Distance Considerations

Free fall: A system's maximum arresting force is evaluated under normal use conditions established by the manufacturer. "Normal use" means a free fall distance of fewer than 6 feet. A few extra feet of free fall can significantly increase the arresting force on the employee, possibly to the point of causing injury. Because of this, the free fall distance should be kept at a minimum, and, as required by the 29 CFR 1926, in no case greater than 6 feet.

Elongation and deceleration distance: Other factors involved in a proper tie-off are elongation and deceleration distance. During the arresting of a fall, a lanyard will experience a length of stretching or elongation, whereas activation of a deceleration device will result in a certain stopping distance. These distances should be available with the lanyard or device's instructions and must be added to the free fall distance to arrive at the total fall distance before an employee is fully stopped.

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