Dickies recently launched the Fallx Suit at SPE Offshore Europe in Aberdeen ideal for all those working at height and for those working in confined and tight spaces.
Fallx is a new concept incorporating fall arrest with regular coveralls. The design combines complete fall protection and the versatility of regular coveralls. As well as being practical, lightweight and extremely comfortable compared to a traditional harness, Fallx can provide a solution to issues of compliance, safety and comfort. It is also suitable for use as a rescue harness (EN 1497) and is used in many applications from working at height; confined spaces or ERT teams where its ability to be donned quickly provides critical extra seconds.
The Fallx Coverall is manufactured using Nomex Comfort, which is an inherently flame resistant, high temperature meta-aramid fabric that does not have any FR chemical treatments applied throughout the textile process. It does not melt and drip or support combustion in the air. A key factor of Nomex is its ability to carbonize and thicken when exposed to intense heat, which creates a protective barrier between the heat source and the wearer’s skin minimising burn injury, almost comparable to the way a modern car protects its passengers with air bags.
The Nomex® Fallx is tested and CE approved as a combined system to meet EN361: 2002, EN 11612:2008 A1 B1 C1 and EN1149-5 2008 and as mentioned EN 1497. It has also been fall tested after flame engulfment ensuring worker safety in all scenarios. In some instances, workers are provided with non-FR harnesses, which are then worn over FR coveralls. This is non-compliant. Non-FR equipment cannot be worn over FR on FR sites.
Normal testing to EN 361 requires harnesses to be tested to 100kg. The Fallx Coverall has been tested to 145kg. This reduces the concern about the weight of the person using a suit as long as the user and equipment weigh less than 145kg.
The Coverall can also be customised to include corporate colours as well as the option for additional features, such as pockets, radio loops, kneepads, shoulder pads etc. As long as the integrity of the webbing element is not affected, there are no issues.
Jim Hanna, Dickies International Business Development Manager said: “Those workers who are used to wearing a harness notice a major difference with the Fallx Coverall, it can be worn all day and feels comfortable even when sitting or crouching. As the harness element is inside the coverall, the webbing is protected from entanglement as well as exposure to normal day-to-day UV, grime and dirt accumulations. It also prevents the user from snagging on protruding objects in confined spaces. The suit is lighter and more cost effective than a pair of coveralls combined with a harness.”