GME Supply is North America's Premier Outfitter of fall protection, safety equipment, and gear for at-height workers, industry, and construction.

1391 E Boone Industrial Blvd
Columbia, MO 65202
(718) 210-3913

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Home > Fall Protection > Self-Retracting Lifelines

Self-Retracting Lifelines

Self-Retracting Lifelines


No one wants to think about falling while on the job. But, sometimes accidents happen. It is up to us to make sure that in the event of a fall there are safety measures in place to ensure that everyone stays as safe as possible. That’s where an SRL comes into play. A Self-Retracting Lifeline, or SRL, is a device that contains a spring-loaded retracting web or cable lanyard wound around an internal drum. It automatically locks and arrests the fall of a worker.

When looking at SRLs it is important to understand the standards that they need to meet. ANSI Z359.14-2012 classifies SRLs into two classes - Class A and Class B. For more information about SRL standards click here for our blog post or here to visit our knowledge base.

Our full selection of SRLs includes body worn, mounted, leading edge, arc flash, and rescue SRLs.

Body Worn Self-Retracting Lifelines

A body worn SRL is a more compact version of a mounted SRL and works in the exact same way. The key differences are that it is smaller, lighter, and connects directly to the dorsal D-ring of a harness. Body Worn SRLs have shorter lifelines that most commonly range from 6 to 8 feet and do not exceed 8 feet in length. Another unique thing about body worn SRLs is the ability to have a twin leg configuration to provide 100% tie-off.

Mounted Self-Retracting Lifelines

Larger SRLs are mounted above the worker, and the lanyard runs down to connect to the user’s dorsal D-ring on a harness. Mounted SRLs are typically heavier and come in lengths ranging from 8 ft to over 100 ft.

Leading Edge & Foot Level Self-Retracting Lifelines

Most SRLs are designed only to be mounted above the user. For cases where this is not possible, specially designed Leading Edge SRLs (sometimes referred to as Foot Level SRLs) are required. ANSI classifies these as SRL-LE devices. These incorporate factors to absorb the extra energy associated with foot-level tie off, as well as more robust cables to resist breaking when ran against a leading edge. Leading Edge SRLs come in both mounted and body worn options so you can get the perfect SRL no matter what the job requires.

Arc Flash Self-Retracting Lifelines

Not every job is the same which means not ever SRL can be the same, either. Certain jobs, like those in which workers are exposed to arc flash hazards, require SRLs that have been specifically designed for those types of unique situations. Arc Flash SRLs are SRLs that have been rated for working in electrical environments. Whether you need mounted, body worn, or twin leg variations for 100% tie-off, we’ve got the Arc Flash rated SRLs to help you get the job done and stay safe.

Rescue Self-Retracting Lifelines

In a perfect world, there would be no accidents. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world and whether we like it or not accidents do happen. But, being prepared can help prevent further injury. Rescuing a co-worker isn’t always easy, especially if they are in hard to reach places. That’s where rescue SRLs come in handy. Typically rescue SRLs, referred to as SRL-R by ANSI, for auto retrieval can be found on confined space systems.

Not sure which SRL is right for you? Click here to contact our Gear Experts®.