A safety rope straps on to a harness and is designed to bear the weight of a person in case they slip or lose their footing and fall.
Safety Rope – CSR Incorporated
There is always a bit of slack in the rope to allow for movement, but the slack tightens up if the person happens to fall, catching them in midair and preventing any serious injury. Most safety ropes have secure hooks on either end with safety fasteners so that one end can be attached to a secure stationary object and the other end can be attached to someone’s safety harness.
Most job sites require any workers who are working on the roof or wall of a building to wear a harness attached to a safety rope. In many cases, the safety rope will have two clips on the end opposite the wearer, so that they can move the clips one at a time if necessary and never be detached from a secure point at any given time. It only takes a moment for a gust of wind or an unexpected move to knock someone off balance and send them falling from a harmful or potentially fatal height.
Employers on construction sites and similar projects invest in high quality safety ropes to protect their employees and keep up with industry safety standards. Search and rescue teams also use safety ropes to raise and lower people from helicopters and climb in and out of tight spaces during a rescue.
Safety ropes are manufactured using a combination of nylon and polyester woven tightly together to create a strong cord. The diameter of the rope will determine its maximum strength. Obviously, the rope with the largest diameter is the strongest because more material is used to create it. Major construction sites are subject to a random visit from a certified safety inspector who will check to see if workers are wearing the appropriate safety harness attached to the right safety rope while they are working.