12 Aug Personal Fall Arrest and Fall Restraint Systems

Personal Fall Arrest and Fall Restraint Systems

Employees who work at heights must understand the difference between a fall restraint system and a personal fall arrest system. Although both are forms of fall protection, they protect workers in different ways.

A fall restraint system prevents a worker from reaching a location where a fall can occur. A personal fall arrest system allows a fall to occur but safely stops the worker before contact with a lower level or other hazard.

Fall Restraint Systems

Fall restraint is designed to prevent the fall from occurring. The system limits the worker’s movement so the worker cannot reach an unprotected edge, opening, or other fall hazard.

Examples may include:

• Guardrail systems that prevent access to an exposed edge.
• A properly configured travel-restraint system consisting of an appropriate anchorage, connector, full-body harness, and restraint line or lanyard.
• Other systems designed and installed to prevent workers from reaching a fall hazard.

When using a personal restraint system, the equipment must be adjusted and positioned so the employee cannot reach the fall exposure. Workers must not extend, reposition, or alter the system in a manner that allows them to reach the edge.

Personal Fall Arrest Systems

A personal fall arrest system (PFAS) is designed to safely stop a worker after a fall has occurred. Depending on the system, components may include:

• An approved anchorage or anchorage connector.
• A full-body harness.
• Connecting devices.
• Shock-absorbing lanyards.
• Self-retracting lifelines or lanyards.
• Vertical or horizontal lifelines.
• Deceleration devices.

All components must be compatible and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Key Personal Fall Arrest Requirements

When using a personal fall arrest system:

• Body belts must not be used as part of a personal fall arrest system. A properly fitted full-body harness is required.
• The system must be rigged so the employee cannot free fall more than 6 feet or contact a lower level.
• Maximum arresting force on an employee using a body harness must not exceed 1,800 pounds.
• The system must limit the maximum deceleration distance to 3.5 feet.
• Anchorages used for personal fall arrest must be independent of anchorages used to support or suspend platforms and must be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds for each attached employee, unless the system is designed, installed, and used as part of a complete personal fall arrest system under the supervision of a qualified person and maintains the required safety factor.
• Guardrails, piping, conduit, and other structures must not be used as anchorage points unless they have been specifically evaluated and approved for that purpose.
• The harness attachment point used for fall arrest must be located as specified for the system and manufacturer’s instructions, generally at the dorsal (back) D-ring.
• Equipment must be inspected before each use for wear, damage, deterioration, or other defects.
• Equipment subjected to impact loading from a fall must be immediately removed from service and must not be reused unless a competent person determines it is undamaged and safe for reuse.

Fall Clearance

Having a harness and lanyard does not automatically mean a worker is protected. There must be sufficient clearance below the worker for the system to arrest the fall before the worker strikes a lower level or obstruction.

Fall-clearance calculations should consider:

• Free-fall distance.
• Deceleration distance.
• Lanyard or lifeline length.
• Harness and D-ring movement.
• Worker height.
• Anchorage location.
• System-specific requirements.
• An appropriate safety margin.

Whenever possible, anchorage points should be positioned to minimize free-fall distance and reduce the potential for swing falls.

Swing-Fall Hazards

A worker who falls while positioned horizontally away from the anchorage may swing like a pendulum. The worker could strike a wall, structural member, equipment, or another obstruction.

Work should therefore be positioned as directly beneath the anchorage as practical, and workers must remain within the allowable working area specified for the fall-protection system.

Rescue Planning

Fall protection does not end when a fall is arrested. A suspended worker may require prompt rescue.

Before using a personal fall arrest system, employees must understand the applicable rescue procedures. The employer must provide for prompt rescue of employees in the event of a fall or ensure employees can rescue themselves when appropriate.

Never rely solely on calling emergency services as a substitute for required fall-rescue planning when prompt rescue cannot otherwise be assured.

Before Each Use

Before using fall restraint or personal fall arrest equipment:

• Inspect the harness, webbing, stitching, D-rings, hooks, connectors, lanyards, lifelines, and other components.
• Verify that the anchorage is appropriate for the system.
• Confirm that all components are compatible.
• Ensure connectors are properly attached and secured.
• Verify adequate fall clearance.
• Consider potential swing-fall hazards.
• Confirm the system is configured for the work being performed.
• Remove damaged or questionable equipment from service.

Remember

The fundamental difference is simple: fall restraint prevents you from reaching the fall hazard; fall arrest stops you after a fall occurs.

Whenever possible, prevent the fall rather than relying on equipment to arrest it. Employees using personal fall protection must be properly trained and must use, inspect, and maintain the equipment according to company procedures and manufacturer requirements.