It's a valid question. In fact, some might argue that you should always use shock absorbing lanyards. Well, it wouldn't hurt, but there an often times missed opportunity to use a non-shock absorbing lanyard.  And because they don't have a shock absorber, they're cheaper.

You're big and you need a harness. No one's judging you. In fact, I applaud you for seeking out fall protection.  But being a heavier gentleman comes with its fair share of burdens. For example... What kind of fall protection do I need?

Some of you may not know this, but a very serious hazard can exist when using fall protection. It's called the swing hazard or swing factor. It can be extremely dangerous (like mixing peanut butter and jam). What the heck am I talking about? I'll tell you.

Did you know that there's more than one way to use fall protection? Sure, we talk about fall protection harnesses and roof anchors here a lot, but there are other ways to use fall protection products. I came up with five to be exact. The beauty is that by learning about other fall protection applications, you'll be in a better position to handle and eliminate fall hazards. Find out the applications you may be missing.

Happy free day off day. You think they would have called today "Relax Day" instead of essentially "Work Day." Anyway, I digress. Did you know that OSHA actually classifies "Qualified" and "Competent" persons? Which are you?

I thought I'd take some time to share my thoughts on these two similar, but different terms (fall protection and fall prevention) and clear out any discrepancies. Seriously, what's the difference?

You've been looking around at safety harnesses and they've all got different buckles.  Some have mating buckles, and other have pass thru buckles.  What in the blue hell is the difference?  We'll tell ya.

Let's be honest with each other here, sometimes fall protection can get expensive.  On the other hand, in comparison to the cost of a life or workman's compensation, fall protection is a pittance. However, I suspect cost has a lot to do with why companies are not updating their fall protection equipment as frequently as they should be. (Check out this article) So, here's a simple solution to cut costs and update your equipment regularly.

In a recent phone conversation, I spoke with a guy who was looking for fall protection anchors for several metal roofs. What did I tell him? Well, first I told him that I'd have to call him back because I was trying to get the wrapper off of my Laffy Taffy at the time... When I called him back I found out that his situation was quite common. What is the best metal roof anchor to buy?

Not an easy question to answer, but with my somewhat elevated intelligence, I think I've cracked the code. My answer? It depends... on a couple of crucial factors such as reusability, metal roof type, astrological sign, etc...