I set down on a path to learn more about industrial at-height and fall prevention safety gear, and took a detour upon learning about Ergodyne’s tool tether system.
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Several brands already offer a full selection of tool tether gear, and Milwaukee has a whole new system of their own on the way.
What caught my attention of Ergodyne’s was their attachment system for retrofitting tools that might not have convenient attachment points already built in. Their attachment system can be permanent, or temporary, as their intro video shows.
They have a self-adhesive tape, and also a version that is applied with the help of a heat gun. They offer different attachments depending on the tool, and also have a slew of tether options.
The first photo, at the top of the post, shows a starter kit (currently $60 at Amazon), that can be used to fit up to 6 tools that weigh up to 2 lbs each.
They also offer different tool tethers. One of their promo videos shows the impact to your body when dropping an 8-lb tool 3 feet. Competing tool tethers led to a 150 lb force – or more – while the Ergodyne tool tether only transmitted a ~46 lb force.
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I’m going to dig deeper, but I also want to know about your experiences with this brand. Have you used Ergodyne’s tool tethers, or any of their drop protection accessories?
Do you favor a different brand?
Here are some of the videos I found helpful:
Nathan
I don’t know the brand but we have various items like that in the hangar for use above wing or when you get on the tail dock.
fairly short tethers – they do give – but I don’t know the brand. Nothing taped to a tool though. you either need an attachment or you make an attachment. IE some will drill a handle or weld on a piece.
or you buy items that are made with attachments like the proto skyhook thing. Sadly though I don’t think or systems that’s complete – nothing for dropping sockets, extensions, etc. If you were using them.
But no never used that particular item – looks decent. LIke the tape idea as a temp fix for a quick need.
Nathan
so was out in the hangar a bit and asked a few guys about the tethers – we dropped a 3/8 drive socket wrench so let’s call it 3 lbs – I guess.
it didn’t bounce like those test video’s did. now maybe that’s part of the example – maybe not. But seems like that has to do with ratings. Again there’s no name written on the tethers we have for people to check out and use – but they do have a listed weight limit of 5 lbs for some – and 12 lbs for others.
also our directions state to tether the tool to your lift or rack – not to your belt. Unless you have a harness on you can tether to your harness. So that might be an important distinction.
Wayne
Is there a when/where process for clipping to the rack?
I mean, for tower guys, they’re usually expected to always be tethered over 6′, two lanyards with one always attached to something while the other is being moved. In that environment under those rules, falls are ultimately impossible.
I could just picture someone bobbling a wrench with a tether while clipping it in over a wing or something – unless it’s expected to already be clipped.
Nathan
I’m not 100% sure now – used to be if you were on any moving stand device you had to be clipped in. If you aren’t on a platform (we have rolling/locking platforms that you place around the plane on all sides today = like a boat in a dock) you have to be clipped into something.
As far as the rest – I don’t know as I don’t work that these days.
Satch
Good stuff Stuart. Right next to the new silica dust rules will probably be tethering ability. I notice more and more mainline hand tool makers offering the option. Didn’t know about the Milwaukee stuff. Thanks for the heads up.
fred
I recall jobs we had where the crews working at elevation had be wearing fall arresting gear and be “tethered in”. I also recall jobs where measures (such as installing toe boards) were taken to prevent tools and other objects from sliding or falling off of open floors, staging, decks or roofs. We had a tether that came with a Paslode Impulse roofing nailer – but it like the tool was seldom used (we didn’t like it).
A few years ago I recall looking at the Proto tethering system – and I think you posted about it. Looked nice for the aerospace guys – and preventing wrenches falling down missile silos is a good thing. I don’t know what the accident statistics look like for falling tools – but I can see the potential for added OSHA attention in this area. We could probably do a physics calculation on the impact force of a pipe wrench – falling down a 40 story shaft. But you don’t need a calculation to know you would not want to have it fall on you.
Alick
Working in a power station, 250 feet top to bottom with only open mesh catwalk walkways and ladders. Drop a tool and it could be seriously lethal for someone far below.
As a secondary safety during overhead crane maintenance in case someone ignores the hazard tape and signs intended to keep them out of the area below the work.
I’m a strong believer in the importance of tool tethers whatever the brand. I appreciate that they make tools harder to use and perhaps a drop becomes more likely. They should however make it a little less likely that someone will leave a spanner on the top of a crane girder at the end of a job – to fall down on some poor soul days or weeks later.
Allen
I’ve got a nice pipe wrench that lives at the bottom of a sixty foot well.
pete
hahahaha
Yadda
My dad dropped his Blue point needle nose pliers down a water well he was drilling. He knew exactly where they were. Just couldn’t get them.
pete
I do have one of these tethers. It works pretty good. The one that i have has the locking carabiner. It does not like the sun though!
Tom
No direct experience, but it’s an area of growing concern for workers at the oil/gas company I work for… scary what relatively small tools can do to you/equipment when dropped from heights.
Russ
NASA tethers tools in space. Can’t allow tools to float away; no easy way to go after them.