Project: Fall protection equipment for harsh environmental conditions

A major utility company that is responsible for the delivery of water and wastewater services in Queensland, requires many of its workers  to wear fall protection equipment - specifically full-body safety harnesses every day - to work in physically harsh and dirty conditions.

The utility company services businesses and residences across a number of regions in South East Queensland, accounting for over a quarter of the state’s total population. It ensures the provision of high-quality drinking water as a permanent and reliable supply. It also operates and maintains an extensive infrastructure in order to provide the highest possible level of wastewater services, ensuring public health and environmental protection.

It was common for workers to find that their equipment’s safety was not matched by its longevity. Specifically, the webbing on any of the fall-protection harness products they used would invariably become extremely dirty and severely reduce their life expectancy, as the dirt would continually eat away at the fibres. Hygiene was another major concern - the inability to totally clean the equipment meant that the smells pervaded. In addition, waterlogged equipment became heavy, taking a long time to dry out, as well as increasing the chance of causing chafing and discomfort to the users. They found that the limited waterproof coatings on the market did not provide full water-repelling qualities required by the typical working conditions encountered daily at the company.

In the utilities industry, the practicality of equipment that is not made to last in harsh conditions makes it an arduous and expensive exercise. The company was constantly battling with overcoming these issues.

Learning of the workers' experiences, Capital Safety’s Tom Martin contacted the company to offer a solution. The Repel full-body harnesses, shock-absorbing lanyards and pole strap range uses webbing that has had its cellular structure altered via newly developed technology. Normal impregnated or coated webbings have a relatively smooth cellular structure which allows water and dirt to easily adhere to the surface. In addition, these spray-on coatings can come adrift as they are not a permanent solution. The Repel webbing’s altered cellular structure prevents the ingress of water and dirt as it denies any foothold into the fabric.

The webbing in the fall-restraint products that had been used in the past were simply coated, whereas the Repel technology is attached to the molecular structure of the fibres in the webbing and this provides good water and chemical resistance. It provides a long-term protective function via its high water repellence and natural self-cleaning properties. It was developed using the same self-cleaning principles of nature, such as insect wings and certain plant leaves. Water and dirt simply remain on the surface of the webbing until brushed or washed off, further preventing subsequent ‘wicking’ of the product.

The workers who used the Delta Repel all-purpose harness for the past six months were all very pleased with it. One of them stated: “On several occasions, I’ve had to get my harness dirty. Usually this would mean the end of the harness, as the stains would eat away at the fibres and the smell couldn’t be removed. But with the Delta Repel harness, I simply place it in a bag with a diluted disinfectant and shake vigorously for three minutes, then it’s clean. It only takes about 30 minutes to dry and looks brand new again at the end.”

The product’s lifespan can also be increased via reactivating the repellent function by placing it in a drying room or tumble dryer. This can be done throughout the entire service life of the product.

Another worker confirmed the product’s long life if it’s well cared for, commenting: “If looked after correctly and well maintained, this harness will last the recommended two years instead of the harnesses we used to use, which didn’t last, unable to stand up to the wear and tear and physical and dirty nature that our job is.”

Martin was glad to have been able to help, adding: “The product fills a void, not just for the workers at this utility company, but for all applications involving water, odours, humidity or even chemical contaminants. Repel’s innovations are a result of listening and responding to industry challenges and developed with the end user in mind.”