50FT Self Retracting Lifeline Fall Protection - Heavy Duty Retractable Safety Lanyard with Steel Wire Rope | OSHA Compliant Roofing Safety Equipment for Construction, Window Cleaning & Industrial Work at Heights

Me and my son-in-law built a tree house with a 9/12 roof pitch which is un-walkable at about a 38 degree angle (similar to steep roof churches).We installed a 4ft x 6 ft roof skylight that has to be cleaned twice a year. We did install a safety roof anchor at the peak of the roof when we shingled thew roof. On previous skylight cleanings, we simply tied a rope the around the waist and onto the safety anchor and another rope onto a nearby tree for fall protection.I was never comfortable with this situation and was always looking for an automatic catch and stop safety device with a relatively short overall maximum length. This model RTOVZON Fall Arrest has an 11 foot cable which will be just enough length to reach the skylight from the safety hook (other of their models have longer working lengths). We also now have an official safety vest in lieu of a tie around the waist. I am much more comfortable now when the sky light needs cleaning. (When we shingled the roof, we used roof jacks and 2 x12 lumber to crawl around without safety lines. Looking back, it would have been nice to have this RTOVZON then . It would have made the job go much faster. ) I can sleep good at night now, without worry.The attaching hardware seems strong and failsafe. The snap shackle for your vest is a one hand operation. The connection to the roof mounted safety ring is more of a two hand operation where you screw spinning fittings over the opening of the shackle to prevent it from accidentally opening up if caught in the line. The line pulls out of the housing evenly when pulled slowly, but a quick jerk on the line activates two pawls inside the unit which lock up the drum and prevent any more line from pulling out and thus saving your fall. Using this two or three times a year, it will probably last us a lifetime. If you intend to use one daily, a more expensive professional model would probably be a better choice.