MSA V-TEC PFL User manual

User Instructions
V-TEC® Personal Fall Limiter (PFL)
Fall Protection
Order No.: VTOHW01-95BI (ABNT/IRAM), VTOHW01-95OL/00 (Online)
Print Spec.:10000005389 (EO)
CR: 800000056445
MSAsafety.com
US

WARNING!
These instructions must be provided to users before use of the product and retained for ready
reference by the user. Read this manual carefully before using or maintaining the device. The device
will perform as designed only if it is used and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's
instructions. Otherwise, it could fail to perform as designed, and persons who rely on this device could
sustain serious injury or death.
The warranties made by MSA with respect to the product are voided if the product is not installed and
used in accordance with the instructions in this manual. Please protect yourself and your employees
by following the instructions.
Please read and observe the WARNINGS and CAUTIONS inside. For additional information relative
to use or repair, call 1-800-MSA-2222 during regular working hours.
MSA is a registered trademark of MSA Technology, LLC in the US, Europe and other Countries. For
all other trademarks visit https://us.msasafety.com/Trademarks.
MSA - The Safety Company
1000 Cranberry Woods Drive
Cranberry Township, PA 16066
USA
Phone: 1-800-MSA-2222
Fax: [phone]
For your local MSA contacts, please go to our website www.MSAsafety.com
© MSA 2023. All rights reserved

Contents
1 Labels and Icons 4
1.1 Product Details and Warnings 5
2 Safety Regulations 6
3 Product Specification 8
4 Harness Attachment 9
4.1 Attach V-TECSingle Leg PFLto Harness 9
4.2 Attach V-TECTwinLeg PFLs to Harness with V-TECTwinLink
Connector 9
5 Installation and Use 11
5.1 Intended Use 11
5.2 General Installation and Use 12
6 Fall Clearance Charts 13
6.1 V-TEC Fall Clearance Charts 13
7 Cleaning and Storage 14
8 Pre-Use Checks and Periodic Examinations 14
9 Warranty 18
US V-TEC® PFL 3

1 Labels and Icons
Non-Leading Edge Icon Scannable RFID Serial Number, Part
Number, Date of
Manufacture
1 Capacity, including user,
clothing, and tools.
4 Tie off above D-ring permitted.
2WARNING! Read and
understand instruction manual
before use.
5 Tie off below D-ring NOT permitted.
3 Do NOT user over an edge. 6 Refer to instruction manual for fall
clearance chart.1
1 - See Section 6 Fall Clearance Charts for details.
1 Labels and Icons
4 V-TEC® PFL US

1.1 Product Details and Warnings
1 Lifeline construction 4 Load indicator NOT deployed
2 Product warning 5 Load indicator deployed,
DONOTUSE
3 Standard/notified body 6 Date of next examination
1 Labels and Icons
US V-TEC® PFL 5

2 Safety Regulations
WARNING!
User Requirements
lUsers of Personal Fall Limiters (PFLs) shall be medically fit and suitably
trained.
lPFLs shall not be used by pregnant women, minors or those under the
influence of alcohol or drugs.
lFor single user only, within the weight range 77–310 lbs (35–140 kg)
including user, clothing, and tools.
Anchor Requirements/Swing Fall/Fall Clearance
lThe anchorage must be capable of supporting the required load. See Section
3 Product Specification for details on anchorage strength.
lEnsure that the available fall clearance is equal to or greater than the fall
clearance shown in Section 6 Fall Clearance Charts.
lRemove any surface contamination such as, but not limited to, concrete,
stucco, roofing material, etc. that could accelerate cutting or abrading of
attached components.
lFor use in accordance with acceptable locations as shown in Section 6 Fall
Clearance Charts. The user shall consider any risks posed by swing falls.
lSwing falls can increase fall distance. For this overhead product, the user
must work directly under the anchorage. Increasing the horizontal offset will
increase the amount of swing fall. Always remove obstructions in or adjacent
to the fall path. Keep work area free from debris, obstructions, trip hazards,
spills, or other hazards which could impair the safe operation of the fall
protection system. DONOTuse the device unless a qualified person has
inspected the workplace and determined that swing fall hazards have been
eliminated or exposures to them prevented.
Product Use
lPFLs are only to be used for their intended purpose and within their
limitations. DO NOT intentionally misuse this product. DO NOT use fall
protection equipment for purposes other than those for which it was
designed. DO NOT use fall protection equipment for towing, hoisting, or
material handling.
2 Safety Regulations
6 V-TEC® PFL US

