Can I "tie-back" my lanyard to itself?
Stay Safe. Stay Connected. Know When Tie-Back Is the Right Choice.
At WERNER®, we engineer every component of your fall protection system with a singular purpose: maximum safety on the jobsite. When it comes to tying back a lanyard, the rules are simple and critically important. Not every lanyard is designed for Tie-Back. Using the wrong equipment in the wrong application can compromise your protection.
This guide gives you a clear, authoritative answer backed by Werner product specifications.
TIE-BACK LANYARD SAFETY
Can I Tie-Back a standard lanyard to itself?
No. Never.
Traditional energy absorbing lanyards are not designed to be wrapped around an anchor point and clipped back onto their own webbing. Doing so can expose the web to severe abrasion and load the snap hook in unsafe directions. OSHA requires connectors to be specifically designed for that connection type, and standard hooks simply are not.
What makes a Werner Tie-Back lanyard different?
Werner’s Tie-Back lanyards are engineered from the ground up for this application, featuring:
Abrasion resistant, high durability webbing built to withstand contact with beams and structural steel
Tie-Back rated snap hooks designed to connect directly onto the lanyard web
DCELL Shock Pack energy absorber to manage arresting forces
Availability in singleleg and twinleg (100% tie-off) configurations for continuous mobility
Which Werner lanyards are approved for Tie-Back?
Werner manufactures dedicated Tie-Back models clearly labeled for this purpose:
C311701 – 6' SingleLeg DeCoil Tie-Back Lanyard
C411701 – 6' TwinLeg DeCoil Tie-Back Lanyard (100% tie-off)
These models use reinforced webbing, Tie-Back rated hardware, and proper energy absorption tailored for anchorage wrap applications.
Why can’t I use a standard snap hook for Tie-Back?
Because of connector compatibility rules. OSHA prohibits snap hooks from being attached to objects unless:
The hook is a locking type, and
It is explicitly designed for that style of connection.
Standard hooks are vulnerable to:
Gate loading
Uncontrolled cross loading
Abrasion on the webbing
Risk of rollout or failure
TieBack hooks are specifically engineered to eliminate these hazards.
What risks come from tying back a nonrated lanyard?
Using a non-tieback lanyard incorrectly can lead to:
Dangerous wear on the webbing
Connector deformation
Failure during a fall event
OSHA noncompliance
Catastrophic system failure
At Werner, we strongly reinforce: If it’s not labeled Tie-Back, it’s not approved.
Do Werner Tie-Back lanyards still reduce fall forces?
Absolutely. All Werner Tie-Back models feature the DCELL Shock Pack, engineered for controlled tearing action that reduces forces transmitted to the user during a fall.
How do I know if my Werner lanyard is Tie-Back rated?
Look for:
A model number that includes “Tie-Back”
Product labeling indicating Tie-Back approval
Confirmation in your Werner instructions or catalog materials
WERNER TIE-BACK SAFETY SUMMARY
Tie-Back is safe only when the equipment is built for it.
You can Tie-Back when:
It is a Werner Tie-Back model
The snap hook is Tie-Back rated
The webbing is designed for abrasion
The manufacturer (Werner) explicitly approves this use
You cannot Tie-Back when:
The lanyard is traditional (non-tieback)
The hardware isn’t labeled Tie-Back rated
Documentation does not permit it
Your safety depends on using the correct equipment every time. Werner designs, tests, and certifies each Tie-Back lanyard for this exact purpose because nothing matters more than getting YOU home safely at the end of the day.