Lanyards

Shock-absorbing lanyards

The connector between the harness and the anchor. Under AS/NZS 1891.3, a shock-absorbing lanyard incorporates a "shock pack" — a folded and stitched energy absorber that tears open progressively under fall-arrest load, limiting the force transferred to the user's body to under 6 kN. Without the shock pack, even a short fall generates injury-level forces on the user and anchor.

Single-tail vs twin-tail

• Single-tail (one lanyard) — baseline configuration. User clips in, stays clipped in, moves the anchor as needed. Suits stationary work.
• Twin-tail (Y-lanyard) — two lanyards sharing a single shock pack. User clips in with one tail, moves and clips in with the second, then unclips the first — maintaining 100% tie-off during movement between anchors. Mandatory for tower climbing and strongly recommended for any work where the user must move between anchor points.

Hook and karabiner selection

Lanyards come with different end-connectors:

• Scaffold hooks — large-gate hooks that clip around 50 mm scaffolding tube. The default for most Australian scaffold and structural-steel work.
• Screw-gate karabiners — locking karabiners for fixed anchor plates and D-rings. Slower to operate but safer on single-point attachment.
• Auto-locking karabiners (twist-lock / tri-lock) — self-locking gates for frequent clipping. Popular for tower and rope-access work where speed matters.
• Rebar hooks — oversized hooks for clipping over structural reinforcement bar. Common on concrete-formwork and reinforcing-steel sites.

Lanyard length and fall clearance

Standard shock-absorbing lanyards are 2 m long. With a 1.2 m shock-pack deployment, 2 m of user height, and 1 m safety margin, total fall clearance below the anchor is typically 6.5 m or more. If clearance below the work surface is less — e.g. a two-storey roof, a low mezzanine, or work over a lower level at modest height — a shock-absorbing lanyard is the wrong choice. Use a retractable lanyard (SRL) instead, which limits free fall to typically 0.6 m.

Adjustable lanyards

Some shock-absorbing lanyards are adjustable (0.5–2 m) via a slider mechanism — useful for tight working positions or where the user needs to keep slack managed. Shorter deployment reduces fall distance but never below the 1.2 m shock-pack extension.

Pre-use inspection

Check the webbing for cuts, abrasion, chemical damage, or UV fading. Inspect stitching and shock-pack inspection window — if the pack label is visible through the window, the pack has already deployed and the lanyard must be retired immediately. Check hook gates for smooth operation and screw-gates for full engagement.

Standards & compliance

All lanyards in this range are certified to AS/NZS 1891.3 (shock-absorbing fall-arrest lanyards). Typical service life is 10 years from manufacture date on the sewn-in label. Any lanyard subject to a fall-arrest event must be retired immediately regardless of visible condition — the shock pack is expended.

Frequently asked questions

Why does a 2 m lanyard need 6.5 m of clearance?

The 6.5 m figure is 2 m of lanyard + 1.2 m shock-pack deployment + 2 m of user body height + 1 m safety margin. If the user is taller or the anchor connects above their head (common with dorsal D-rings), effective clearance increases further.

Can I tie a knot in a shock-absorbing lanyard to shorten it?

No — knotting webbing reduces its strength by 30–50% and voids the AS/NZS 1891.3 certification. If you need a shorter lanyard, buy an adjustable or shorter-length version, or use an SRL with a fixed short deployment.

Is a twin-tail lanyard always better than a single-tail?

For moving work (tower climbing, stepping between anchors), yes — it lets you stay tied-off at all times. For stationary work, a single-tail is lighter and less prone to snagging. Choose based on work type, not just "more tails = safer".

Do you offer trade or bulk pricing?

Yes — trade accounts receive 5% off RRP on lanyards and connectors. Volume pricing for crew outfitting and annual kit replacement programs. Apply for a trade account →