Werner introduced on Feb. 5 the Fall Protection Bantam Switch, a major self-retracting lifeline advancement, adding to the company’s comprehensive fall protection product portfolio for professionals working at height. This innovative advancement in SRLs achieves an industry goal of reducing the housing unit’s weight that is usually carried on a professional’s back. Self-retracting lifelines allow users the safety, flexibility and freedom of movement when working at height and are an important component of any fall protection system, as they protect the user from falls on the job site.

“Our goal when designing the new Bantam Switch SRL was to reduce the weight of the housing units that professionals carry on their back to 0 pounds, and we’ve now become the first in our industry to achieve that,” said Melissa Moss, product marketing manager at WernerCo Professional Brands. “By connecting the housing unit to the anchor point versus the traditional approach of connecting the unit to the D-ring on the user’s harness, Werner has reduced the weight and bulk the professional carries.”

Forward-Thinking Design Provides Enhanced Comfort, Flexibility and Freedom

The new Fall Protection Bantam Switch, which can be used for a variety of applications, provides unencumbered movement without the discomfort and weight of an SRL housing unit on the worker’s back. The most important function of a self-retracting lifeline is to protect users on the job site and minimize injuries. Now, professionals can lighten the load and increase their productivity for the job at hand.

The new Fall Protection Bantam Switch features:

• More Flexibility and Freedom: The small, simplified back pad allows users to achieve greater range of motion and flexibility for maximum productivity.
• Transferred Weight Off the User: The switch in mechanism placement transfers the weight of the SRL housing unit from the user to the anchor point.
• Industry-First Innovation: For years, the industry has been looking for ways to reduce the weight of housing units that professionals have to carry on their back. Unlike traditional SRLs, the Bantam Switch connects the housing unit to the anchor point versus the D-ring, removing the weight and bulk the user carries.
• Reduced Impact of a Fall: The integrated, backpack-style shock pack reduces the impact of a fall to protect the user.
• Increased Comfort and Reduced Frustration: The anchor-attaching housing unit, paired with the omnidirectional swivel, transfers almost all weight from the user’s back to the anchor point without compromising performance. The omnidirectional swivel design at the housing connection also reduces potential line twists.

Werner has introduced eight new Class 1 models of the Fall Protection Bantam Switch SRL, available in multiple weights, as well as single-leg or twin-leg options. The new SRL is both ANSI- and OSHA-certified. For more information about Werner’s fall protection equipment, visit www.wernerladder.com.