Work positioning lanyards. A work positioning lanyard is a lanyard with a rope grab that follows the user either manually or automatically depending on the model. It then automatically locks in case of a fall. When using a work positioning lanyard, the rope should always be stretched, you're 'supporting' yourself on it.
- Buy Lanyards for your office or event online or in store. Shop at Officeworks to enjoy our everyday low prices. Save with our Price Beat Guarantee.
- A lanyard is a cord or strap worn around the neck, shoulder, or wrist to carry such items as keys or identification cards. In the military, lanyards were used to fire an artillery piece or arm the fuze mechanism on an air-dropped bomb by pulling out a cotter pin (thereby starting the arming delay) when it leaves the aircraft.
Tunica casino packages. Fall hazards are abundant and varied, making them difficult to protect against. Every single situation is different and employers need to work with employees to ensure that the correct solution is in place. The solutions may be easy or they may be complex, but either way, as the narrator of the opening sequence of The Six-Million Dollar Man said, 'We have the technology.'
While the answer to a problem can be something like guardrails, very often employers are faced with the challenge of finding ways for their employees to 'tie-off'. As they work through the process, it is important that they determine not just what the anchor point is going to be, but what type of lanyard to use. Many factors come into play when determining this, not the least of which is fall distance. But you can't choose the proper equipment if you don't understand the options available.
Each category could be further broken-down, but essentially there are three types of lanyards: shock-absorbing lanyards, self-retracting lanyards (or SRLs), and positioning lanyards. For the sake of this article, let's assume that you've connected your lanyard – whichever type it is – properly. If, for instance, your anchor point is at your feet rather than at your D-ring or above, there is going to be a larger fall distance than what's listed here and there will be excessive force exerted on your body.
Shock-Absorbing Lanyards
These seem to be the most popular types, mostly because they are easy to use and it's very obvious if they've been deployed or not. They are often 6 feet long and have an expansion pack on one end, or you might see the 'bungee' style (though, be very aware of the fact that these are not bungee – they are not elastic and will not bounce a person back). It will not be as easy to tell if a bungee lanyard has been deployed in a fall. The expansion pack (which could be rip-stitch or glue) will expand up to another 3.5 feet in the process of slowing your descent. The same goes for the 'bungee' style. The lanyard will start out at 6 feet and could be 9.5 feet after it has been deployed.
There are a couple of important things to consider when deciding on a shock absorbing lanyard. First, what is your fall distance? The link above leads to an article that shows you that you are going to need a minimum 18.5' of clearance in order to use one of these. If you don't have that, you need to consider other options. Second, why are you looking to arrest a fall after it has occurred, rather than stopping it from occurring in the first place?
Which leads us to our next options…
SRLs (Self-Retracting Lanyards)
To be fair, SRLs do also arrest a fall after it has occurred, however the distance in which they engage is short, leading to a maximum arrest distance (for a Class A SRL) of 24'. This is significantly different than the 3.5 feet plus the length of slack in your shock-absorbing lanyards. One of the features of an SRL is that there should be no slack since the lanyard recedes back into the casing when the tension releases. In recent years, SRLs have shrunk in size, reduced in weight, and become much more manageable than some of their predecessors. This is a great option in most fall protection situations.
Positioning Lanyards
These lanyards offer the least amount of flexibility. Bingo flash coupon code. They are fixed length and are designed to keep you in place, rather than arrest a fall. You will see them in frequent use when doing rebar assembly for pour-in-place concrete walls. For some, these are the only lanyards that should be used in a boom lift. Many will argue that the forces exerted on the basket of a boom in the event of a fall while wearing a shock-absorbing lanyard or an SRL could cause a tip-over and a fixed-length positioning lanyard is the only way to go. Despite those arguments, valid or not, OSHA has not banned the use of any type of lanyard in a boom lift as long as you would be protected from striking the level below. Still, if you feel this is a concern, consider the positioning lanyard.
Other Considerations
Even if you've determined which type of lanyard you are going to use, your decision doesn't end there. Lanyards are made of various materials and not just for the fun of it. While many lanyards are nylon webbing, others are Kevlar or wire rope. Why?
