Kratos HOPE - Energy Absorbing Webbing Lanyard 1.8m - Fall Indicator and Steel Scaffold Hook

Kratos HOPE Energy Absorbing Webbing Lanyard 1.8m

The Kratos HOPE Energy Absorbing Webbing Lanyard is a 1.8m single-leg fall arrest lanyard designed for construction workers, scaffolders, steel erectors, and maintenance operatives working at height where limited movement is required and sufficient clearance exists below the feet. The 30mm polyester webbing lanyard connects a steel screw-locking karabiner at the harness end to a steel double-action scaffold hook at the anchorage end, with an integrated 35mm energy absorber that deploys on fall arrest to limit impact force on the body to under 6kN.

The most commercially significant feature for PPE fleet managers and site safety teams is the built-in fall indicator label. Before every use, a visual check of the label confirms whether the lanyard has previously arrested a fall. If the NOT OK indicator is visible, the lanyard must be immediately withdrawn from service and replaced. This removes any ambiguity from the pre-use inspection process and directly reduces the risk of a previously loaded lanyard being returned to service unknowingly.

Certified to EN 355:2002 and tested to the VG11 procedure, which tests the complete assembly including connectors together rather than components in isolation, giving a higher level of confidence in real-world performance than EN 355 alone.

Why Choose the Kratos HOPE Energy Absorbing Webbing Lanyard

• Fall indicator label: the single most important pre-use check feature on any energy absorbing lanyard. The visual NOT OK indicator removes all guesswork about whether the lanyard has previously been loaded in a fall event. For site safety managers running PPE inspection regimes across multiple operatives, this is a fleet management tool as much as a safety feature.

• VG11 tested assembly: VG11 requires the entire lanyard assembly, webbing, energy absorber, and connectors to be tested together as a complete system under the PPE Directive. This is a more stringent requirement than EN 355 testing alone, which can test components separately. The result is verified performance of the complete product as it will actually be used on site.

• Steel scaffold hook with double-action automatic locking: the FA 50 207 55 scaffold hook requires deliberate double-action to open, preventing accidental gate release during use on scaffolding tubes and structural steel. Steel construction provides higher load capacity and greater resistance to impact damage than aluminium alternatives.

• Abrasion-resistant tubular webbing loop protection: all loops on the lanyard are wrapped in tubular webbing to protect against abrasion from contact with scaffold tubes, steel edges, and rough concrete surfaces during normal use. This directly extends the serviceable life of the lanyard between inspections.

• Steel screw-locking karabiner: the FA 50 101 17 karabiner at the harness attachment end requires a deliberate screw-locking action, preventing accidental disconnection from the harness dorsal ring during use.

• EN 355:2002 certified: confirms the lanyard meets the European standard for energy absorbing lanyards including maximum deployed length of 2m including connectors and energy absorber, and fall arrest force below 6kN.

What's Included

One Kratos HOPE 1.8m energy absorbing webbing lanyard with steel screw-locking karabiner FA 50 101 17 at the harness end, steel double-action scaffold hook FA 50 207 55 at the anchorage end, and 35mm energy absorber. 

 Specifications

Compatibility

Who Is This For?

Site operatives, scaffolders, steel erectors, construction workers, and maintenance engineers working at height where freedom of movement is limited and a fixed anchor point is used. The HOPE lanyard is specified by safety officers and PPE procurement teams for standard fall arrest applications on scaffolding, structural steelwork, facades, and lattice metallic structures where the operative works in a defined area connected to a single overhead or side anchor point.

Typical Applications

• Scaffolding erection and dismantling where connection to horizontal scaffold tubes is required

• Structural steelwork installation and inspection at height

• Construction work on building facades and elevated slabs

• Fixed ladder access where a retractable fall arrester is not installed

• Roof and terrace maintenance where the operative works within a limited area

• Horizontal plan and inclined surface work within the clearance requirements

• Aerial lift and MEWP operations requiring a fall arrest connection

How to choose?

Whatever type of lanyard or energy absorber, the performances are identical, so it is above all a personal choice, but it must be based on the intensity of use.

When choosing the product it is necessary to take into account the importance of connectors.

VG11 Tested: Why It Matters

EN 355 certification tests lanyard components individually. VG11 goes further by testing the complete assembly, webbing, energy absorber, and connectors together, exactly as the lanyard is used in practice. This confirms that no single element will fail under load before the energy absorber deploys.

For forked lanyards, VG11 includes a specific three-point test requiring a minimum breaking strength above 9kN at all three ends simultaneously. That is the test that matters when both legs are loaded during an anchor transfer.

How to Use

1. Inspect the lanyard before every use. Check the fall indicator label first. If the NOT OK indicator is visible, the lanyard has arrested a fall. Do not use it. Replace it immediately.

2. Check the full length of the webbing for cuts, abrasion, chemical contamination, heat damage, and deformation. Check both connectors open, close, and lock correctly.

3. Connect the steel screw-locking karabiner to the dorsal D-ring of a certified full body harness. Screw the locking sleeve fully closed before loading.

4. Connect the steel scaffold hook to the certified anchorage point. Confirm the double-action gate is fully closed and locked before moving away from the anchor.

5. Confirm adequate clearance exists below your feet before starting work. The total clearance required is the lanyard length plus energy absorber deployment distance plus your height plus a safety margin. Never use this lanyard where insufficient clearance exists below.

6. Work within the range of the lanyard. Do not extend your reach beyond the point where the lanyard would be under tension at an angle that increases swing fall risk.

