Lad-Saf X2	Lad-Saf X3

L-3330	LS-038

Overview

[ Top | L-3330 | LS-038 | X2 | X3 | Return to Rope Grabs ]

X2
(#3748)

Front	Rear	Open for Rigging

Technical Details

I acquired this DBI/SALA Lad-Saf X2 (6160030) from Marine Federation in 2022.

My DBI/SALA Lad-Saf X2 (6160030) is 162 mm. long, 119 mm. wide, 40 mm. high, and weighs 949 g.

The right-side of the X2 is an irregular-shaped steel casting that forms the main body and rope channel for the device. In back, the casting has two ears drilled to support a rivet and a U-channel guide roller below the rope cam. Extensions toward the front support the left side plate, which is made from 1/8" (3.2 mm.) steel riveted into place with three rivets.

The middle rivet supports a spring-loaded cam lever. The inner end of this lever presses against a cast steel cam. The cam face is straight with 10 flat teeth formed by shallow 1.5 mm. U-shaped grooves centered 3.9 mm. apart. The other end of the cam arm has a serpentine arm terminating in a swivel eye. The serpentine portion is covered with front and rear plastic covers.

The bottom rivet supports a spring-loaded stamped extension arm with an upper U-channel guide roller enclosed.

A small spring-loaded lever rides on a pin below the cam lever. This pin actuates a small cam that keeps the main cam from opening. To rig or derig the device, one must depress this lever.

The main casting has an upward-pointing arrow and "UP," "HAUT," "AUF" and "ALTO" behind the rope channel. The cover plate is stamped wi tn 'USE ONLY 5/16 " or 3/8"(8 or 9.5mm) DIA SOLID CORE CABLE.

The front has a sticker with the DBI/SALA logo, "www.capitalsafety.com," +1-800-328-6146," "LAD-SAF™X2," "↑↑," and 9508007 Rev. D." The right side has a warning sticker with labels that includes the warning, "DO NOT USE WITH LANYARD."

The rear has a sticker with "MODEL NO.6160030," "SERIAL NO. 025772," a warning icon, "WARNING," a human icon, "X 1 MAXI.," a book-with-an-"i" icon, "40-141 KG," a weight icon, "Failure to heed warnings may result in serious injury or death. Read and follow manufacturer's instructions supplied with this product before use. Use only with DBI-SALA approved system and harness. Inspect before each use. Attach sleeve to frontal D-ring on harness with DBI-SALA supplied carabiner." "ADVERTISSEMENT," "Négliger d'observerr les advertissements peuf occasionner des blessures graves, voire mortelles. On droit observer les instructions du fabricant fournies avec ce produit avant de l'utiliser.," "ANSI A14.3-2008," the CSA logo, "CSA Z259.2.5," "automatic, sternal," "CE0086," "PATENT PENDING," "EN353-1:2004," and "9508009 Rev. F."

The front serpentine cover has a molded with a raised "isafe" logo and is printed with "E00403500A69185D." The rear cover is molded with "LAD-SAF" in raised letters.

A previous user taped a label with "2851." I subsequently removed this label as it is not original.

Comments

The X3 is designed for use on steel cable, not rope. I do not like this idea; rope provides a shock-absorbing capability that steel cable does not. This is probably why DBI/SALA limits the lanyard length to 9 inches - to ensure that no one takes a significant fall. This would only work if the cable is tight to begin with - for example, tightly anchored both top and bottom.

The serpentine arm should extend during a hard fall. If it does, then the X3 should be replaced.

[ Top | L-3330 | LS-038 | X2 | Return to Rope Grabs ]

X3
(#3746)

Front	Rear	Open for Rigging

Technical Details

I acquired my L-3330 on eBay in 2004.

The X3 differs from the X2 in two ways. First, it has a captured steel carabiner in the swivel eye. Second, it does not have plastic covers over the serpentine arm.

