Validation of Energy Balance Approach for Design of Vertical Lifeline Systems.

Validation of Energy Balance Approach for Design of Vertical Lifeline Systems. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2019 May 09;:1-35 Authors: Lim WC, Tashrif SM, Goh YM, Koh SJA Abstract To ensure that vertical lifeline systems (VLLS) are well-designed, calculation methods are required to estimate the extension of personal energy absorber (PEA) (xPEA) and total fall distance (hTFD). Thus, the authors conducted 28 tests to validate the accuracy of the energy-balance approach for estimating xPEA and hTFD of VLLS and propose suitable correction factors to improve the accuracy and safety of estimated xPEA and hTFD. For 9 out of 19 tests with PEA, the difference between the theorical xPEA and empirical xPEA was 25% or higher, indicating that energy balance approach is not accurate for estimation of xPEA. In contrast, theoretical values of hTFD are more accurate. Linear regression equations for estimating xPEA (R2 = 0.81) and hTFD (R2 = 0.99) were developed. The regression equations can be used to improve the accuracy and conservativeness of estimations of xPEA and hTFD during the design of VLLS. PMID: 31072262 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics - Category: Occupational Health Tags: Int J Occup Saf Ergon Source Type: research