lPFLs shall not be altered or added to. No unauthorized repairs, modifications,
alterations and/or additions are permitted.
lRESCUE AND EVACUATION: the user must have a rescue plan and the
means at hand to implement it. The plan must take into account the equipment
and specific training necessary to affect prompt rescue under all foreseeable
conditions. It is recommended to provide means for user evacuation without
assistance of others. This will usually reduce the time to get to a safe place
and reduce or prevent the risk to rescuers.
lDO NOT rely on feel or sound to verify proper connector engagement. Ensure
the connector is closed before use.
lAdditional lanyard connectors shall not be added, as this would serve to
lengthen the lifeline and increase free fall.
lUnsuitable for use on unstable surfaces, fine grain materials or particulate
surfaces such as sand or coal, as insufficient speed may prevent lock-on in
the event of a fall (possible engulfment hazard).
lDO NOT use for horizontal (leading edge) applications. If the PFL web risks
coming into contact with an edge during use or a fall, a leading edge product
must be used. Failure to follow this warning could result in the webbing
breaking in the event of a fall.
lPFLs shall not come into contact with hot surfaces (such as hot pipes),
become entangled with moving machinery, or come into contact with electrical
hazards (such as high voltage power lines).
lPFLs shall be protected from fire, acids, caustic solutions, or temperatures
outside the range -40°F to 130°F (-40°C to 54°C).
lDO NOT leave the PFL installed in environments which could cause damage
or deterioration to the product. Refer to the care details in Section 7 Cleaning
and Storage and inspection details in Section 8 Pre-Use Checks and Periodic
Examinations.
lInstructions shall be retained and provided to all users of PFLs in the language
of the destination country, even when resold.
lDO NOT exceed the maximum fall arrest forces as specified by governing
standards or subsystem components.
lDual-connections shall only be made for the purposes of 100% tie-off
transitions, if a dual connection is made for any other purpose, anchorages of
different elevations must be utilized.
2 Safety Regulations
US V-TEC® PFL 7

Inspection/Removing Product From Service
lPFLs that have arrested a fall or are unable to pass an inspection shall be
tagged “UNUSABLE” and disposed of in accordance with local regulations.
lDue to the nature of some fall arrest events, it is possible for the energy
absorber to not deploy. In the event that a PFL is subjected to fall arrest
forces and the energy absorber does not deploy, the PFL still must be
removed from service and marked as “UNUSABLE” until it has been
destroyed.
lIf the load indicator is deployed, immediately remove the PFL from service
and mark it as “UNUSABLE” until it has been destroyed.
Failure to follow these warnings can result in serious personal injury or
death.
3 Product Specification
System Requirements
Component ABNT IRAM
Anchorage
Connector Standard
NBR 16325:2014 IRAM 3605
Harness Standard NBR 15836:2020 IRAM 3605
Connectors
Standard
NBR 15837:2020 IRAM 3605
Retractable Type
Fall Arresters
NBR 14628:2020 IRAM 3605
Structure Strength 12 kN 12 kN
Energy Absorber NBR 14629:2020 IRAM 3605
NOTE: The product may comply with standards shown. See product label for
specific compliance information. Those designated with a certification mark are
listed with the corresponding agency as compliant to the applicable standard.
3 Product Specification
8 V-TEC® PFL US

PFL Materials
Component Standard Material
Case Polycarbonate
Drum Stainless Steel / Nylon
Chassis, Pawl, Swivel Assembly,
Main Spring
Stainless Steel
Lifeline 2/3" (17 mm) wide / 0.06" (1.4 mm) thick
HMPE
Connectors Steel OR Aluminum
4 Harness Attachment
WARNING!
DO NOT rely on feel or sound to verify proper connector engagement. Ensure the
connector is closed before use.
Failure to follow this warning can result in serious personal injury or death.
4.1 Attach V-TECSingle Leg PFLto Harness
A V-TEC PFL may be connected to an approved full body harness by feeding the
carabiner through the back D-ring of the harness. In these applications, the
snaphook is connected to a suitable anchorage with the appropriate connecting
hardware.
4.2 Attach V-TECTwinLeg PFLs to Harness with V-TECTwinLink
Connector
A V-TEC TwinLink connector can be used to connect two V-TEC PFLs side-by-side
on a full body harness just below the rear D-Ring or through the PFL tunnel. The V-
TEC TwinLink connector shall only be used to connect a maximum of two V-TEC
PFLs to the harness.*
* The V-TEC TwinLink (minus the clip) may be used to attach directly to a full body harness D-ring.
4 Harness Attachment
US V-TEC® PFL 9

