Petzl ABSORBICA-Y 150 MGO User Manual
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ABSORBICA 150 Y MGO L705030B (280708)
(EN) ENGLISH
Energy absorber with integrated
lanyard - EN355 2002
Limitations on use
Energy absorber with integrated lanyard used
as a component of a personal fall arrest system,
commonly used to connect a safety harness to a
fixed anchor. It is designed to dissipate the energy
developed in a fall of 4 m maximum height and to
limit the force on the user’s body to a maximum
of 6 kN.
These absorbers are not designed to be used in
Via Ferrata
This product is personal protective equipment (one
person only) in accordance with the 89/686/
CEE PPE directive.
This product must not be loaded beyond its
strength rating, nor be used for any purpose other
than that for which it is designed.
Only the techniques shown in the diagrams that are
not crossed out and/or do not display a skull and
crossbones symbol are authorized. Check our Web
site (www.petzl.com) regularly to find the latest
version of this document.
Contact PETZL if you have any doubt or difficulty
understanding this document.
WARNING
Activities involving the use of this equipment are
inherently dangerous.
You are responsible for your own actions and
decisions.
Before using this equipment, you must:
- Read and understand all Instructions for use.
- Get specific training in its proper use.
- Become acquainted with its capabilities and
limitations
- Understand and accept the risks involved.
Failure to heed any of these warnings may result in
severe injury or death.
WARNING: specific training is essential
before use
It is your responsibility to foresee situations
requiring rescue so that a rescue may be
immediately carried out in case of difficulties
encountered while using this equipment. This
implies an adequate training in the necessary
rescue techniques.
Nomenclature of parts
(1) Tearing absorber webbing, (2) Protective
pouch, (3) Retainer, (4) Integrated lanyard,
(5) Attachment point, (6) STRING XL, (7) Metal
attachment ring, (8) Sewn terminations.
Principal materials: nylon and polyester. Aluminum
alloy.
Inspection, points to verify
Before each use
The ABSORBICA-Y-MGO must not be re-used after
a fall that causes any damage or tearing of the
energy absorber.
Open the pouch, take out the absorber webbing
which must be correctly arranged and held together
by the retainer. The plastic retainer must not be cut,
damaged or removed.
Visually inspect the straps (especially the ends)
and the safety stitching. Look for cuts, wear and
damage due to use, to heat, and to contact with
chemical products, etc. ATTENTION: the absorber
webbing must not be torn.
Put the absorber webbing into its pouch - only the
attachment point covered by black tubular webbing
should be outside the pouch. Be sure there are no
loops of webbing outside the pouch that can be
mistakenly clipped with a carabiner.
Inspect the connectors as indicated in their
Instructions for Use.
During use
It is important to regularly inspect the condition
of the product and its connections with the other
equipment in the system. Make sure that the
various pieces of equipment in the system are
correctly positioned with respect to each other.
Consult the details of the inspection procedure to
be carried out for each item of PPE on the Web at
www.petzl.com/ppe or on the PETZL PPE CD-ROM
Contact PETZL if there is any doubt about the
condition of this product.
Retire the equipment if it shows any sign of
reduced strength or impaired function. Destroy
retired equipment to prevent further use.
Compatibility
The energy absorber (component of a personal
fall arrest system) must be used in conjunction
with EN 795 anchors, EN 362 locking carabiners,
EN 361 fall arrest harnesses.
An incompatible connection can cause accidental
disconnection, breakage, or affect the safety
function of another piece of equipment.
Contact Petzl if you are uncertain about the
compatibility of your equipment.
How to use this equipment
Diagram 1. Preparation
1A. Put the STRING onto the attachment point (5).
The STRING allows the carabiner to be held in the
major axis position (the strongest) and protects
the end of the lanyard from wear. Do not use your
energy absorber without the STRING.
1B. Clip a locking carabiner (auto locking preferred)
through the sewn terminations (8).
Diagram 2. Installation on the harness
Make sure the energy absorber is correctly
attached to one of the fall arrest attachment points
on the harness (sternal or dorsal point only).
Diagram 3. Installation on an anchor
3A. Attach the lanyard directly to an anchor.
3B. Shorten the lanyard : Pass the lanyard around
the structure and clip the carabiner at the end of
the lanyard only to the metal attachment ring (7).
Diagram 4. OBLIGATIONS
- The total length of the ensemble «energy
absorber with integrated lanyard + connectors»
must not exceed 2 meters.
- The fall length must not exceed 4 m.
