Qforce WOODPECKER no1 - roof anchor

The roof anchor shall be used as part of a personal safety system in accordance with NS EN 795: 2012. To obtaining a quick establishment of anchor point for the use of fall protection devices and rope rescue.
 
Artichle about the product
Fire constable developed new product for "fall protection for work on roofs".
 
A newly developed "roof anchor" will make the working day safer for firefighters who have to go out on roofs during risky work at height. The fall protection product Qforce Woodpecker™, which is now being used by the Oslo Fire and Rescue Service, has been developed in collaboration with firefighters, with fire constable Rune Sten Nilsen as the initiator.
 
The "roof anchor" consists of a powerful steel spike, fasteners for skiring bolts, a handle, as well as a powerful fastener for carabiners. The anchor can be quickly knocked down to the ceiling or fixed with screws. Using a carabiner with a safety rope or fall block that hooks onto the anchor, firefighters can move more safely on roofs.
 
"It's about firefighters' safety at work.
There is still work to be done here," says Sten Nilsen. The roof anchor is a result of the need for better protection. He has almost 20 years in the fire and rescue service and believes firefighters all too often move out onto roofs with little or no protection. The reason is often that it is difficult and time-consuming to put in place. For example, it may be in places where you cannot get to by ladder truck or lift, or there are problems with shooting lines over the ridge. The risk of serious injury quickly becomes high. "We saw that there was a need for simple and robust safety equipment that could quickly be established in places where it is challenging to establish good security. Our newly developed roof anchor, Qforce Woodpecker™, is easy to carry around and can be quickly attached to demanding roof surfaces, such as plate roofs and steel roofs. It can withstand a lot of weight, easy to re-establish and does not let go," says Nilsen.
 
A valuable tool for hedging
Lars Andreas Grimsgård, head of rope rescue at the Oslo Fire and Rescue Service. He says they have tried the equipment in the agency with great success. "The main advantage of this safety tool is that you can quickly establish an approved fastener on a roof where other security can be difficult to establish quickly. The equipment can be used both to secure personnel on roofs, and to secure fire ladders against sliding sideways," says Grimsgård. Vidar Bader, head of ladder truck and lift in Oslo Fire and Rescue Service. Says he has been involved in testing the prototype of the roof anchor that is now being launched commercially. "We did a lot of tests on different types of roofs and the anchor held, even on frail roofs with poor fastening. It's user-friendly and quick to assemble," says Bader. The product is fully manufactured and ready for sale The roof anchor, Qforce Woodpecker™, is launched by the company Jepron AS, under the brand name Qforce™. One can find more information on their website www.qforce.no