Electricity Today T&D Magazine

A personal fall protection arrest system (PFAS) is comprised of three vital components: an anchorage, body wear (full-body harnesses), and a connecting device (a shock-absorbing lanyard or self-retracting lifeline). The safety of at-height workers depends on these three components, and each one must be in place and used properly to provide maximum worker protection.
When discussing fall protection, anchorage connectors and full body harnesses receive a lot of attention. We don’t always stop to think about connecting devices like self-retracting lifelines or shock-absorbing lanyards, and yet these are the two components that bear the greatest forces during a fall.
Before...

The Paradox Facing Modern Line Work

By most measurable standards, line work should be safer today than it was a generation ago. Arc-rated clothing is more comfortable and more widely worn. Insulated tools are lighter, stronger, and better maintained. Work methods are more clearly documented, and safety rules are reinforced through training and audits. Yet serious injuries and fatalities continue to occur, often during routine tasks and often involving experienced linemen. This paradox suggests that the industry has focused heavily on improving protection while paying less attention to how risk itself has evolved.  

Risk Drift and the Normalization of...