The past several months have brought a number of changes and challenges to the Swing Stage, Suspended Access and Scaffold Industry in Canada. New legislation was implemented in July, 2016 which mandates the use of vertical lifelines and fall arrestors that are certified to CSA Z259.2.5.
While this change ultimately improves the overall safety of this industry, there remains some confusion as to what it means for companies and individuals.
Some key factors to keep in mind if you are involved with this industry include:
- Vertical lifelines must be certified to CSA Z259.2.5, and must be labeled as such. The label must include the date of manufacture. Make sure the label has the CSA mark on it so you know it was actually certified by CSA.
- Vertical lifelines must have a CSA Certified connector installed by the manufacturer. This connector could take the form of a ladder hook, rebar hook, snap hook or carabiner, provided it is CSA Certified to CSA Z259.12 standard.
The most common hardware attachment for the Scaffold Industry is a ladder hook. - Fall Arrestors, often referred to as Rope Grabs, must be certified to CSA Z259.2.5
Cancord manufactures a full line of vertical lifelines that meet the requirements of this industry and are certified for use with compatible CSA Certified fall arrestors. We encourage you to contact us for referral to a distributor in your area.
This article was featured in Cancord Rope Talk Issue 1. Download the full newsletter here.