The main casting has an upward-pointing arrow and "UP," "HAUT," "AUF" and "ALTO" behind the rope channel. The cover plate is stamped with 'USE ONLY 5/16 " or 3/8"(8 or 9.5mm) DIA SOLID CORE CABLE.

The front has a sticker with the 3M logo, the DBI/SALA logo, "FALL PROTECTION," "3M.com/FallProtection," +1-800-328-6146," "Red Wing, MN 55066, USA," "LAD-SAF™X3," "↑↑," and 9511412 Rev. B." The right side has a warning sticker with labels that includes the warning, "DO NOT USE WITH LANYARD."

The rear has a sticker with "MODEL NO.6160054," "SERIAL NO. 0136394," a warning icon, "WARNING," "ADVERTISSEMENT," "40-141 KG," a weight icon. "Failure to heed warnings may result in serious injury or death. Read and follow manufacturer's instructions supplied with this product before use. Use only with DBI-SALA approved system and harness. Inspect before each use. Attach sleeve to frontal D-ring on harness with DBI-SALA supplied carabiner. Do not grasp the sleeve or cable while actively climbing," a similar warning in French, a human icon, something scratched away (probably "X 1 MAXI.," and a book-with-an-"i" icon), the CSA logo, "CSA Z259.2.5," "automatic, sternal," "9514023 Rev. C." "CE2797," "ANSI Z359-15," "EN353-1:2004+A/201[illegible],"

Comments

My comments for the X2 also apply to the X3.

[ Top | LS-038 | X2 | X3 | Return to Rope Grabs ]

L-3330
(#804)

Front	Rear	Side

Technical Details

I acquired my L-3330 on eBay in 2004.

My DBI/SALA Lad-Saf L-3330 is 133 mm. long, 135 mm. wide, 32 mm. high, and weighs 690 g.

The right-side of the L-3330 is an irregular-shaped steel casting that forms the main body and rope channel for the device. In back, the casting has two ears drilled to support a semi-tubular rivet and a U-channel guide roller below the rope cam. Extensions toward the front support the left side plate, which is made from 1/8" (3.2 mm.) steel riveted into place with three semi-tubular rivets.

The top rivet supports (1) a spring-loaded stamped extension arm with an upper U-channel guide roller enclosed, and (2) a short arm that acts as an upper cam face guide.

The middle rivet supports a spring-loaded cam lever, which is attached to the cam face with a 9 mm. steel pin (held with an external retaining ring). The other end of the cam arm bends downward, where a 16 mm. hole provides a tie-in point. The cam face is straight with 12 flat teeth formed by shallow 1.5 mm. U-shaped grooves centered 3.9 mm. apart.

The third rivet supports a loose block that serves to partially block cam opening if the device is upside down, helping to avoid rigging the device upside-down.

A small spring-loaded lever rides on a pin below the cam lever. This pin actuates a small cam that keeps the main cam from opening. To rig or derig the device, one must depress this lever.

The main casting has an upward-pointing arrow and "UP," "HAUT," "AUF" and "ALTO" cast near the rope admission opening. The sticker has "RM-3340" printed vertically at the right edge. The main text reads as follows:

LAD-SAF®
MODEL L-3330       
SERIAL NO.
S64491
DB INDUSTRIES, INC.
RED WING, MN 55066
DBI/SALA ™

MADE IN USA
ANSI A14.3

U.S. PAT. NO.
5,265,696
                
WARNING

READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS
SUPPLIED WITH THIS PRODUCT BEFORE USE
FAILURE TO DO SO COULD RESULT IN
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THIS DEVICE
MAY ONLY BE USED AS PART OF A DBI/SALA
APPROVED LADDER SAFETY SYSTEM. THE
CABLE AND THE HARNESS OR SAFETY BELT
ATTACHMENT POINT IS 9 INCHES.
INSPECT THIS DEVICE PRIOR TO USE.

The right side of the cam is stamped "94102301." The left side is stamped "FOR USE ONLY WITH 3/8" DIA SOLID CORE CABLE."

The LS-58 is protected by U.S. Patent 5,265,696.