1. If harness has PFL tunnel—
use PFL tunnel as connection
point.
2. Unclip plastic divider on V-TEC
TwinLink connector. Rotate, lift, and
twist gate on carabiner. Push gate
inward to open carabiner.
3. Feed carabiner through swivel eyelet
on first V-TEC PFL.
4. Feed carabiner through PFL tunnel or behind both straps on harness.
5. Feed swivel eyelet of second V-TEC PFL onto carabiner and allow
carabiner gate to snap shut. Rotate plastic divider and clip it into position to
maintain separation of PFLs.
6. If harness has PFL tunnel—
Installation complete.
If harness does not have PFL tunnel—
Pull harness straps back through
dorsal pad to eliminate slack in
webbing.
4 Harness Attachment
10 V-TEC® PFL US

5 Installation and Use
5.1 Intended Use
PFLs are intended to be used as a connecting element between a full body harness
and anchor point. See Section 3 Product Specification. A full body harness is the
only acceptable body holding device to be used with a PFL. If supplied as part of a
complete system, components shall not be substituted.
WARNING!
lPFLs are only to be used for their intended purpose and within their
limitations. DO NOT intentionally misuse this product. DO NOT use fall
protection equipment for purposes other than those for which it was designed.
DO NOT use fall protection equipment for towing, hoisting, or material
handling.
lPFLs shall not be altered or added to. No unauthorized repairs, modifications,
alterations and/or additions are permitted.
lRESCUE AND EVACUATION: the user must have a rescue plan and the
means at hand to implement it. The plan must take into account the equipment
and specific training necessary to affect prompt rescue under all foreseeable
conditions. It is recommended to provide means for user evacuation without
assistance of others. This will usually reduce the time to get to a safe place
and reduce or prevent the risk to rescuers.
lDO NOT rely on feel or sound to verify proper snaphook or carabiner
engagement. Ensure that gate and keeper are closed before use.
lAdditional lanyard connectors shall not be added, as this would serve to
lengthen the lifeline and increase free fall.
lDO NOT use the PFL in leading edge applications.
lUnsuitable for use on unstable surfaces, fine grain materials or particulate
surfaces such as sand or coal, as insufficient speed may prevent lock-on in
the event of a fall (possible engulfment hazard).
lPFLs shall not come into contact with hot surfaces (such as hot pipes),
become entangled with moving machinery, or come into contact with electrical
hazards (such as high voltage power lines).
lPFLs shall be protected from fire, acids, caustic solutions, or temperatures
outside the range -40°F to 130°F (-40°C to 54°C).
Failure to follow these warnings can result in serious personal injury or
death.
5 Installation and Use
US V-TEC® PFL 11

