PFAS Checklist

A personal fall arrest system (PFAS) is one way to protect workers on construction sites where there are vertical drops of six or more feet. Systems must be set up so that a worker cannot fall more than six feet.

When wearing a PFAS, you should be able to answer "yes" to each of the following questions:

1. Is your personal fall arrest system made up of an anchorage, connecting device, and a full-body harness?
2. Are the components from the same manufacturer, to ensure that the system works as it should? If not, has any substitution or change to a personal fall arrest system been fully evaluated or tested by a competent person to determine that it meets the standard?
3. Has your personal fall arrest system been inspected for damage each time before you wear it? If there are defects, or if someone has taken a fall using the equipment, you should remove it from service immediately.
4. Is the attachment location of the body harness in the center of your back, near the shoulder level or above your head?
5. Do vertical lifelines or lanyards have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds? Are they protected against being cut or abraded?
6. Will each worker be attached to a separate vertical lifeline?
7. Is the webbing made of synthetic fibers?
8. Is the anchorage for workers' personal fall arrest equipment independent of any anchorage used to support or suspend platforms? Is it able to support at least 5,000 pounds per worker attached to it?
9. Are the connectors made from steel or equivalent materials, with a corrosion-resistant finish and smooth edges?
10. Do the D-rings and snaphooks have a minimum tensile strength of 5,000 pounds?
11. Are snaphooks of a locking-type and designed to prevent the snaphook from opening and slipping off the connector?
12. Are the snaphooks not directly connected to the webbing, rope or wire, to each other, to a D-ring to which another snaphook or other connector is attached, to a horizontal lifeline, or to any other object that could cause the snaphook to open?

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