3M expands personal safety equipment line

3M added two rescue devices to its personal safety portfolio to help protect people working at height.

The 3M and DEUS Escape and Rescue Systemenable workers to steadily control their descent from heights up to 590ft. The easy-to-use system weighs less than 3lb and can be used to facilitate escape and rescue procedures for individuals and/or multiple stranded workers in a short time.

The Latchways personal rescue device (PRD) with 3M Elavation Harness is a lightweight device that can help give users an unassisted self-rescue from heights up to 65ft.

“In a world of complex rescue solutions, simplified options are essential to helping ensure safety in the workplace,” says Andrew Johnson, product marketing, 3M Personal Safety Division. “These two new solutions are easy-to-use, which is critical when time is of the essence.”

The 3M and DEUS Escape and Rescue Systems provide safety for workers in industries like oil and gas, electrical distribution, utilities, wind energy, general industry and manufacturing. The 3M and DEUS kits allow for individual and multi-person escape, assisted rescue, and self-rescue after a fall. 

The new escape and rescue system is available with two controlled descent options – the 3300 device and the 3700 device. The 3300 device allows for rescue from heights up to 350ft, at a descent rate of 3m/sec (9.8ft/sec).  The 3700 device has been third-party tested and certified to the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standard and offers users a descent rate of 2m/sec (6.6ft/sec) from heights up to 590ft.

The Latchways PRD is contained in a lightweight “backpack” and is activated by pulling a parachute-type cord. In the event of a fall, the 3M Elavation Harness suspends the wearer, while the Latchways PRD allows for a steady descent to the ground.

Activated, the PRD can extend up to 65ft, which is released at a controlled rate through a braking mechanism. If a wearer is unable to initiate self-rescue, the device can also be activated by another person through a built-in secondary release mechanism.

The Latchways PRD with 3M Elavation Harness is available in three sizes and can also be ordered with a Latchways rescue pole.