PFAS Components

Anchorages

Anchorage systems normally include, at a minimum, a building structure and an anchorage device to which the worker will tie off.

Anchorages used to attach personal fall arrest systems must be designed, installed, and used under the supervision of a qualified person, as part of a complete personal fall arrest system which maintains a safety factor of at least two. Alternatively, the anchorages must be independent of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms and must be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds per worker attached or be capable of supporting at least twice the expected impact load.

Vertical Lifelines and Lanyards

Vertical lifelines and lanyards must have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds. Lifelines must be protected against being cut or abraded.

Horizontal Lifelines

On suspended scaffolds or similar work platforms with horizontal lifelines that may become vertical lifelines, the devices used to connect to a horizontal lifeline must be capable of locking in both directions on the lifeline.

Horizontal lifelines must be designed, installed, and used under the supervision of a qualified person, as part of a complete personal fall arrest system that maintains a safety factor of at least two.

Self-Retracting Lifelines and Lanyards

Self-retracting lifelines and lanyards that automatically limit free fall distance to two feet or less must be capable of sustaining a minimum tensile load of 3,000 pounds applied to the device with the lifeline or lanyard in the fully extended position.

Self-retracting lifelines and lanyards which do not limit free fall distance to two feet or less, ripstitch lanyards, and tearing and deforming lanyards must be capable of sustaining a minimum tensile load of 5,000 pounds applied to the device with the lifeline or lanyard in the fully extended position.

To learn more about Fall Protection visit our Construction Fall Protection Online Training web page.