- Take care to minimize the potential for falls and
the height of any potential fall.
- Never connect the lanyard directly (sliding
carabiner) to a structure (cable, bar, etc.) having
a slope greater than 15°.
- ABSORBICA 150: the absorbers must always
be free to deploy. Do not constrain the absorber
(e.g. by clipping a lanyard or an unused end to a
harness equipment loop or attachment point).
WARNING
- Your harness must be adjusted to fit snugly to
reduce the risk of injury in case of a fall.
- Carabiners must always be used with the gate
closed and locked. Systematically verify the gate is
closed by pressing it with your hand.
- Avoid rubbing the lanyard against abrasive or
sharp surfaces.
Anchors
Work at height
-The anchor point of the system should preferably
be located above the user’s position and must
conform to the requirements of the EN 795
standard, in particular the minimum strength of the
anchor must be 10 kN.
Diagram 5. Clearance = amount of
clear free fall spacebetween the anchor
and an obstacle or the ground
The clearance under the user must be sufficient to
prevent him from hitting an obstacle in case of a
fall. For information on how to calculate clearance,
see Diagram.
General information
Product lifetime
The potential lifetime of Petzl products is
as follows: up to 10 years from the date of
manufacture for plastic and textile products,
indefinite for metallic products. The actual lifetime
of a product ends when it meets one of the
retirement critera listed below (see “When to retire
your equipment”), or when in its system use it is
judged obsolete. The actual lifetime is influenced by
a variety of factors such as the intensity, frequency,
and environment of use, the competence of
the user, how well the product is stored and
maintained, etc.
ATTENTION: in extreme cases, the lifetime of the
product can be reduced to one single use through
exposure to for example any of the following:
chemicals, extreme temperatures, sharp edges,
major fall or load, etc.
Inspect equipment periodically for
damage and/or deterioration.
In addition to the inspection before and during
use, a periodic in-depth inspection must be
carried out by a competent inspector at least
once every 12 months. The frequency of the
in-depth inspection must be governed by the type
and the intensity of use. To keep better track of
your equipment, it is preferable to assign each
piece of equipment to a unique user so that he
will know its history. The results of inspections
should be documented in an «inspection record».
This document must allow recording of the
following details: type of equipment, model, name
and contact information of the manufacturer
or distributor, means of identification: serial or
individual number, year of manufacture, date of
purchase, date of first use, name of user, all other
pertinent information for example maintenance
and frequency of use, the history of periodic
inspections: date / comments and noted problems /
name and signature of the competent person who
performed the inspection / anticipated date of next
inspection. See examples of detailed inspection
records and other informational tools available at
www.petzl.com/ppe.
When to retire your equipment
Immediately retire any equipment if:
- it fails to pass inspection (inspection before and
during use and the periodic in-depth inspection),
- it has been subjected to a major fall or load,
- you do not know its full usage history
- it is at least 10 years old and made of plastics
or textiles,
- you have any doubt as to its integrity.
Destroy retired equipment to prevent further use.
Product obsolescence
There are many reasons why a product may be
judged obsolete and thus retired before the end of
its actual lifetime. Examples include: changes in
applicable standards, regulations, or legislation;
development of new techniques, incompatibility
with other equipment, etc.
Modifications, repairs
Any modification, addition to, or repair of the
equipment other than that authorized by Petzl
is prohibited due to the risk of reducing the
effectiveness of the equipment.
Precautions
- Users must be medically fit for activities at height.
WARNING inert suspension in a harness can result
in serious injury or death.
- You must have a rescue plan and the means
to rapidly implement it in case of difficulties
encountered while using this equipment. This
implies an adequate training in the necessary
rescue techniques.
- You must check to ensure that the product
markings remain legible during the entire lifetime
of the product.
- You must verify the suitability of this equipment
for use in your application with regard to applicable
governmental regulations and other standards on
occupational safety.
- The instructions for use for each item of
equipment used in conjunction with this product
must be respected.
- The instructions for use must be provided to
users of this equipment. If the equipment is
re-sold outside the original country of destination
the reseller shall provide these instructions in the
language of the country in which the product is
to be used.
Guarantee
This product is guaranteed for 3 years against any
faults in materials or manufacture. Exclusions from
the guarantee: normal wear and tear, oxidation,
modifications or alterations, incorrect storage,
poor maintenance, damage due to accidents, to
negligence, or to improper or incorrect usage.
PETZL is not responsible for the consequences,
direct, indirect or accidental, or any other type of
damage befalling or resulting from the use of its
products.