage, lanyard, harness, connectors, and a backup fall arrest system.

Anchorage

An appropriate anchor point is required to attach the lanyard and lifeline. Typically, the anchorage will be a component of the structure the user is working on. It must be capable of supporting at least 3,000 lbs per person.

Work Positioning Lanyard

The lanyard connects the worker to an anchor point located in front of their body.

Work Positioning Body Harness (Sit Harness)

The harness in a work positioning system is designed to support the worker and hold them in place when they lean back. It provides full support around the waist and legs, freeing the hands so the user can work safely holding onto the structure or the positioning system.

Some harnesses come with shoulder straps for extra support.

Connectors

Connectors like anchor bolts, carabiners, and D-rings provide secure and reliable connection points for the various parts of the system

Backup Fall Arrest System

A properly installed work positioning system will limit the distance of an accidental fall to two feet or less. However, when working at heights of six feet or more, it should not be the sole source of fall protection.

To ensure complete fall protection, workers should use a backup connector in conjunction with their positioning system. This can be a shock-absorbing lanyard, vertical lifeline, or self-retracting lifeline attached to an appropriate anchor point.

How to Use a Work Positioning System

Most fall positioning systems rely on a pair of D-rings on either side of the positioning harness, located at the hips. A line or lanyard is then wrapped around the anchor point (a ladder, for instance, or the trunk of a tree) and connected to both sides of the harness.

Once attached, the worker can safely lean back and allow the harness to hold them.

Work Positioning Systems and Hierarchy of Fall Safety

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has created a hierarchy of hazard controls designed specifically for work at heights. It consists of the following types of controls, listed in order from most effective to least:

• Elimination: Removing the risk of falling entirely by changing work procedures, redesigning the work process, or relocating the work to a safer area. While highly effective, eliminating fall hazards entirely is rarely feasible.
• Passive Fall Protection: Guardrails, safety nets, and other devices that will protect workers from falls without their active involvement.
• Fall Prevention: Travel restraint systems and other devices workers can use to prevent a fall from occurring.
• Fall Arrest: Personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) and other devices that will not prevent a fall but will stop one before the user makes contact with the ground, thereby minimizing the risk of a serious injury or fatality.
• Administrative Controls: Controlled access zones, warning line systems, safety monitors, and other methods to make workers aware of the fall hazards around them.

Work positioning systems are part of the fall prevention category. While they can limit the distance of a fall, they are not strictly considered a fall arrest system. Rather, they are primarily intended to hold the user in place to prevent them from falling.

Types of Work Positioning Systems

There are different types of work positioning systems that can be used based on the work environment and type of job being performed:

• Rope Positioning Systems: Use ropes to secure the worker in a safe position, typically allowing for greater mobility.
• Work Seat Systems: Positioning systems that include a seat (as part of the harness or as a separate component) as a means of support.
• Body Belt Systems: These positioning systems attach to a belt strapped to the user’s waist, allowing them to lean back safely.
• Retractable Lanyard Systems: Includes a self-retracting lanyard to arrest a potential fall.

FAQs About Work Positioning Systems

How do positioning devices differ from fall arrest devices?

Positioning devices are used for performing work on vertical surfaces such as walls, trees, and columns. They engage when loaded with a mass – in this case, the worker’s body.

Fall arrest systems, on the other hand, only activate when a worker falls. They are designed to stop the fall before the usesr can make contact with the lower level.

Put simply, a positioning device will prevent a fall while a fall arrest system will stop a fall that is already in progress.

However, it is standard practice to employ a fall arrest device while using a positioning system. This is a backup fall protection measure that can stop a free fall if the work positioning device fails.

What is a travel restraint system and how does it compare to a work positioning system?

Travel restraint systems and work positioning systems are both fall prevention devices that allow the users to work freely with their hands. However, they prevent falls in different ways.

Work positioning systems provide support for the user’s body while they are working at heights.

Travel restraint systems, on the other hand, tether a worker to an anchor point to limit the distance they can travel on the working surface. Restricting how far the worker can walk prevents them from getting close to fall hazards.

Another key difference is the type of surface on which these devices are used. Work positioning systems are used for work on vertical surfaces while travel restraint systems are suitable for work on horizontal surfaces like rooftops and work platforms.

What is the difference between a full-body harness and a work positioning system?

Full-body harnesses are worn on the body to secure a worker to their fall protection system. They are used with various types of fall protection devices, including personal fall arrest systems, travel restraint systems, and work positioning devices.

A full-body harness is often one of the components of a work positioning system, although some use ropes or body belts instead.

What is a work positioning lanyard?

Work positioning lanyards are fall protection lanyards designed to be used specifically with work positioning systems. They have a length between 2 and 5 meters and may be adjustable to give the system the right amount of slack.

The lanyard is attached to the rings on the harness or fed through them. Once attached, the lanyard secures the user to an anchor point so they can lean back into the system without fear of falling.

What is a work positioning harness?

A work positioning harness (also known as a sit harness) is a harness worn on the body to allow the user to attach to a work positioning system. It is designed to provide support and comfort when working on vertical surfaces.

Most work positioning harnesses provide support around the waist and legs only. This holds the worker in place while freeing up their hands and giving full range of motion to their arms. Some harnesses add shoulder straps for extra stability.

What should never be used as a positioning device?

A fall arrest system should never be used as a positioning device, and vice versa. A fall arrest system does not provide the support offered by a positioning system and should only be used as backup fall protection when working on vertical surfaces.

Workers should never suspend themselves using a fall arrest system as a substitute for work positioning. Being suspended in a fall arrest harness can result in suspension trauma, a serious and potentially fatal condition.

Harnesses and lanyards designed for other purposes (like fall arrest or travel restraint) should not be used in a work positioning system, either. Although these might allow some amount of positioning, they will not provide the right amount of support or ensure a short free fall distance.