Hey there, my name is Manuel, and I m from the shop here at Gregg Distributors. I d like
to welcome you back to Gear up with Greggs. Today we re going to be talking about Ergodyne's
line of Squids Tool Lanyards and how they can help keep you, and your job site,
safe and accident free.
First, let's go into a bit of background on Ergodyne. They were founded in 1983 by Dr.
Thomas Votel who started out selling back braces to reduce the number of back injuries
on jobsites. Since then, Ergodyne has continued to grow and has become one of the most recognized
names in the safety industry.
Now, we can t stress enough how important it is to use a tool lanyard. That s because
when working at any height, there will always be the risk of a tool falling. If this happens,
that tool can quickly become a projectile that can damage equipment, cause injuries
and in some cases, lead to death. In fact, in 2018, the Worker's Compensation Board of
Canada recorded 38 fatalities and over 30 thousand total claims of people being struck
by objects. And that number doesn't account for near misses! To prevent this from happening,
Ergodyne created the Squids Tool Lanyards which are rated for tools up to 10 pounds!
They're made from an energy absorbing cord with tubular nylon webbing. This ensures maximum
shock absorption in the event of your tool falling, which is good, since you want as
little force as possible being put on your body. Less force means you keep your balance,
and avoid becoming a statistic.
So how do you safely attach a tool lanyard? Well, here at Gregg's, we carry two styles
of tool lanyards; a single carabiner design and a double carabiner design. Both designs
are available in lengths of 35 or 42 inches, giving you flexibility on how they can be
equipped. The single carabiner, for example, is perfect if you re only planning to use
one tool for the job. But if you plan on using the lanyard for multiple tools in your kit,
the double carabiner would be more convenient for easy switching.
Now that you know your options, you'll want to examine your tools for a secure connection
point. You can go ahead and either clip on the carabiner, like so, or if you're using
the single carabiner lanyard, you may also choose to go with the looped method. To attach
the lanyard using the loop method, you just thread it through the connection point, feed
the other end of the lanyard through the loop, and pull tight to remove any remaining slack.
Both methods provide a secure connection, but if quick, easy transportation is something
you require, then the double carabiner method would be your best bet, since you can easily
clip a tool on and off. If you see that the tool doesn't have a connection point and has
a straight shaft like this hammer, do not use it with the tool lanyard by itself, since
it can still slip through the loop. We recommend using heat shrink tool loops, like the ones
we carry here at Gregg's. They wrap around your tool, and with some added heat, they
shrink around the shaft to give your tool a safe and secure connection point.
Once you have your tool connected, the next step is to find a secure anchor point. If
you plan on using your body as an anchor point, make sure that the tool does not exceed 5
pounds and that you are wearing an appropriate harness. For information on harnesses and
fall protection, check out our Fall Protection 101 video! Now, anything above the 5 pound
limit should be anchored to a secure external structure. This is to ensure that you are
safe in the event that a tool falls while attached to an anchor point on your body.
Then, you won t be caught off balance and pulled down by the sudden force.
To connect to an anchor point, you can clip on the carabiner or use the loop method, depending
on the type of lanyard you choose to go with. It's important to note that this should all
be done on the ground since you don't want to be fumbling with your tool and lanyard
while at height. If you need to switch tools or change anchor points, you should always
ensure that the tool is secured safely in a holster or tool pouch before unclipping
the lanyard.
Some important things to keep in mind: inspect your tool lanyard before and after every use
to ensure that there are no cuts or nicks. If you notice anything that could compromise
the lanyards ability to perform, you should replace it immediately. Along with the tool
lanyards, Gregg's also carries Squids hard hat lanyards and eyewear lanyards to keep
your personal protective equipment right where you need it.
So, if you haven't done so by now, make sure that the Squids Tool lanyard becomes an essential
accessory so you and everyone else on your jobsite remains safe. If you have any questions,
please feel free to come by any of our locations throughout Western Canada and one of our friendly
customer service staff will be happy to help you out. And don't forget to leave a comment
if you haven't already. Again, I'm Manuel and thanks for tuning in to another session
of Gear up with Gregg's.