- If you are performing hot work of some kind – welding, torch-cutting, burning, for example – you are going to want your lanyard to be made of a material that isn't going to burn through when the slag hits it.
- Are you walking steel at the top of a newly constructed building? Well, the only anchor point may be at your feet. You'd better employ the use of an extended freefall lanyard which is manufactured to allow a 12' freefall as opposed to your standard 6' while maintaining the forces on your body below the allowed levels.
- Will there be situations in which you need to switch from one anchor point to another? If so, you may need to use a double-legged lanyard so that you are not exposing yourself to a fall when transitioning from one to the other.
There's a reason why just saying you are going to 'Tie-Off' is an insufficient answer when a safety professional asks what you are going to do for fall protection. There is no 'One Size Fits All' fall protection solution. Each situation requires careful attention to detail so that the employees can be properly protected. Review your situations beforehand and come up with an agreed upon method, otherwise, there's a chance your people in the field will grab whatever is in the nearest toolbox, regardless of whether or not it will actually protect them (if they use anything at all).
Related Articles
Each category could be further broken-down, but essentially there are three types of lanyards: shock-absorbing lanyards, self-retracting lanyards (or SRLs), and positioning lanyards. For the sake of this article, let's assume that you've connected your lanyard – whichever type it is – properly. If, for instance, your anchor point is at your feet rather than at your D-ring or above, there is going to be a larger fall distance than what's listed here and there will be excessive force exerted on your body.
Shock-Absorbing Lanyards
These seem to be the most popular types, mostly because they are easy to use and it's very obvious if they've been deployed or not. They are often 6 feet long and have an expansion pack on one end, or you might see the 'bungee' style (though, be very aware of the fact that these are not bungee – they are not elastic and will not bounce a person back). It will not be as easy to tell if a bungee lanyard has been deployed in a fall. The expansion pack (which could be rip-stitch or glue) will expand up to another 3.5 feet in the process of slowing your descent. The same goes for the 'bungee' style. The lanyard will start out at 6 feet and could be 9.5 feet after it has been deployed.
There are a couple of important things to consider when deciding on a shock absorbing lanyard. First, what is your fall distance? The link above leads to an article that shows you that you are going to need a minimum 18.5' of clearance in order to use one of these. If you don't have that, you need to consider other options. Second, why are you looking to arrest a fall after it has occurred, rather than stopping it from occurring in the first place?
Which leads us to our next options…
SRLs (Self-Retracting Lanyards)
To be fair, SRLs do also arrest a fall after it has occurred, however the distance in which they engage is short, leading to a maximum arrest distance (for a Class A SRL) of 24'. This is significantly different than the 3.5 feet plus the length of slack in your shock-absorbing lanyards. One of the features of an SRL is that there should be no slack since the lanyard recedes back into the casing when the tension releases. In recent years, SRLs have shrunk in size, reduced in weight, and become much more manageable than some of their predecessors. This is a great option in most fall protection situations.
Positioning Lanyards
These lanyards offer the least amount of flexibility. Bingo flash coupon code. They are fixed length and are designed to keep you in place, rather than arrest a fall. You will see them in frequent use when doing rebar assembly for pour-in-place concrete walls. For some, these are the only lanyards that should be used in a boom lift. Many will argue that the forces exerted on the basket of a boom in the event of a fall while wearing a shock-absorbing lanyard or an SRL could cause a tip-over and a fixed-length positioning lanyard is the only way to go. Despite those arguments, valid or not, OSHA has not banned the use of any type of lanyard in a boom lift as long as you would be protected from striking the level below. Still, if you feel this is a concern, consider the positioning lanyard.
Other Considerations
Even if you've determined which type of lanyard you are going to use, your decision doesn't end there. Lanyards are made of various materials and not just for the fun of it. While many lanyards are nylon webbing, others are Kevlar or wire rope. Why?
- If you are performing hot work of some kind – welding, torch-cutting, burning, for example – you are going to want your lanyard to be made of a material that isn't going to burn through when the slag hits it.
