Q&A for DFP Safety Corp.
Tell us a little about DFP Safety Corp.’s origins. How did the company come to be focused on height safety, specifically?
DFP Safety Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of DFP Impex Limited, a UK company created to be the global licensee for DEWALT Fall Protection. Stanley Black and Decker chose us to be their global licensee based on the extensive experience our team and factory have in fall protection. Our factory has been making world class safety products for over 25 years and has become one of the leading global manufacturers of Fall Protection today.
Tell us about your market focus out of the gate.
Our initial line of products target DEWALT’s core market in Construction and General Industry. We have worked closely with the DEWALT team to develop best in class products in these key segments. We are also working to develop additional key products as we expand the line to meet the needs of professional users in other market segments in the coming months and years.
DFP Safety’s vision statement is “to save lives through innovative height safety solutions and unparalleled training excellence.” How does the company work toward achieving this goal/mission?
This will be a multi-step process. First, we work directly with DEWALT engineers to design a product line for their core markets which will deliver on the DEWALT brand promise of “Guaranteed Tough.” The next step is to work closely with the DEWALT Marketing and Sales teams to launch these products into the target segments with a key focus on end users and their needs. We have built a network of outstanding internal sales personnel and outside representatives. They connect with key distributors to support end users via on-site demonstrations, tradeshows, and other marketing and training initiatives to provide the product and the training needed to protect their workers.
How did you determine the ideal line-up of products to launch first.
As stated, one of our goals is “to save lives through innovative height safety solutions.” Because our initial focus is on Construction and General Industry, we developed a line of products focused on the key safety concerns in those segments. For example, in Construction, falls from height are the number one cause of injury and death in the workplace, while being struck by falling objects is number two. Our current product line does a great job of protecting workers from both risks.
The DFP Safety VAULT™ is a cloud-based software app with unique and innovative features. Other than helping to eliminate the need for paper records, what other features does the DFP Safety VAULT™ offer its users?
DFP Safety VAULT™ is a fantastic tool that provides the user with “Safety at their Fingertips.” The key benefit is the ability to register and track products on the site. This is a great way to schedule and conduct the ANSI required annual inspections. Once the product is in the system the user will receive alerts when product inspections are upcoming. Results of the inspection can be added directly into the app and then inspection reports can be generated for the safety management team. The App also offers a ton of functionality in other areas such as quick and easy access to product information. Users can quickly find and download, Technical Data Sheets, Instruction Manuals, Declarations of Conformity, Test Reports, Product Images, and much more.
The D3000 Harness is considered your “work-horse harness.” What design features make it useful for a variety of jobs and working conditions?
When designing a harness, safety is of course the primary focus. In terms of product attributes and features, we focused on three key areas: Comfort, Durability and Ease of Use. Each feature was designed to address one of these three criteria. We believe our lineup of models provides workers with the right models needed for their specific work. Key standard features include:
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- All DEWALT Harnesses use Oil, Stain, and Water repellent Webbing, for greater life and ease of care.
- Suspension Trauma Straps come standard on all D3000 models to protect workers from suspension trauma in the event of a fall.
- A patented quick-connect system to easily connect a personal SRL to the harness.
- Comfortable, breathable padding for added comfort and support.
- And many other great features critical to our users
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Give us some information about the upcoming self-retracting devices (SRD’s) and the various types that you will have? What features are (or will be) offered with the new SRL release?
First of all, it is important for users to understand is that an updated Self-Retracting Device standard, ANSI Z359.14-2021, took effect in 2023. The standard guides manufacturers and safety professionals in the safety requirements for Self-Retracting Devices for Personal Fall Arrest and Rescue Systems. The new standard essentially establishes three different Types of Self Retracting Devices (SRD’s) and two different Classes of SRD’s.
The three Types of SRD’s are a Self Retracting Lanyard (SRL), a personal Self Retracting Lanyard (SRL-P), and a Self-Retracting Lanyard with Integral Rescue Capability (SRL-R). The primary difference between an SRL and a personal SRL-P is that a personal SRL-P is specifically designed and approved by the manufactuer to be worn by the user on a full body harness whereas an SRL designated device is designed to be attached to an anchor point on a structure. Personal SRL-P’s are typically less than 10 feet in length and SRL’s can be of any length and are traditionally much longer.
Each of these SRD Types could come in one of two classes:
- Class 1 includes SRD’s designed for anchorage at or above the dorsal ring D-ring.
- Class 2 devices includes SRD’s designed for anchorage as low as foot level and include specifications for encountering potential sharp edges.
The DEWALT line-up will include both Class 1 and Class 2 personal SRL-P’s and well as Class 1 and Class 2 anchor mounted SRL’s. DEWALT Class 1 and Class 2 anchor mounted SRL’s are available in lengths from 10 feet to 90 feet, with versions available in web, galvanized and stainless steel cable.
All DEWALT SRD’s include:
- Reinforced corners to ensure structural integrity.
- Recessed labels for increased product life.
The DEWALT anchor mounted SRL’s over 20 feet include:
- Large and well-balanced carrying handles for increased ergonomics, even with a gloved hand.
- Patent-pending metal cable guide with wire brush to reduce dirt and debris from entering the housing.
DEWALT personal SRL-P’s come in both single and twin (100% tie-off) versions with 6 different hook options, including tie-back. Twin personal SRL-P’s also include our Twin SRL connector which is designed to work seamlessly with our D3000 work-horse harness line.
To learn more about the DEWALT Fall Protection and Drop Prevention products, please visit us at Booth 3255 at NSC or Booth 1219 at STAFDA.
