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OWNER'S MANUAL


OWNER'S MANUAL

Model # VW655
VERTICAL WIRE ROPE GRAB

Installation, Operating, Inspection and
Maintenance Instructions






Gemtor, Inc.
One Johnson Avenue
Matawan, NJ 07747
Tel (732) 583-6200
Fax (732) 290-9391

sales.info@gemtor.com
www.gemtor.com




Warning


You must read and fully understand all instructions, or
have all instructions explained to you, before
attempting to use this device. Equipment must not be
installed, operated or inspected by anyone who does
not understand this Owner's Manual. Failure to
observe these instructions could result in serious
injury or death. Careless or improper use of this
equipment can result in serious injury or death.
Training and instruction review should be repeated at
regular intervals. If you have any questions regarding
these instructions or need additional copies, call
Gemtor toll free at 800-405-9048. Page 2
DESCRIPTION
The Model # VW655 is a small rope grabbing device that follows a workers
movement up and down a vertical lifeline. If a fall occurs, the rope grab locks
on the wire rope and reduces the possibility of serious injury. An energy-
absorbing lanyard is used for connection between the rope grab and workers
harness to reduce the forces generated during a fall and to insure compliance
with OSHAs maximum force requirements.


BEFORE USE
Inspect the rope grab for any damage, dirt, oil, grit, paint, etc. Refer to HOW
TO CLEAN EQUIPMENT section (page 4) if necessary.

Make sure the lifeline is the proper type and size. (5/16" 3/8 dia. stainless
steel 7x19 aircraft cable (non-lubed) with min. tensile strength of 8,000 lbs.)

Tie-off the bottom end of the lifeline vertically below the anchorage point to
eliminate excess slack.



INSTRUCTIONS
The anchor point of a lanyard or decelerating device attached to a lifeline, or a
lanyard or decelerating device attached to a fixed anchorage shall be located
above the workers harness attachment. The fixed anchorage to which a
lifeline, lanyard, or decelerating device is attached, shall be capable of
supporting at least 5,000 lbs. per worker.
Lanyards shall be kept as short as possible to minimize free fall distance.
Free fall distance shall not exceed 6 feet. The use of a lanyard 3 ft. or less
will ensure a free fall of no more than 6 ft. When it is impossible or impractical
to use a 3 ft. or shorter lanyard, extra care must be taken to ensure that the
rope grab is positioned at or above the connection point on the harness at all
times. Under no circumstances shall the lanyard length exceed 6 ft. An
energy/shock absorber MUST BE USED in conjunction with the rope grab.
When the working location is reached, the worker should raise the rope grab
as high as the lanyard allows and push downward on the handle to lock the
rope grab on the lifeline.


Warning: Never attach more than one worker to the rope grab. As
required by OSHA, each employee must have a separate lifeline.


CAUTIONS














Items subjected to FALL ARREST or IMPACT FORCES must be
immediately removed from service and destroyed. Any item showing
EXCESSIVE WEAR OR DETERIORATION should be destroyed.
Inspect all equipment before each use. Failure to observe proper
inspection and usage procedures could result in INJURY or DEATH.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS must be considered in selecting the
appropriate lifeline, harness and lanyard. Recommendations where
chemicals, high temperature or other unusual conditions exist may be
addressed to GEMTOR.
Page 3
FREE FALL CONSIDERATIONS
Free fall distance should be kept to a minimum, and as required by OSHA, in
no case shall be greater than 6 feet. To help assure this, the tie-off attachment
point to the lifeline or anchor should be located at or above the connection
point of the fall arrest equipment to the harness.

INSTALLATION ON LIFELINE
Use only on 5/16" - 3/8 diameter stainless steel 7x19 aircraft cable (non-lubed)
with minimum tensile strength of 8,000 lbs.
















1) Depress the button
on the safety locking
pin and remove from
main assembly
2) Swing cam and lever
assembly up and open.
3) Place grab on cable
with direction arrow
pointing up.




4) Close assembly,
align holes and reinsert
safety locking pin.

5) Make sure that
locking pin balls appear
on outside of main
assembly.

6) Check locking action
by yanking down on
grab handle.

EMPLOYEE TRAINING CONSIDERATIONS
Thorough employee training in the selection and use of personal fall arrest
systems is imperative. Before the equipment is used, employees must be
trained in the safe use of the system. This shall include: application limits;
proper anchoring and tie-off techniques; estimation of free fall distance,
including determination of deceleration distance, and total fall distance to
prevent striking a lower level; methods of use; and inspection and storage of
the system. Safety lines, Lanyards and Harnesses must be utilized in strict
accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Determination of
suitability of any fall protection device for specific use is the responsibility of
the user. Questions concerning suitability may be addressed to GEMTOR.
Page 4
TIE-OFFS
Employers and employees should at all times be aware that the strength of a
personal fall arrest system is based on its being attached to an anchoring
system which does not reduce the strength of the system (such as a properly
dimensioned eye-bolt/snap-hook anchorage). Therefore, if a means of
attachment is used that will reduce the strength of the system, that component
should be replaced by a stronger one, but one that will also maintain the
appropriate maximum arrest force characteristics. Employers and employees
must realize the reduction in strength caused by certain tie-offs (such as using
knots, tying around sharp edges, etc.). Tie-offs using a knot in a rope lanyard
or lifeline (at any location) can reduce the lifeline or lanyard strength by 50
percent or more. Tie-off of a rope lanyard or lifeline around an "H" or "I" beam
or similar support can reduce its strength as much as 70 percent due to the
cutting action of the beam edges. Such tie-offs should be avoided or
alternative tie-off rigging should be used. Such alternatives may include use of
a snaphook/D-ring connection, wire rope tie-off, an effective padding of the
surfaces, or an abrasion-resistance strap around or over the problem surface.
Care should be exercised in selecting dimensionally correct anchor points to
avoid accidental disengagement of snaphooks not designed to be compatible
for the connection.


INSPECTION
Users should establish their own formal routine inspection according to
prevailing conditions with a minimum of two formal inspections per year. Visual
inspection is required before each use, for wear, damage and other
deterioration, and defective components shall be removed from service.


HOW TO CLEAN EQUIPMENT
Your Rope Grab has been carefully manufactured of stainless steel, to provide
you with a safety device which is as rugged and simple to use as possible.
However, it must be realized that this equipment must be carefully used and
maintained in order that when it is called upon to act as a safety device, it will
operate correctly.
It must be cleaned to operate properly. In order to be kept clean, it is
necessary that it be washed each day with a liquid which will dissolve or wash
away all contaminates. Cement dust and fly ash should be washed away with
water, possibly with a slight amount of soap added. Paint should be dissolved
with paint thinner suitable for the paint being used. Epoxies and waterproofing
materials should be removed by immersion in a solvent recommended by the
company which manufactures the material being used. It is recommended that
a can of solvent be kept at the point of usage of the rope grab, and that the
rope grab be left in the solvent overnight. By so doing, the rope grab should
be completely cleaned by morning, when it can be wiped off and put to use.


CARELESS OR IMPROPER USE OF THE EQUIPMENT CAN
RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.


82-106

Rev.
10/2002