- Are you walking steel at the top of a newly constructed building? Well, the only anchor point may be at your feet. You'd better employ the use of an extended freefall lanyard which is manufactured to allow a 12' freefall as opposed to your standard 6' while maintaining the forces on your body below the allowed levels.
- Will there be situations in which you need to switch from one anchor point to another? If so, you may need to use a double-legged lanyard so that you are not exposing yourself to a fall when transitioning from one to the other.
There's a reason why just saying you are going to 'Tie-Off' is an insufficient answer when a safety professional asks what you are going to do for fall protection. There is no 'One Size Fits All' fall protection solution. Each situation requires careful attention to detail so that the employees can be properly protected. Review your situations beforehand and come up with an agreed upon method, otherwise, there's a chance your people in the field will grab whatever is in the nearest toolbox, regardless of whether or not it will actually protect them (if they use anything at all).
Related Articles
A lanyard is a cord or strap worn around the neck, shoulder, or wrist to carry such items as keys or identification cards.[1] In the military, lanyards were used to fire an artillery piece or arm the fuze mechanism on an air-dropped bomb by pulling out a cotter pin (thereby starting the arming delay) when it leaves the aircraft. They are also used to attach a pistol to a body so that it can be dropped without being lost.[2] Aboard a ship, it may refer to a piece of rigging used to secure or lower objects.[1]
Origins[edit]
The earliest references to lanyards date from 15th century France: 'lanière' was a thong or strap-on apparatus.[3][4]
Bosun's pipe, marlinspike, and small knives typically had a lanyard consisting of a string loop tied together with a diamond knot. It helped secure against fall and gave an extended grip over a small handle.
In the French military, lanyards were used to connect a pistol, sword, or whistle (for signaling) to a uniform semi-permanently. Lanyards were used by mounted cavalry on land and naval officers at sea. A pistol lanyard can be easily removed and reattached by the user, but will stay connected to the pistol whether it is drawn or in a holster. In the 1966 Spaghetti WesternThe Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, one of the main characters, Tuco Ramirez, carries his pistol on a rope cord lanyard. Eli Wallach, the actor who played the part of Tuco, reportedly told director Sergio Leone that it was too difficult to put a pistol into a holster without looking, so Leone put Wallach's pistol on a lanyard.[5]
In the military, lanyards of various colour combinations and braid patterns are worn on the shoulders of uniforms to denote the wearer's qualification or regimental affiliation.[6] In horse regiments, lanyards were worn on the left, enabling a rider to pull a whistle from the left tunic pocket and maintain communication with his troop. Members of the British Royal Artillery wear a lanyard which originally held a key for adjusting the fuzes of explosive shells.[7]
Styles and materials[edit]
The style, design or material used will vary depending on end-purpose of the lanyard. Lanyard materials include polyester, nylon, satin, silk, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), braided leather or braided paracord.
Common styles[edit]
- Polyester imprinted lanyards
- Nylon imprinted lanyards
- Tube imprinted lanyards
- Dye-sublimated lanyards or full-color lanyards
Accessory for electronics[edit]
Lanyards are widely used with small electronic devices such as cameras, MP3 players and USB flash drives to prevent loss or dropping. Electronics designed to take a lanyard usually have a small through-hole built into a corner or edge of the case or anchored to the frame of the device; the corresponding lanyard generally has a loop of thread on the end that is attached to that hole with a simple knot, usually a cow hitch. Some earphones incorporate the audio signal into the lanyard, meaning it doubles up as headphone cords as well. The Wii Remote wrist strap is a form of lanyard, keeping the device attached to a player's arm during the often vigorous movements involved in its use.
Badge or identification holder[edit]
Lanyards are commonly used to display badges, tickets or ID cards for identification where security is required, such as businesses, corporations, hospitals, prisons, conventions, trade fairs, and backstage passes used in the entertainment industry. Such lanyards are often made of braided or woven fabric or split with a clip attached to the end. A plastic pouch or badge holder with at least one clear side is attached to the lanyard with the person's name badge or ID card. Occasionally, small items like business cards, pens or tools can be placed behind the badge for easy access. Lanyards can also be used as keychains, particularly in situations where keys can easily be lost, such as gyms, public pools and communal showers.