5.2 General Installation and Use
Connectors: Ensure PFL connectors are compatible with the attachments to which
they are connected (to prevent roll-out), and are fully closed and locked before use.
See Section 3 Product Specification.
Anchors: Ensure the PFL is attached to a compatible anchor –flexible anchors,
such as anchor lines, horizontal lifelines, rails, or cantilever structures can affect the
ability of the V-TEC PFL to lock-on in the case of a fall. For further clarification on
compatibility specifications, refer to the user instructions of the flexible anchor
product. Should compatibility information not be included in the flexible anchor user
instructions, contact the flexible anchor manufacturer for clarification.
Retraction: In use, the PFL lifelines will extract and retract without hesitation. Do
not allow the lifeline to pass through legs or under arms, or wrap around structure. If
the lifeline does not retract in use, fully extract the lifeline and slowly allow it to
retract. If the lifeline continues to hesitate in retraction, contact MSA.
Twin Leg Connection: The PFL twin-leg configuration is intended to give users
100% tie-off when moving around the work site. One of the legs must be attached to
an appropriate anchorage connector while the user moves to the new location. At
the new location, attach the second leg to an appropriate anchorage connector
before disconnecting the original leg. Repeat this process until the final destination
has been reached. Do NOT work with both legs connected to an anchorage
connector.
WARNING!
Dual-connections shall only be made for the purposes of 100% tie-off transitions, if
a dual connection is made for any other purpose, anchorages of different elevations
must be utilized.
Failure to follow this warning can result in serious personal injury or death.
Storage: When not in use, store with the lifeline fully retracted as prolonged periods
of full extraction may weaken the retraction spring. Guide the lifeline back to the unit
for full retraction. Do NOT release lifeline from a distance as it will retract at high
speed, potentially damaging internal parts. The connector may also strike objects in
its path, causing damage to those objects and to the connector. See Section 7
Cleaning and Storage for full cleaning and storage instructions.
5 Installation and Use
12 V-TEC® PFL US

6 Fall Clearance Charts
6.1 V-TEC Fall Clearance Charts
1.8 m V-TECPFL: 1.8 m / 6 ft Length
V-TEC Single PFL V-TEC Twin PFL
Product: V-TECPFL
Use: Non-leading edge
applications
Capacity: ≤ 310 lbs (140
kg)
6 Fall Clearance Charts
US V-TEC® PFL 13

7 Cleaning and Storage
If required, the PFL exterior and lifelines may be cleaned using a damp cloth and
warm water (max 40°C), and allowed to dry naturally before use. Excessive build-
up of dirt, paint etc. can compromise both retraction and strength of the lifeline.
Store or transport the PFL in a cool, dry, clean environment, away from heat, steam,
harmful fumes, corrosive agents, rodents, dust, oil, and direct sunlight. During
transportation, the device shall be protected to prevent damage or contamination.
Examine the PFL after long periods of storage prior to returning it to service.
Moving parts of snaphooks and carabiners may require periodic lubrication. Some
mineral oils can have adverse effects on Polycarbonate, so it is recommended that
silicon or PTFE-based lubricants are used, or care is taken to avoid contact
between the lubricating oil and the PFL case.
Follow lubricant manufacturer’s instruction. Do not over-lubricate. Wipe excess with
a clean, dry cloth.
8 Pre-Use Checks and Periodic Examinations
The safety of the user relies upon the continued efficiency and durability of the
equipment, therefore pre-use checks shall be completed before each use. See
Table 2, Pre-Use Checks, for pre-use check information. Periodic examinations
shall be completed by a person, other than the user, competent in the examination
of PFLs, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The interval will be
dictated by the usage, local regulations, and environmental conditions, and will be
at least annually (see Table 3 Periodic Examination Interval). A record shall be kept
of the results of the examination.
7 Cleaning and Storage
14 V-TEC® PFL US

Table 1 Pre-Use Checks
Pre-Use
Checks
Method
Labels Ensure labels are present and legible.
Examination Date Ensure date of next examination has not elapsed. Ensure a
periodic examination is not due as determined by a competent
person. See Table 3, Periodic Examination Interval, and
product’s inspection grid.
General Condition
and Lifeline
Examine for signs of excessive damage, wear, corrosion or
contamination. Inspect the full length of lifeline and verify that it
has no broken, frayed, cut, abraded, or missing threads. Verify
there are no reductions in width or thickness of the lifeline.
Verify there are no smooth, discolored, shiny, hardened, or
glazed areas of the lifeline that indicate exposure to heat or
chemicals.
Energy Absorber
Housing
Ensure that the energy absorber is not protruding from the top,
bottom, or sides of the housing. Check the housing connection
points for signs of parting or cracking. Inspect for the ingress of
harmful chemicals or materials.
Extraction and
Retraction
Inspect lifeline extraction and retraction by pulling the full
length of the line out and letting it retract back into the housing
in a controlled manner. Maintain a light tension on the lifeline
while it retracts. The line operation must be smooth and
unhesitant.
Lock-on Pull sharply on the lifeline – ensure device locks. Repeat three
times.
Connectors Check for correct operation of connector and connector gate.
Table 2 Periodic Examination Interval
Usage Interval
Infrequent to light Annually (12 months)
Moderate to heavy Semi-annually to annually (6-12 months)
Severe to continuous Quarterly to semi-annually (3-6 months)
Usage shall be determined by a competent person. A competent person is defined as a person,
other than the user, competent in the examination of PPE in accordance with MSA instructions.
8 Pre-Use Checks and Periodic Examinations
US V-TEC® PFL 15

