FALL protection is a relatively new innovation on drilling and service rigs. In the past 10 years, safety equipment and enforcement have come a long way, and as a result, deaths due to falls have been reduced.

Many workers today understand the dangers associated with fall hazards, but challenges still exist.
Where are we today? A good percentage of drilling and service rigs are now outfitted with fall protection equipment. Further, fall protection is now standard on most new rig lists before being put into service for the first time. A few of the standard fall protection systems and equipment now on many service and drilling rigs include:
• Sealed self-retracting lifelines installed at the crown and/or ladder safety systems for protection while climbing the derrick ladder;
• A sloped-line cable or boom arm installed over the monkey board to provide an anchor for a smaller SRL used for secondary protection to the primary positioning lanyard;
• New harness designs specific for use by rig workers for added comfort and safety;
• Horizontal lifelines installed for use by workers when rigs are laid over and in other areas such as above the BOPs and stabbing board; and
• Fall protection equipment lockers including anchoring products, twin-leg lanyards and extra self-retracting lifelines.
Despite the changes that have taken place, there are still many other systems and equipment that could be implemented for added safety. These include:
• New sloped-line escape systems to replace the aging and often unsafe Geronimo escape system;
• Man rated tuggers (winch lines) and/or new load limiters that can be used to safely raise workers to difficult access areas on the derrick;
• Rig Floor/Deck Horizontal Lifeline Systems to be used during rig up and down while guardrails are removed; and
•  Trauma suspension systems and high angle rescue products for use post-fall arrest.
Capital Safety Group (CSG) is the leading designer and manufacturer of fall protection equipment including the industry’s most respected brands, DBI-Sala and Protecta.
CSG benefits from over 50 years of experience to guarantee even more security and comfort to protect workers from falls when working at height.
As a worldwide leader, CSG not only offers a wide range of products, systems but also solutions (such as side entry confined space, intrinsically safe fall arrest, compact blocs,) and services (such as survey, maintenance and bloc repair, training and advising).
DBI-Sala represents the ultimate in fall protection equipment for any work environment. Its innovative products go beyond traditional fall protection equipment. i-Safe Intelligent Safety System, for example, is an innovative RFID system for paperless inventory and inspection logging that reduces time by well over 30 per cent.
Protecta represents fundamental fall protection at an exceptional value. Customers choose Protecta for the products’ reliability, quality, and economy. The Protecta line offers basic, low cost fall protection gear, keeping the cost of safety programmes low, while keeping workers safe and in compliance with applicable standards. Both brands are backed by the best training, technical assistance and customer service in the industry.
CSG also offers fall protection training courses for all levels. Its new programmes will educate participants on the requirements of the new standard and provide practical, hands-on experience. Training programmes are available to meet the requirements of authorised  person/rescuer, programme administrator, qualified person as well as inspection, confined space, climbing and trainer courses.