Hammerhead Industries, manufacturer of Gear Keeper industrial tool tethering systems, has announced their new ANSI-Compliant ¾ inch Super Coil tool tethers for heavy tools and instruments. The ¾” Super Coil is a flexible, low profile coil system that provides up to an 8-foot diameter working area for heavier tools like power drills, nail guns, power drivers and other similar tools and instruments. 

The new Fixed Loop ¾ inch Super Coil tether, is just one of a new Gear Keeper family of ANSI-Compliant tethering products. The tether is rated for use as an anchored attachment to a fixed structure for tools up to 15-lbs. Easily attached to a fixed structural object by its aluminum, self-closing and locking double action locking carabiner with captive eye, anchoring the tether in this manner transfers the shock load produced by a dropped tool from the worker to the structure. The tether can also be used as a personal tool tether (attached to a person), but only for tools up to 5-6-lbs are safely permitted for this usage. 

The tether’s coil system is fully enclosed in durable and ergonomically sound soft nylon with woven elastic webbing. Unlike competitive “stiff bungee-type” elastic cables, Gear Keeper integrates their elastic into the tethers by weaving it into the webbing. This provides a host of benefits including a longer useful life, a more gentle recoil and extension to avoid arm fatigue and also serves to reduce “drop-shock” while minimizing the chances of bounce back when the tether is used with lighter items.
 

The "fixed loop" tool attachment feature of the tether also permits tethering of tools that have no other attachment point. For example, when a larger loop is required to go around a large handle like a chain saw, the worker would just slip knot the "fixed loop" over the handle. It can be also used for looping to an anchor point or to a person and using the carabiner to attach the tools. In use, the tether’s short retracted (resting) length helps avoid entanglement when climbing or working in close quarters. 

Following the ANSI guidelines, the new Gear Keeper models are high visibility orange in color and feature a ANSI tag that shows the weight of the tools that are appropriate for the tether. All Gear Keeper products have a printed label with model number, serial number and date of manufacture. The serial numbers allow the company to accurately track the product while the manufacturing date also allows the user to know when the product was manufactured if they track the product service life by period of use. The Gear Keeper TL1-3044 has a MSRP of $28. If purchased in 10-pack quantities the price drops to $25.50 per tether. Discounts on higher volumes may be available. Contact the company. 

“This safety tag is a new feature that will help Safety Engineers make sure that each tool has the proper tether for the job,” said John Salentine, VP of Hammerhead Industries. “Safety starts first with the proper mating of both the tool and the tether to ensure productivity and safety in the work environment.” 

Hammerhead Industries, has been working with the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) to develop the new ANSI/ISEA 121 standard for tethering solutions that can prevent dropped tools and other objects. By establishing these manufacturing guidelines for tethering systems, the ANSI/ISEA 121-2018, is a significant first step in helping safety engineers reduce dropped tool incidents.  

To find a dealer near you or for more information about any Gear Keeper product, contact Customer Service, Hammerhead Industries Inc, 5720 Nicolle Street, Ventura, CA 93003 or call (888) 588-9981. You may also visit www.gearkeeper.com.