How to Choose the Right Tool Tethers / Lanyards

This video covers everything you need to know about tethering objects and tools weighing up to 40 pounds with a complete ANSI/ISEA 121-18 tested and compliant, range of solutions that feature tool attachments, tool tethers, tool tape, and hard hat tethers.

The reason there are so many tethering options or systems, is because there are an infinite number of different objects, each with varying weights, and multiple ways to attach tethers to them.

Now, before you can choose the right tool lanyard, as a competent person or safety professional, you should know the exact weight of all the tools and objects you need to apply tethers to.

The reason is, some tethers can’t handle objects weighing over 5 pounds. So, first and foremost you must know the weight of the objects or tools you need to tether.

To give you a quick weight reference if you don’t have a scale handy while on a jobsite, a large 34 oz water bottle is just over 2 lb, and a standard cordless drill gun with a battery is about 3 -1/2 pounds.

Now, once you know the weight of the objects, simply separate them by those that are under 5 pounds and those that are over 5 lb. This will make choosing tethers a heck of a lot easier.

Let’s start with tethers for objects and tools that are less than 5 lb, because most hand tools are going be less than that. We’ll cover heavier items in a minute.

Most tool lanyards have dual carabiners, like this lanyard here, while others will have a carabiner on one end, and a choke-loop, or a cinch-lock loop on the other end.

Even though they all do the same thing, these options are made available to give you more choices depending on the objects you’re tethering and the situations you’re using them in.

If you don’t think web tethers are ideal for your situation… or maybe you don’t want the cord hanging down... or you work around chemicals or in harsh conditions, then perhaps our vinyl coil tether may be a better option.

There are two coil options; one is for objects under 2 lb and the other is for tool up to 5 lb.

We have a wrist anchor system with attachments that connect to the wrist anchor.There is also a tether with a speed clip connection.

Now that you know what tethers are available for objects or tools up to 5 lb. How do you connect the tether to them?

Common hand tools have either a captive-eye hole, like a crescent wrench, which allow for a direct connection to a tether.
Or tools have an open handle with no captive-eye, like these pliers or a screwdriver, which require you to install an attachment to create a connection for the tether.
In other words, since there is no dedicated captive-eye to connect a lanyard, we have to add one on.

We’ve got multiple attachments for tools with a captive-eye hole or open handles, which include D-ding attachments and cinch-lock loop attachments with carabiners and d-rings. Plus we have a power tool attachment as well.

Check out our instructional videos on our channel showing you how to install attachments, and there’s a simple guide for choosing tool attachments and tethers on our website at falltech.com

The main differences between tethers for objects between 5-15 lb are also going to be- dual carabiner ends, or a carabiner on one end with a loop at the other end.
The dual carabiners are available with 3 different options – steel screwgate, aluminum twist lock, and aluminum swivel twist-lock.
Each do the same job, so choice is up to you on the carabiner style and metal type. However, the swivel carabiner does prevent twisting.

There are 3 different loop styles; elastic cinch-lock, non-elastic cinch-lock, and a web choke-on loop.
The elastic cinch-lock cord loop is available with either a steel screwgate or aluminum twist-lock carabiner.
The lanyard with the aluminum swivel carabiner does have a cinch-lock cord, but is not elastic.
Either cord works great. It’s simply up to you to decide which cord you feel will work best for the object you’re tethering.

If you need to tether something up to 40 lb, such as a small compressor, generator, or a tool box, there are two options – large dual swivel twist-lock carabiners, and a choke loop end with the same large carabiner.

Do not connect any tether to itself. If there is no carabiner connection point, you may be able to use our choke-loop attachment as a work around.

There are 3 hard hat tether options available; stretch coil with a snap-clip, stretch web with a snap buckle, and a combination of the stretch web and coil with a cinch-loop, which is ANSI compliant.

CONSULT USER MANUAL FOR MORE INFORMATION.

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