Comments

The L-3330 is designed for use on steel cable, not rope. I do not like this idea; rope provides a shock-absorbing capability that steel cable does not. This is probably why DBI/SALA limits the lanyard length to 9 inches - to ensure that no one takes a significant fall. This would only work if the cable is tight to begin with - for example, tightly anchored both top and bottom.

I did not show the L-3300 open for rigging since one merely depresses the lever on the left side and opens the cam, without having to remove any pins or disassemble the device in any way. This is easy to say, but rather awkward in practice. The release lever that allows opening the cam is small and in an inconvenient location and the cam spring is strong enough that one wishes for a third hand to help hold the body, cam. lever. and cable all in the proper alignment for rigging.

I've seen the L-3330 attached to fixed cables associated with caged ladders in industrial facilities. In these cases, the cable was tightly anchored both top and bottom, and the L-3330 was permanently attached. This was convenient for the first person to climb the ladder.

[ Top | L-3330 | X2 | X3 | Return to Rope Grabs ]

LS-038
(#803)

Front	Rear

Side	Open for Rigging

Technical Details

I acquired my LS-038 on eBay in 2004.

My DBI/SALA Lad-Saf LS-038 is 132 mm. long, 180 mm. wide, 61 mm. high, and weighs 892 g.

The body of the LS-038 is formed from 1/8" (3.2 mm.) stainless steel bent into a 5/8" (16 mm.; internal width) U-shape. There is a second, much smaller U-shaped piece welded to the bottom. This is drilled to accept a 4.5 mm. rivet, which mounts a 7.8 mm. wide roller. The roller has a U-shaped groove turned in it, giving the roller central and peripheral diameters of 12.9 and 14.4 mm., respectively. The shell has two sets of 11.5 mm. holes that accept 11 mm. diameter, 23 mm. working length quick release pins to support the internals assembly. A lightweight wire chain attaches the quick-release pins and internal assembly to the shell so that the user does not drop individual pieces while rigging the device.

The internal;s assembly consists of two cast stainless steel pieces and a variety of minor parts. One piece forms the cam face that bears against the rope. This piece is 115 mm. tall. The top has a cutout to support a rivet and roller. The roller is similar to the shell roller. The back of the cam face piece has an angled notch that engages the upper quick release pin in a way that allows the cam face to slide upward and toward the rope when the device is loaded.

The second internals casting is a cam actuation lever. It pivots on the lower quick release pin. The interior end fits in a groove cut in the lower half of the cam face piece. This groove extends through the cam face piece to the rope contact surface. A spring connects the lower part of the cam face piece with the base of the cam actuation lever. This provides pressure to help keep the cam face against the rope.

The cam face piece has an arrow and "UP" engraved on both sides. The left side of the shell has a yellow sticker which reads as follows:

LAD-SAF®
                   
WARNING
READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS
SUPPLIED WITH THIS PRODUCT BEFORE
USE. THIS DEVICE MAY ONLY BE USED
AS PART OF A DB INDUSTRIES
APPROVED SYSTEM.      ANSI A14.3
     SERIAL NO.
     S53919
DBI/SALA ™
DB INDUSTRIES, INC.
RED WING, MN 55066

PAT. NO’s.  U.S. 3,979,797;
4,071,926; 4,193,475  CAN.
1,037,000; 1,052,340;1,102,288

The right side of the shell is stamped with an arrow labeled "UP," "HAUT," "AUF," and "ALTO" and with the message, "LS-038 FOR USE ONLY WITH 3/8 solid core cable.

The LS-038 is protected by U.S. Patents 3,979,797, 4,071,926, and 4,193,475.

Comments

Like the L-3330, the LS-038 is designed for use on steel cable, not rope. As I said there, I do not like this idea; rope provides a shock-absorbing capability that steel cable does not. In this case, DB Industries did not provide any warnings or limits on lanyard length, but I believe that they should have.

The lower roller seems rather narrow.

[ Top | L-3330 | LS-038 | X2 | X3 ]