Security Line

The choice of which security system should be based on the durability, costs, strength, length of fall and ease of installation. Of these all but the costs influence (the uncertainty of) the strength of the system.

A system that has a short durability, for example, creates more doubt in the strength of the material. This can be countered by replacing the material within short intervals. This will, however, increase the costs.

The strength of a system should be adequate and in line with your insurance guidelines. A standard industrial safety factor is 7. It should be noted that with ratchet straps it is explicitly said not to use these for safety securing. If your insurance guidelines are strict, as is the case in the Netherlands, steel cable systems are therefore a preferable option.

The costs over time for the two mentioned systems are similar; the costs for steel cables are higher initially but the replacement costs are much lower, since the durability is better for steel cables compared to ratchet straps.

The length of the fall in the system should be limited and accounted for in the strength calculation. It should also be taken into account that the shock on the person should be not exceeding the maximum load a human body can withstand.

The ease of installation is important for two reasons. Firstly, a user-friendly system is preferable for practical reasons and ease of use. Secondly, it improves safety since an easy to use system has a much higher chance of being constructed according to the necessary guidelines. An installation using the necessary guidelines is paramount for the safety of the system.