Stop Use and Recall Issued on Shock Absorbers

The Department of Environment and Labour is passing along a stop use and recall notice from Mine Safety Appliances Company (MSA). The company is asking customers to immediately remove from service all Surety Sure-Stop Shock Absorbers manufactured from May to October 2001.

MSA is currently investigating a reported incident in Alberta involving a MSA Surety Sure-Stop lanyard. A lanyard is the piece of equipment on a fall-arrest system that attaches the harness to a secure location.

MSA's initial findings indicate the lanyard was improperly manufactured. In the reported incident, the device appeared not to function and the user fell. This notice involves all MSA Surety Sure-Stop shock absorbers and components that use the shock absorber.

Examination of the involved lanyard found an error in the stitching that secures one end of the shock absorber to the remainder of the lanyard. Since this joint is glued in preparation for applying the stitches, and the shock absorber sleeve covers this area, the lanyard appears functional. Even if the user tugged sharply on the lanyard, the assembly would still have appeared secure. However, a lanyard in this condition is not functional and will not provide fall protection to the user.

In Nova Scotia, this recall affects mainly construction workers and those who work at heights of more than three metres, where lanyards are used as a means of fall protection. The Occupational Health and Safety Division of the Department of Environment and Labour has already notified more than 300 people and organizations about this recall through their new client contact service. This notice is part of the department's efforts to inform as many people as possible.

"Our Occupational Health and Safety Client Contact Service has worked well in notifying the public on these types of issues," said David Morse, Minister of Environment and Labour. "When stop use and recall notices like this are issued we respond by passing along the information to help prevent workplace accidents."

The service updates clients on the passage of new or updated regulations, the availability of new draft regulations for review, specific topics upon which we would like public feedback, stop use and recall notices, changes to our reference guides or other documents and changes to the divisional Web site.

For more information on the stop use and recall notice contact MSA at 1-888-396-1067 or visit the Web site at www.gov.ns.ca/enla/ohs . If you would like to be added to the Occupational Health and Safety Client Contact Service please contact Penny McCormick by e-mail to [email protected] or fax to 902-424-3239.