What is a D-Ring Extender

Staying safe while working on jobsites is the most critical part of any assignment. That’s why at Malta Dynamics, we create efficient, durable, and affordable safety equipment. Safety and fall protection equipment is vital for keeping crews safe while working on construction projects involving heights. Most safety harnesses use D-Rings as the connection point for attaching lanyards and straps. When you need more mobility and length for the back D-Ring on your safety harness, consider adding a D-Ring Extender.

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What Is a D-Ring?

Dorsal D-Rings are an essential piece of any harness used by workers for fall protection. They get their name from generally being D-Shaped, though their shapes can vary. D-Rings are tie-down rings that act as anchors on harnesses used to hold workers tightly with a rope or cord to prevent falling. 

How Do D-Rings Work?

D-Rings are the only point of connection for fall arrest lanyards and fall protection systems. On the back of our Malta Dynamics harnesses, we position the D-Ring to be in the middle of workers’ upper backs. Putting the D-Ring in a high position ensures workers will stay upright if a fall occurs. It also makes sure the force from the fall is evenly and safely distributed throughout the body.

Having a fall protection system ensures workers know what to do and can stay safe if they slip while working at a height. D-Rings help secure a worker’s position by restricting movement. If your employees have trouble reaching the D-Ring on their harness, they can use additional features like D-Ring extenders.

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What Are D-Ring Extenders?

D-Ring Extenders are a great tool for increasing your mobility. They allow easier access to the D-Ring so you can quickly hook up your fall protection equipment. If you use a safety harness extender, ensure it’s the only attachment hooked on your harness’s back D-Ring. That way, nothing else can constrict the extender’s mobility.

When using a D-Ring Extender, there are some special considerations to keep in mind, like adding 18″ to your fall clearance calculations.

D-Ring Extenders are useful for many fall protection circumstances, but there can also be some limits. The extra length for fall protection can result in a worker having more swing force when they fall. Additionally, D-Ring Extenders are suitable for some jobs but not others. 

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Dynamic Discussions: D-Ring Extender Restrictions and Use

There are many different styles for D-Ring Extenders. You have a locking connector on one end that connects to your dorsal ring, then you have the extension, which you can then hook up your lifeline to. If someone can’t reach up or can’t reach over, depending on where they are tied off, it makes a very versatile piece of gear.

However, they do not come without restrictions. If you’re using a D-Ring Extender with a leading-edge lifeline. If you’re at foot level tie-off and your cable would encounter an edge, you should not be using a D-Ring Extender. What this does is when you connect your extender to your snap hook, it moves your shock pack back away from your snap hook. If the webbing on your lifeline meets a sharp edge, it has a possibility of severing the lifeline, and we want to decrease the chance of that happening.

Here at Malta Dynamics, we do not recommend that you use a D-Ring Extender with a leading-edge lifeline scenario. If you’re anchoring overhead, it’s fine to use. When you are doing your fall clearance calculations, you’ll want to add the length of your D-Ring Extender to those calculations.

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Buy a Malta Dynamics D-Ring Extender

You can trust Malta Dynamics for safety and fall protection products that will do the job right. Our Malta Dynamics 18″ D-Ring Extender is an excellent addition to your fall arrest or restraint systems. It allows for a quick attach and release when needed and adds length to the back D-Ring on harnesses. The safety harness extender is lightweight and comprises galvanized steel hardware and strong polyester fabric for long-lasting protection.

This D-Ring Extender is also compliant with ANSI and OSHA codes and has a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds. If you’re interested in seeing more of our safety products, check out our latest deals now.

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