Lifelines are a critical piece of safety equipment. It is required for employers to provide adequate safety protection to employees that perform their jobs above the ground. When employees are working on surfaces that are more than 15 feet off the ground, it is required by OSHA that they are provided with proper protection. Among the types of protection available are safety nets, guardrails and lifelines.

Lifelines are readily available from industrial safety suppliers. They can be found in a myriad of lengths, materials and styles. When employees are working in confined spaces that do not have a ladder for exit, using a lifeline that is attached to a winch is highly recommend for both retrieval and fall arrest purposes. Lifelines can be found at retail and wholesale pricing on and off the web. As you search for lifelines, consider the following:

1. Find lifeline providers

2. Purchase lifelines at wholesale pricing

3. Locate lifelines that are attached to a winch

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Locate providers of lifelines

With working conditions varying from job site to job site, you will need lifelines that provide the right protection in each environment. Lifelines come in several different lengths and have differing features, such as self-retracting or fixed.

I recommend: All Safety Products is a lifelines provider. Their lifeline meets standards set by OSHA, ANSI and CSA. With Sofshop shock absorption, this lifeline allows for a smooth fall arrest. Tessco is also a provider of safety lifelines. They have a good sized inventory with models that have different lengths and features.

Purchase lifelines from vendors that offer wholesale pricing

Save money for your business when you purchase lifelines from wholesale vendors. Purchasing items wholesale can allow you to purchase higher quality equipment at a fraction of the cost.

I recommend: Find lifelines at wholesale prices from Pro Buy. They have a good sized inventory of lifelines at competitive prices. Fastenal is another provider of safety equipment that sells lifelines at wholesale prices. Refine your search on their site to get the exact type of lifeline you are looking for. Include cord size, diameter and material, along with hook type, manufacturer and other specifications.

Buy lifeline winches for confined space descents

When your employees are working in confined spaces that do not have escape ladders, they will need to be attached to a lifeline winch for safety. Winches can be used as both fall arrest and as a retrieval device. Not all winches are made to be used singularly and must be used in conjunction with a separate primary winch.

I recommend: Northern Safety & Industrial has a lifelines list of products that includes a Salalift winch. The winch can be used with tripods, Davit arms and ladder mound systems. PK Safety Supply is another company that offers a lifeline winch. They carry the Protecta AD515AG winch that is 50 feet in length.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When searching for lifelines information in an online directory, keep in mind that lower prices don't always equate inferior products. In a competitive online marketplace it is possible to get superior gear at affordable prices.