Fall protection for shafts

Shaft entry TAURUS-SCE-10

Taurus shaft entry

SHOW SYSTEM

Rescue attachment TAURUS-SCE-20

Rescue attachment for connecting a fall arrest device.

SHOW SYSTEM

PSA Personal protective equipment

Intuitive use, optimum comfort, top quality: Just some of the characteristics of our anti-fall harness systems. The PPE STRING harness system is available in Basic, Comfort, and Pro models. All harnesses allow optimum freedom of movement and guarantee that the user is caught safely in the event of a fall.

Fall protection for shafts and shaft entries

There are work sites for maintenance and inspection in industry, building construction and civil engineering, mining and drainage systems that are only accessible via a shaft entry. The work staff working at these access points, such as service technicians or service personnel, must be secured from falling into the deep by a corresponding protection system.

Since space is tight in these areas, the necessary work is usually performed by a single person. To keep a shaft entry safe, it is therefore necessary to select a fall protection solution capable of both securing the person working and offering the possibility for a second person to rescue the person working.

For applications requiring safety solutions at shaft entries INNOTECH offers a wide variety of fall protection systems that ensure comprehensive safety during the necessary maintenance work.

TAURUS-SCE-10

Shaft entry SCE-10

Shaft entry.

Details

TAURUS-SCE-20

Rescue attachment TAURUS-SCE-20

Rescue attachment for connecting a fall arrest device.

Details

PPE STRING

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT PPE

Details

Details on fall protection at shaft entries

An effective solution for providing safety at shaft entries is offered by single anchor points EAP. Counted among so-called individual protection solutions, they can only be used in combination with a set of personal protective equipment (PPE). One excellent option for securing the shaft entry is the EAP-TEL-10, a single anchor point made by INNOTECH. It is mobile and can be used multiple times, i.e. it can be stowed and transported with ease in a backpack. Every so-called EAP is based on the mount EAP-TEL-20-VZ. The EAP-TEL-10 is extendible and can be attached with the help of any tools. This safety solution is recommended for situations where multiple shafts are covered by the same maintenance schedule. Before making their descent, the person in the danger area attaches themselves to one of the two anchorage eyes on the telescopic post of the single anchor point by means of a fall arrest device.

A fall protection system that is quick and easy to install is always preferable as it saves time and allows the specialist to focus their attention entirely on the maintenance task that needs to be carried out.

Another option for securing shaft entries is the use of the TAURUS-SCE-10 from INNOTECH. Designed as a push-on support, it can only be used in combination with our TAURUS rail system and allows the user to safely enter and exit the danger area of the “shaft”. Removable and mobile as well, the push-on support TAURUS-SCE-10 is mounted on top of the existing ladder in the shaft as well as the installed TAURUS VERTIKAL, which, in turn, provides for a continuously secured ascent and descent. The TAURUS-SCE-10 is used as a pair with the shaft bracket TAURUS-SCE-50-A4, which, in turn, is attached to the existing rungs of the ladder in the shaft.

Defusing dangerous situations at shafts with the help of individual protection equipment

Shafts can be of varying depth. This fact also translates to increased danger in the event of a fall. Presumed safety, the so-called illusion of safety, is created, for instance, by the presence of a ladder. However, the descent into a shaft always carries the risk of a fall from slipping, loss of balance or direction or false steps caused by inattentiveness. These risks need to be averted by means of the protection options mentioned above.

The aforementioned individual protection solutions make the danger area of the shaft entry completely safe and reliably protect the personnel performing maintenance in or near shafts from falls into the deep. An appropriate expert training course instructs the user on how to handle our safety solutions properly. To provide the necessary instructions, INNOTECH has devised the INNO|school, which offers an extensive portfolio of training courses.

The total of these measures provides for the required safety. What is more, the individual protection solutions mentioned have been designed such that the rescue measures can be performed at any time by the second person present on site.

Benefits of a fall protection system for shaft entries

Reliable protection against falls from a height in the danger area of the shaft thanks to individual protection solutions paired with personal protective equipment PPE
Secured access into the shaft by means of individual protection solutions that are designed to be removable and can thus also be used temporarily
High degree of mobility during the performance of various maintenance tasks thanks to the option of attaching the single anchor points to the shaft in a quick and easy manner via a pre-installed mount
More effortless entry and exit plus continuously secured descent and ascent into and out of the shaft thanks to the combination of TAURUS-SCE-10 and TAURUS VERTICAL

Challenges

Access via the shaft: Entering and exiting the shaft involves a fall risk. It is therefore advisable to provide protection against a fall directly at the access point of the shaft.
Tight spaces: The commonly narrow space conditions - both at the shaft entry and during work in the shaft itself - necessitate the use of a flexible and space-saving safety system.
Recovery/rescue: If the person inside the shaft incurs an incident or emergency, it must be possible to safely recover or rescue this person at any time.