Dropped Tool Prevention

Fall Protection for Tools

When working at height, more than your crew needs to be securely anchored to prevent injury. Tool tethers - also known as tool lanyards - prevent harm caused by dropped tools on a worksite.

One of the main benefits of tool tethering is that it allows your crew to focus on what's really important: the job. They have peace of mind knowing that if they do drop a tool, it will be easy to recover and won't hurt anyone. They can work more quickly, effectively, and safely.

Choosing a Tool Tether

The first and most important consideration when choosing a tool tether is the weight of your tools. Most tool tethers have a weight limit, and you'll want to make sure you aren't exceeding it.

Note: You should only tether objects weighing under 5 lbs. to a worker. It an item weighs more than 5 lbs., it should be tethered to an anchor point instead to prevent injury to the worker if the item is dropped.

How to Attach a Tool Tether

Once you've identified the weight capacity you need, you can start focusing on other features, like tether attachment. For most tools, it's simple: they have a built-in captive eye, and you can just attach the tether there.

If your tool doesn't have a captive eye, you can easily add one in with D-ring attachments, Speed Clip attachments, Quick Spins grip attachments, and more.

For power tools, we offer a specialized tool tether designed to secure both the tool battery and the tool.

Tool Lanyard Connections

As for the connection to the tool itself, there are multiple end fittings to choose from, including carabiners, choke-loop, or cinch-loop.

For the most part, which one you choose is down to personal preference, as they are all compatible with a variety of tools. If you don't have a preference, we recommend the tool tethers with swivel carabiners to prevent tangling.

Cord Material

The standard cord material options we offer for tool tethers are webbing and coated steel coil. While webbing is acceptable for most applications, there are a few instances where a coil would work better.

The most common reason to choose a stretch coil is if you are worried about trip hazards. The coil expands and contracts as you move, keeping it out from under your crew's feet. It's also more resistant to chemicals or harsh conditions that can damage webbing.

Retractable Tool Lanyards

For smaller tools, like a scaffold wrench or measuring tape, having a retracting system can help streamline your work. Your crew won't have to worry about painstaking clipping the tool back onto their belt each time or returning it to the holster - they can just let it go for automatic retraction!

Questions?

Not sure which tool tether would work best for your application? Call to speak to one of our product experts - they can answer any questions you may have and even help place an order!

Looking for more fall protection equipment? Browse our selection of safety harnesses, horizontal lifeline systems, and fall arrest lanyards.