An auto-locking carabiner

Carabiners are extremely versatile pieces of equipment that are traditionally associated with rock climbing and mountaineering, but that have found a home in the world of industrial fall protection. Workers often use carabiners to connect their lanyard to anchors such as cable anchor slings (“dogleash / licorice”). This practice is very widespread. Workers who use fall protection equipment regularly are familiar with this configuration. However, many employers are not aware that this practice is both dangerous and prohibited by equipment manufacturers. Carabiners are only rated for loading across the major axis (the long side) from two points. Since there are no guidelines for loading carabiners from 3 points in fall-arrest applications, employers should avoid supplying workers with carabiners for the purpose of connecting dogleashes.

At least two problems with this configuration: the carabiner is loaded from 3 points and the snap hook is incompatible with the carabiner.

Many manufacturers make dogleashes that don’t require a carabiner. We recommend always using this style of sling and only using lanyards with small snap-hooks with them (as shown below).

Dogleash with hook and ring swaged into the thimble. The small snap hook is compatible with the ring. Large snap hooks (scaffold hooks) are NOT compatible with the ring.

Carabiners can be used to adapt holes in structural steel for fall protection. Since snap hooks should never be attached directly into bolt holes, carabiners with O-rings provide a safe alternative to this practice. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions for guidelines for selecting correct holes for this application.

This hole is adapted for fall protection by using a carabiner and ring. The small snap hook is compatible with the ring. Large snap hooks (scaffold hooks) are NOT compatible with O-rings such as this.