When you choose equipment designed to protect somebody in a fall, appearance only tells you so much.
A fall arrest system can look robust, feel well made and fit neatly into the working area. But the question that matters most is much harder to answer by looking at it:
How do you know it will perform when somebody actually falls onto it?
For site managers, contractors and health and safety teams, this is why the testing behind fall protection deserves just as much attention as its size, price or ease of installation.
At Safety Pack, testing is not treated as something that happens once during product development. It is part of how our fall protection systems are continually assessed.
What Does Fall Arrest Testing Actually Measure?
Fall arrest equipment has a demanding job.
If a worker falls from height, the system below needs to absorb the resulting impact and help reduce the risk of serious injury. That means testing needs to recreate the forces involved as accurately and consistently as possible.
At Safety Pack, our in-house testing uses a 100kg rescue dummy fitted with a tri-axle accelerometer. During a drop test, the equipment measures the forces generated when the dummy impacts the fall arrest system.
This gives our team measurable data about how the system performs rather than relying on assumptions about what should happen.
Testing is carried out in our purpose-built facility, which is 6.5 metres high and allows us to test at multiple heights.
Why Regular Testing Matters
There is an important difference between saying a product has been tested and making testing an ongoing part of the product.
Working environments can be demanding. Fall arrest equipment may be moved, stored and repeatedly used across different projects, so businesses need confidence in the equipment they rely on.
Safety Pack carries out in-house drop testing every month and publishes test data. Our systems are tested in accordance with PAS 59:2014 requirements, giving customers clear information about the standards behind the products they are putting on site.
For the people responsible for choosing safety equipment, that provides something particularly valuable: evidence.
The Small Details Matter During a Fall
Testing also demonstrates why the way fall arrest equipment is installed matters.
During Safety Pack testing, multiple landing bags are positioned next to one another and connected using the system’s interlocking clips. The units are compressed together to help prevent separation and reduce the possibility of somebody falling between them.
It is a useful reminder that fall protection is a complete system.
The materials inside a unit matter. Its ability to absorb energy matters. The way individual units connect matters. The layout matters. Correct installation matters.
Good fall protection is not simply about placing something soft beneath a working area and hoping it will be enough.
Different Jobs Need Different Protection
Testing becomes even more important when working heights and environments vary.
The standard Fall-Pac Unit is designed for work at heights of 2.7 metres, with increased protection available when units are appropriately layered. Fall-Pac Air provides protection for work at heights of up to 3.7 metres with a single layer, while a second layer can extend protection up to 6.5 metres.
Other products within the Fall-Pac range have been developed for different environments. The TS1, for example, was created for the transport sector and provides 4.5m² of coverage, while the larger TS2 is designed for applications including haulage, ports, aerospace and utilities.
The right choice therefore starts with the actual risk, working height and environment rather than simply selecting a generic fall protection product.
Ask What Sits Behind the Specification
When comparing fall protection systems, product specifications are an obvious place to start. However, it is worth looking beyond the numbers on the page.
Ask how the equipment has been developed. Ask how its performance is assessed. Ask whether testing is ongoing and whether there is evidence behind the claims being made.
Fall-Pac systems are designed and manufactured in the UK, with ongoing research, development and testing forming part of our approach to fall protection.
For businesses responsible for people working at height, those details matter. You are not simply buying or hiring equipment. You are choosing the system that may need to protect somebody when something goes wrong.
Choose Fall Protection Backed by Testing
Fall protection should give you more than reassurance. It should give you confidence based on evidence.
Whether you are planning a construction project, managing work in transport, aviation or another working-at-height environment, the Safety Pack team can help you identify a suitable system for your requirements.
Need fall protection for an upcoming project? Contact Safety Pack today to discuss your working height, site and requirements, and let our team help you choose a tested fall protection solution that is right for the job.