Mid-span fall protection system

1. A mid-span fall protection system comprising:

a remotely attachable fall protection latching mechanism for attachment to an elevated horizontal strand;

an elongated rigid structure for extending between a support surface and said elevated horizontal strand, said fall protection latching mechanism attached to an upper end of said elongated rigid structure;

said fall protection latching mechanism including:

a hook portion for engaging over said elevated horizontal strand to provide a support for said fall protection latching mechanism; and

a fall protection line coupling structure attached to said hook portion for providing a direct connection between said hook portion and a fall protection line; and

a fall protection line having an upper end attached to and supported by said coupling structure, and having a lower end located adjacent a lower end of said elongated rigid structure at said support surface, said fall protection line providing a connection between said fall protection latching mechanism and a worker moving vertically along said elongated rigid structure; and

wherein said coupling structure is adapted to provide a connection between said fall protection line and said elevated horizontal strand independently of said elongated rigid structure.

2. The fall protection system of claim 1 wherein said fall protection latching mechanism provides a connection for attachment of said elongated rigid structure to said elevated horizontal strand.

3. The fall protection system of claim 1 wherein said hook portion comprises a unitary bar bent in a generally U-shape for engaging over the elevated horizontal strand and said coupling structure is connected to one leg of said U-shape.

4. The fall protection system of claim 1 wherein said fall protection latching mechanism comprises a movable latch member for closing an opening in said hook portion provided for receiving said elevated horizontal strand.

5. The fall protection system of claim 4 wherein said movable latch member comprises a pivoting member biased into a position closing said opening, and having an outer surface for engagement with said elevated horizontal strand to cause said movable latch member to pivot inwardly to an open position to permit passage of said elevated horizontal strand into engagement with said hook portion.

6. The fall protection system of claim 5 including a remote actuator attached to said movable latch member for actuating said movable latch member from a location adjacent said lower end of said elongated rigid structure.

7. The fall protection system of claim 1 wherein said elongated rigid structure comprises a ladder.

8. A mid-span fall protection system comprising:

a remotely attachable fall protection latching mechanism for attachment to an elevated horizontal strand;

an elongated rigid structure for extending between a support surface and said elevated horizontal strand, said fall protection latching mechanism attached to an upper end of said elongated rigid structure;

said fall protection latching mechanism including:

a hook portion for engaging over said elevated horizontal strand to provide a support for said fall protection latching mechanism; and

a fall protection line coupling structure attached to said hook portion for providing a direct connection between said hook portion and a fall protection line; and

a fall protection line having an upper end attached to and supported by said coupling structure, and having a lower end located adjacent a lower end of said elongated rigid structure at said support surface, said fall protection line providing a connection between said fall protection latching mechanism and a worker moving vertically along said elongated rigid structure, and including an auto-latching/locking mechanism located on said fall protection line.

9. The fall protection system of claim 8 wherein said auto-latching/locking mechanism requires manual release for removal from said fall protection line.

10. A mid-span fall protection system comprising:

first and second remotely attachable fall protection latching mechanisms for attachment to an elevated horizontal strand;

an elongated ladder structure for extending between a support surface and said elevated horizontal strand, said first and second fall protection latching mechanisms attached to opposing sides of an upper end of said ladder structure;

said fall protection latching mechanisms including:

a hook portion for engaging over said elevated horizontal strand to provide a support for said fall protection latching mechanism and to provide a support for said ladder structure; and

a fall protection line coupling structure connected to said hook portion of at least one of said fall protection latching mechanisms for providing a direct connection between said hook portion and a fall protection line; and

a fall protection line having an upper end attached to and supported by said coupling structure, and having a lower end located adjacent a lower end of said ladder structure at said support surface, said fail protection line providing a connection between at least one of said fall protection latching mechanisms and a worker moving vertically along said ladder structure.

11. The fall protection system of claim 10 wherein said coupling structure is adapted to provide a connection between said fall protection line and said elevated horizontal strand independently of said ladder structure.

12. The fall protection system of claim 10 wherein said hook portions each comprise a unitary bar bent in a generally U-shape for engaging over the elevated horizontal strand and said coupling structure is connected to one leg of said U-shape.

13. The fall protection system of claim 12 wherein said coupling structure includes a lateral coupling element extending between and connected to each of said latching mechanisms, and said fall protection line is supported on said lateral coupling element.

14. The fall protection system of claim 10 wherein at least one of said fall protection latching mechanisms comprises a movable latch member for closing an opening in said hook portion provided for receiving said elevated horizontal strand.

15. The fall protection system of claim 14 wherein said movable latch member comprises a pivoting member biased into a position closing said opening, and having an outer surface for engagement with said elevated horizontal strand to cause said movable latch member to pivot inwardly to an open position to permit passage of said elevated horizontal strand into engagement with said hook portion.

16. The fall protection system of claim 15 including a remote actuator attached to said movable latch member for enabling actuation of said movable latch member by movement of said remote actuator at a location adjacent said lower end of said ladder structure.

17. The fall protection system of claim 10 including a brace member attached to and extending between said first and second latching mechanisms for engaging and supporting said ladder structure on a vertical post structure.

18. The fall protection system of claim 10 wherein said first and second latching mechanisms each include a bracket attached to a respective leg of said ladder structure and said hook portions of said first and second latching mechanisms are supported on respective brackets and are pivotally movable about axes generally parallel to a direction of elongation of said ladder structure whereby said hook portions are pivotable through at least about 90° of movement.