Retracting Lanyards & Safety Lanyards

Retracting Lanyards and Safety Lanyards for Australian Work at Height

Retracting lanyards and safety lanyards are the fall arrest connection between a worker's harness and an anchor point — the component that catches a fall and absorbs the shock load before it reaches the worker. AIMS Industrial supplies retracting and shock-absorbing lanyards compliant with AS/NZS 1891, the Australian fall arrest standard, for trade and industrial work at height across Australia.

The lanyard types we stock

• Self-retracting lifelines (SRLs) — automatic-locking devices that retract excess line and lock instantly under fall load
• Shock-absorbing lanyards — fixed-length lanyards with built-in energy absorbers that deploy under fall load
• Twin-leg lanyards — two connection lines for continuous tie-off when traversing between anchor points
• Restraint lanyards — fixed-length lanyards that prevent the worker reaching the fall edge (no fall arrest function)
• Specialised SRLs — leading-edge SRLs for working over edges, retrievable SRLs for confined space

SRL versus shock-absorbing lanyard — when to use which

Self-retracting lifelines lock fast and limit fall distance — typically less than 0.5m of fall before the device engages and stops the descent. They suit work where the anchor point is overhead and clearance below is limited. Shock-absorbing lanyards have a longer fall arrest distance (typically 1.5-2m of fall plus 1.75m of energy absorber deployment) — the worker needs more clearance below the work platform, but the lanyard is simpler, lighter, and more durable for high-cycle use.

Compliance — AS/NZS 1891

All fall arrest lanyards used in Australian workplaces must comply with the relevant part of AS/NZS 1891:

• AS/NZS 1891.1 — covers harnesses and ancillary equipment including lanyards
• AS/NZS 1891.3 — covers fall arrest devices including SRLs
• AS/NZS 1891.4 — selection, use, and maintenance

Equipment must be inspected before each use, by a competent person at least every six months, and by an authorised person at least every 12 months. After any fall arrest event, the lanyard must be removed from service and inspected — energy absorbers that have deployed cannot be reused.

Anchor points and clearance

The lanyard is only as good as the anchor it's connected to. Anchor points must be rated to AS/NZS 5532 (or equivalent) and provide the strength to handle the maximum arrest force the system delivers. Clearance below the work platform must accommodate the full fall distance — lanyard length plus energy absorber deployment plus harness elongation plus a safety factor. Insufficient clearance means the worker hits the ground before the lanyard catches them.

Brands stocked at AIMS

Safetylink covers the Australian-made fall protection range including lanyards, harnesses, and anchor points. The Safetylink range is engineered for Australian work-at-height conditions and supported locally for inspection, recertification, and replacement.

Companion ranges at AIMS

Retracting and safety lanyards sit alongside our broader work-at-height range — see safety harnesses, Safetylink, respiratory protection, and PPE kit bags for the broader range.

Need help speccing lanyards for a specific work-at-height task or compliance audit? contact our team — we'll work through anchor points, clearance, and lanyard selection.