7. After use, retract the lanyard and store it clean and dry. Do not coil it tightly or hang it by a connector for extended periods.

Safety and Maintenance

Before every use:

• Check the fall indicator label. NOT OK means immediate withdrawal from service

• Inspect webbing for cuts, burns, abrasion, chemical staining, and UV degradation

• Check the energy absorber pouch is intact and has not been partially deployed

• Confirm both connectors open, close, and lock without stiffness or play

• Verify the abrasion-resistant loop protection is undamaged

During use:

• Always connect to the dorsal attachment point of a certified full body harness

• Never connect to a belt, sit harness, or chest harness

• Never use as a work restraint or positioning device

• Confirm clearance below your feet before every use in a new location

• Never connect two lanyards together to extend reach

After use and storage:

• Clean with mild soap and warm water if contaminated. Allow to dry naturally away from direct heat

• Store in a cool, dry location away from UV exposure, chemicals, and sharp objects

• Annual inspection by a competent person is required under PUWER and the Work at Height Regulations 2005

• After any fall arrest event, withdraw immediately and do not return to service under any circumstances

• Record all inspections in the equipment register for each individual lanyard

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does the fall indicator label actually show and what should I do if it reads NOT OK?

 A: The fall indicator is a visual label integrated into the energy absorber. Before every use, check the label. If the OK indicator is visible and the NOT OK sign is hidden, the lanyard has not arrested a fall and is safe for inspection and continued use subject to the full pre-use check. If the NOT OK sign is visible, the energy absorber has deployed in a fall event. The lanyard must be withdrawn from service immediately, tagged as condemned, and replaced. It must not be reused regardless of how minor the fall appeared. The absorber is a single-use component by design.

Q: What is EN 355:2002 and what does VG11 testing add?

 A: EN 355:2002 is the European standard for energy absorbing lanyards. It specifies maximum lanyard length of 2m including connectors, minimum breaking strength above 15kN, and maximum fall arrest force of 6kN. VG11 is a testing procedure from the PPE Directive 89/686/EEC that requires the complete lanyard assembly, webbing, energy absorber, and connectors to be tested together as a system. Standard EN 355 testing can test components individually. VG11 testing verifies that the complete assembly performs safely under load, which is the condition it will actually be subjected to during a real fall event. The Kratos HOPE passes both, which gives a higher level of verified real-world performance than EN 355 alone.

Q: Why does this lanyard use a steel scaffold hook rather than aluminium?

 A: Steel scaffold hooks have a higher load rating and greater resistance to impact and deformation than aluminium equivalents. On scaffolding and structural steelwork where the hook may contact steel tubes repeatedly during the working day, a steel hook maintains its gate geometry and locking function more reliably over its service life. The FA 50 207 55 hook uses a double-action automatic locking gate that requires deliberate sequential movement to open, preventing accidental gate release from contact with scaffold tubes or other structures during normal movement.

Q: What clearance do I need below my feet before using this lanyard?

 A: The total clearance required is the sum of the lanyard length, the energy absorber deployment distance, the height of the user, and a safety margin. For a 1.8m lanyard with the energy absorber deploying up to approximately 1.75m, plus user height and safety margin, the minimum clearance required can exceed 6m depending on the anchor point position relative to the operative. Always calculate the required clearance for your specific setup before deploying any energy absorbing lanyard. If insufficient clearance exists, use a retractable fall arrester such as the Kratos HELIXON-S instead, which arrests a fall in a much shorter distance.

Q: Can I use this lanyard for horizontal work on a flat roof or terrace?

 A: Yes, the HOPE lanyard is suitable for horizontal plan applications as shown in the Kratos application guidance. However, the clearance calculation must account for the different geometry of a horizontal fall compared to a vertical one. In a horizontal fall, the swing fall arc means the operative may travel further before the lanyard becomes taut, increasing the total clearance required. Always calculate clearance for your specific horizontal application before deployment and ensure the anchor point is positioned to minimise swing fall distance.

Q: How often does this lanyard need to be formally inspected?

 A: A visual pre-use check is required before every single deployment, using the fall indicator label and the full webbing and connector inspection. A formal inspection by a competent person is required at least annually under PUWER and the Work at Height Regulations 2005, or more frequently if the manufacturer's instructions or site risk assessment require it. All inspections must be recorded in an equipment register. If the lanyard has been used in a fall arrest event at any point, it must be withdrawn immediately regardless of the inspection schedule.

Q: What is the maximum user weight and does that include tools and equipment?

A: The maximum user weight is 100kg. This figure must include the full weight of the user plus all clothing, tools, and equipment carried during the task. It is not a bodyweight-only figure. If the combined weight of the operative and their equipment exceeds 100kg, this lanyard is not suitable and a higher-rated fall arrest system must be specified.

Q: Why order the Kratos HOPE Energy Absorbing Webbing Lanyard from CMT Group?

 A: CMT Group has supplied height safety PPE to UK construction sites since 2010, operating a fleet of over 100 FORS Silver accredited vehicles covering 90% of the UK mainland. The Kratos HOPE lanyard is available for next working day delivery on orders placed by 7pm online, with same-day despatch available on confirmed stock. Trade accounts, volume pricing, and EDGE procurement portal access are available for safety managers and procurement teams ordering height safety equipment across multiple projects. CMT is a BSIF Registered Safety Supplier, giving additional assurance that every PPE product supplied meets strict safety and compliance standards.