Customer Guides
The DarkSide Customer Guide to Working at Height
DarkSide Industries are your Rigging and Height Safety experts to the Entertainment Industry. It’s what we do - no lights, no sound, just specialist advice on Rigging and Fall Arrest, every time.
After all, when it comes to safety at height, you only get to be unlucky once – so get expert advice from the team who has made your safety at height our business.
But I’ve got a supplier, why do I need DarkSide?
Some suppliers sell fall arrest equipment as a side line to their core business.
At DarkSide, Fall Arrest, Safety at Height and PPE for the Entertainment industry is our core business.
We know our gear inside out, and how it applies in the Entertainment industry. In a nutshell, potentially life-saving equipment should never be thought of as a side line - ALWAYS speak to a specialist.
Tell me more...
We are your Fall Arrest and Safety at Height specialists in the Entertainment industry.
While some of the equipment may be the same, when compared with general industry, the applications of that equipment can be very different in the Entertainment industry.
We are also at the forefront of new developments within the Entertainment industry – which means we can give you the must up to date information, every time.
Ask us about anything you need: Black Harnesses and other black products, harnesses fitted with specific padding, truss ladder supply – the list goes on and on.
The right advice might not just keep you safer in your venue – it can save you money too.
Our advice is FREE*, so call DarkSide now on 01274 772117.
I’ve been doing this for years and never worried about PPE. Why should I start now?
The figures make sobering reading. According to the HSE, last year across all industries, 46 workers died after a fall from height, and a further 3750 workers were seriously injured. That might mean anything from a head injury to paralysis.
That’s why we say when it comes to safety at height, you only get to be unlucky once.
[Source: www.hse.gov.uk ]
I've got a basic harness and lanyard – that's enough isn't it?
Not necessarily.
Massive forces can be exerted on the human body in a fall situation – in anybody’s book, that’s bad news, especially for your neck and spine. The right fall arrestor, or a good shock absorbing lanyard, will reduce the force of a fall to around 6kN, meaning you are far less likely to be injured by the fall itself. But that’s only half the story.
Following a fall, it can take only a matter of minutes for Harness Trauma to set in. Harness trauma (also known as Suspension Trauma or Harness Induced Pathology) is the damage caused to the body by restriction of blood flow (ie: to the legs).
This is a potentially fatal complication. It is especially dangerous if you are unconscious, and is exacerbated by the wrong type of harness, or one with insufficient padding.
So you need to know you can be rescued quickly and safely following any fall, before any of these problems start - and that means having a rescue plan and the right retrieval device or evacuation equipment in place.
You can read more about Suspension Trauma here.
DarkSide are your Safety at Height SPECIALISTS. Talk to us about Harnesses, Lanyards, Leg Support Straps, Retrieval devices and our complete range of Height Safety, PPE and Fall Arrest products that may just save your life one day.
Our advice is FREE * so call us NOW on 01274 772117
What do I need to know about fall arrest and PPE?
The following guidelines are issued by WAHSA (Work at Height Safety Association – www.wahsa.co.uk).
These are some of the things we recommend you to consider when working at height:
The 10 Equipment Questions:
- Suitability - Have I got the right equipment? Is it fit for the intended purpose?
- Condition - Has the equipment suffered from wear and tear? Is it fit for use?
- Traceability - Do I know the history of this equipment? Has it been cared for properly? Make sure you know how the equipment should be stored, in order to keep it in prime condition
- Compatibility - Does the equipment function effectively with other products?
- Security - Is the equipment fastened properly to prevent release?
- Anchorages – Are proper anchor points available for the intended method of use? Consider both strength and position – eg: position anchors as high as possible.
- Fit - Am I the right size and weight for the manufacturer’s specification? Have I adjusted the product correctly?
- Age - Has the equipment exceeded its recommended lifespan? Is the date of manufacture still visible on the product?
- Clearance - Is there sufficient clearance to allow the equipment to deploy safely? Check this constantly.
- Continuity of Protection - Can I remain permanently attached during the work? (Equipment should never interfere with the work task).
The Fall Arrest Hierarchy:
Provide a suitable working surface, and use restraint equipment to prevent people from entering situations where a fall could take place- If there is no suitable surface to stand on, consider the use of work positioning equipment to provide additional support
- If you cannot remove the risk of a fall, use fall arrest equipment. Ensure there is sufficient clearance distance and choose equipment that will minimise the distance and consequences of any fall
- No matter what working method you use, make sure rescue equipment is available and people know how to use it
Working at height should be a last resort, but we understand in the Entertainment industry it happens frequently. We recommend good risk assessment and method statements.
Contact our partners at Guardian Risk Management for more advice on risk assessment.
In Summary
- The correct PPE is potentially life-saving equipment. So it should never be treated as a side line or an afterthought
- DarkSide Industries are your Rigging and Height Safety specialist in the Entertainment Industry
- Make sure you know the history and safe use of your equipment before you use it. If you are in ANY doubt, replace it or seek advice from a specialist
If you have any questions about Safety at Height, PPE and Fall Arrest equipment,
call DarkSide Industries on 01274 772117
We are your SPECIALIST suppliers to the Entertainment industry, and our advice is FREE *
© DarkSide Industries Ltd 2008. May not be copied or reproduced in any way without the express permission of the authors.
* Advice given without charge is done so in good faith and without legal liability.
Intended for information only. DarkSide Industries Ltd accepts no legal responsibility for anyone acting upon the information contained herein.
Call DarkSide NOW for more details on 01274 772117