It Works Lanyard Meaning
In these cases, lanyards may be customized with the related name and/or logo of the event, business, or organization. Lanyards can feature a variety of customization techniques including screen-printing, Jacquard loom weaving, heat transfer, and offset printing.
Safety strap[edit]
Lanyards are also often attached to dead man's switches or 'kill switches' on dangerous machinery, such as large industrial cutting or slicing machines; on vehicles, such as jet-skis or trains; and on exercise treadmills, so that if the operator suddenly becomes incapacitated, their fall will pull on the lanyard attached to their wrist, which will then pull the switch to immediately stop the machine or vehicle.
Some law enforcement officers and members of the military utilize specialized lanyards to keep sidearms from falling to the ground during missions.[8]
Many ID card lanyards have a built-in feature known as a 'breakaway' closure. Breakaway lanyards release when pulled or when pressure is applied. This prevents choking or hanging. Lanyards with a breakaway feature are most often used in hospitals and healthcare clinics, schools, nursing homes, child care facilities, or factories that require employees to operate machinery.
Lanyards For Badges
Lineman lanyards[edit]
Lineman lanyards are used by lineman utility and other workers to prevent falls, although similar straps are also used recreationally by mountain climbers. This type of lanyard will have a section of heavy-duty nylon strapping attached to a metal ring or carabiner which tightens around an attachment point. The strap may be a fixed length or adjustable, and will attach to the wearer to support them against a fixed object or pole.[3]
Uniform accessories[edit]
Certain lanyards are still worn on uniforms as decorations similar to an aiguillette or fourragère. Among these are the Orange Lanyard in the Military William Order of the Netherlands and the German Armed Forces Badge of Marksmanship.
A white lanyard has formed part of the uniform of Britain's Royal Artillery (RA) since the end of the 19th Century. Originally a simple cord carrying a fuze key, the braided and whitened lanyard became the recognised distinction of a Gunner.[9] The distinction was extended to women of the Auxiliary Territorial Service attached to RA units during World War II.[10] Certain battalions descended from the Durham Light Infantry wore green lanyards to denote their past links with the regiment, whose uniform had a dark green Facing colour from 1903 onwards.[11][12]
Royal Naval Rating wear a white lanyard when dressed in No 1 uniform, the origins are the lanyard was to carry a pouch of gunpowder for the cannons.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ ab'lanyard lan-yrd.' Merriam-Webster's Collegiate(R) Dictionary. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 2004. Credo Reference. Web. 1 October 2012.
- ^'firing lanyard.' McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003. Credo Reference. Web. 1 October 2012.
- ^ ab'Overview of the Historical Use of Lanyards'. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
- ^Wedgwood, Hensleigh (1855). 'On False Etymologies'. Transactions of the Philological Society (6): 68.
- ^The Duel from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly on YouTube[dead link]
- ^'lanyard.' The Macquarie Dictionary. South Yarra: The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd., 2005. Credo Reference. Web. 1 October 2012.
- ^'History and Traditions of the Royal Artillery'. The Garrison. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
- ^'No Gear Left Behind'. Tactical Gear News. 6 April 2011. Archived from the original on 21 August 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
- ^'The Mighty White Lanyard'. Army Rumour Service.
- ^Col J.D. Sainsbury, The Hertfordshire Yeomanry Regiments, Royal Artillery, Part 2: The Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment 1938–1945 and the Searchlight Battery 1937–1945; Part 3: The Post-war Units 1947–2002, Welwyn: Hertfordshire Yeomanry and Artillery Trust/Hart Books, 2003, ISBN0-948527-06-4, Plate 9, p. 7.
- ^Norman E.H. Litchfield, The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988 (Their Lineage, Uniforms and Badges), Nottingham: Sherwood Press, 1992, ISBN0-9508205-2-0, pp. 56–8.
- ^Ward, S G P 1962 Faithful. The Story of the Durham Light Infantry Naval and Military Press ISBN9781845741471, p. 461.
External links[edit]
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lanyards. |
| Look up lanyard in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
- 'The Lanyard'—Poem by Billy Collins
