3M today posted an official recall notice of its original tower climber Lad-Saf sleeve. After 30 years of use, the popular fall protection equipment has been replaced by a redesigned “next-generation” Lad-Saf sleeve.
According to the recall, 3M and its fall protection subsidiary Capital Safety recently reviewed a “limited number” of incidents involving a serious injury or death in the United States while using the sleeve.
The company’s investigation did not reveal product hazard or risk scenarios that would arise in the ordinary and proper use of the product, but it did reveal potential misuse scenarios that could result in serious injury or death. Potential misuse scenarios include interference with the braking mechanism like entanglement with cords, lanyards, clothing or other materials, or grasping the sleeve prior to or during a fall, as well as from users attaching the sleeve upside down.
“Proper working fall arrest equipment is vital to ensure worker’s safety,” said Todd Schlekeway, executive director at the National Association of Tower Erectors. “So I appreciate 3M making this information available and taking this step, because it certainly, from a safety and health of elevated workers standpoint, it is important to get this product off the tower and stop being utilized as part of fall prevention systems moving forward.”
Though no safety regulator made a finding that the design of the original Lad-Saf sleeve was defective, 3M has decided to discontinue the sale of the original Lad-Saf sleeve, initiating a full recall of all original Lad-Saf sleeves.
According to the official recall documentation, owners and users of original Lad-Saf sleeves must:
- Immediately stop using and quarantine all original Lad-Saf sleeves. Affected part numbers are: 6100016, 6116500, 6116501, 6116502, 6116503, 6116504, 6116505, 6116506, 6116507, 6116509, 6116512, 6116535, 6116540, 6116541, 6116542, 6116500C, 6116500SM, 6116507/A, 6116540b.
- Contact 3M Customer Services at 1-800-328-6146 (ext. 2012), or email them at LADSAFNA@mmm.com to discuss the replacement of returned units with an X2 or X3 sleeve at no cost.
The proper operation of this particular piece of equipment is essential to the safety of workers.
“It’s attached to the safety climb, the cable climb, so it plays a vital role in ensuring elevated worker safety,” Schlekeway said. “It is certainly paramount that the industry respond accordingly to this product release. NATE will be issuing an Advisory Alert shortly to our member and industry stakeholder database to inform the industry about this recall notice.”
Here is an official statement from 3M on the matter:
“We apologize for any inconvenience that this situation may cause you, but we are confident that you will be very pleased with the latest generation X2 and X3 Lad-Saf sleeves to keep your workers safe at height. We appreciate your continued support of 3M Fall Protection products and services.”
