Fall Protection System

Abstract

A fall protection system having two telescoping supports positioned at either end of a job location and having a crossbar extending there between that allow a user to work in an elevated position while also providing a tethering point to protect against falls. The supports may be coupled to a pair of conventional ladders that support a walk board, or the supports may directly support a walk board extending between the two supports. The two supports retain and securely attach to a horizontal support beam that is the anchoring location for a fall protection harness. A user may then use the walk board to perform installations or repairs above the minimum height necessary for fall protection and be secured against a fall by attaching via a harness and strap to the cross-bar.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fall prevention system, comprising:
 a pair of support members, each of which comprises a first section forming a base that is telescopically engaged with a second section that terminates in an upper end;   a first set of brackets mounted to the upper ends of each of said second sections of said pair of support members;   a crossbar releasably interconnected to said first set of brackets;   a second set of brackets, each of which secured to an intermediate portion of one of said pair of support members; and   a walk board supported by the second set of brackets.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a user anchor interconnected to said crossbar. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said user anchor is fixedly attached to an intermediate portion of said cross-bar. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said user anchor is slidingly attached to said cross-bar for movement along said cross-bar. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said cross-bar comprises an I-beam. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein each of said pair of brackets includes a clevis for securely retaining the I-beam. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each of said pair of brackets includes a lock that may be engaged after said I-beam is positioned in said clevis. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third pair of brackets secured to the upper ends of the support members for attaching the support members to a building. 
     
     
         9 . A method of providing fall protection, comprising the steps of:
 providing a pair of telescoping supports, each of which extends upwardly to form an end having a bracket mounted thereto;   positioning said telescoping supports at a predetermined distance apart;   telescoping said telescoping supports to a predetermined length;   affixing a crossbar having a user anchor to the bracket of each of said telescoping supports; and   attaching a walk board to an intermediate portion of the pair of telescoping supports at a predetermined height so that a user can be secured to the user anchor while walking along the walk board.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said user anchor is fixedly attached to an intermediate portion of said cross-bar. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said user anchor is slidingly attached to said cross-bar for movement along said cross-bar. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said crossbar comprises an I-beam. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each of said pair of brackets includes a clevis for securely retaining the I-beam. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising a third pair of brackets secured to the upper ends of the support members for attaching the support members to a building.