The V-TECPFLis not repairable. Maximum product life: Continued use is
dependent upon passing pre-use checks and periodic examinations. Service life
may be reduced by frequency and conditions of use or local regulations.
WARNING!
lPFLs shall not be altered or added to. No unauthorized repairs, modifications,
alterations and/or additions are permitted.
lPFLs that have arrested a fall or are unable to pass an inspection shall be
tagged “UNUSABLE” and disposed of in accordance with local regulations.
lDue to the nature of some fall arrest events, it is possible for the load indicator
to not deploy. In the event that a PFL is subjected to fall arrest forces and the
energy absorber does not deploy, the PFL still must be removed from service
and marked as “UNUSABLE” until it has been destroyed.
lIf the energy absorber is deployed, immediately remove the PFL from service
and mark it as “UNUSABLE” until it has been destroyed.
Failure to follow these warnings can result in serious personal injury or
death.
8 Pre-Use Checks and Periodic Examinations
16 V-TEC® PFL US

Inspection Checklist
# Description Good—
Safe for
Use
Good—
Safe for
Use
Good—
Safe for
Use
Damaged, Worn,
Altered, Missing—
Remove from
Service Comments
1Housing
2Labels
3Lifeline
4Energy absorber
5Connectors
Lock on (ensure
device locks)
V-TEC PFL
8 Pre-Use Checks and Periodic Examinations
US V-TEC® PFL 17

9 Warranty
Express Warranty – MSA warrants that the product furnished is free from
mechanical defects or faulty workmanship for a period of one (1) year from first use
or eighteen (18) months from date of shipment, whichever occurs first, provided it is
maintained and used in accordance with MSA’s instructions and/or
recommendations. Replacement parts and repairs are warranted for ninety (90)
days from the date of repair of the product or sale of the replacement part,
whichever occurs first. MSA shall be released from all obligations under this
warranty in the event repairs or modifications are made by persons other than its
own authorized service personnel or if the warranty claim results from misuse of the
product. No agent, employee or representative of MSA may bind MSA to any
affirmation, representation or modification of the warranty concerning the goods
sold under this contract. MSA makes no warranty concerning components or
accessories not manufactured by MSA, but will pass on to the Purchaser all
warranties of manufacturers of such components.
THIS WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES,EXPRESS,IMPLIED OR
STATUTORY,AND STRICTLY LIMITED TO THE TERMS HEREOF. MSASPECIFICALLY
DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE.
Exclusive Remedy – It is expressly agreed that the Purchaser’s sole and exclusive
remedy for breach of the above warranty, for any tortious conduct of MSA, or for
any other cause of action, shall be the repair and/or replacement, at MSA’s option,
of any equipment or parts thereof, that after examination by MSA are proven to be
defective. Replacement equipment and/or parts will be provided at no cost to the
Purchaser, F.O.B. Purchaser’s named place of destination. Failure of MSA to
successfully repair any nonconforming product shall not cause the remedy
established hereby to fail of its essential purpose.
EXCLUSION OF CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES – PURCHASER SPECIFICALLY UNDERSTANDS
AND AGREES THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL MSA BE LIABLE TO PURCHASER
FOR ECONOMIC,SPECIAL,INCIDENTAL,OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF
ANY KIND WHATSOEVER,INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO,LOSS OF ANTICIPATED PROFITS
AND ANY OTHER LOSS CAUSED BY REASON OF THE NON-OPERATION OF THE GOODS. THIS
EXCLUSION IS APPLICABLE TO CLAIMS FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY,TORTIOUS CONDUCT
OR ANY OTHER CAUSE OF ACTION AGAINST MSA.
For additional information, please use your local contacts on our website
www.MSAsafety.com.
9 Warranty
18 V-TEC® PFL US