Personal Fall Protection Systems

There are two main types of personal fall-protection systems:

• Fall arrest system - an assembly of components and subsystems used to arrest, or stop, a person in free fall.
• Fall restraint system - any equipment, device, or system that protects a person from experiencing an accidental fall from elevation or that mitigates the effects of such a fall. This technique secures an authorized person to an anchorage using a lanyard short enough to prevent the person's center of gravity from reaching a fall hazard.

There are many different kinds of fall restraint and arrest equipment. OSHA does not regulate which type of fall protection equipment should be used, just that it protects an employee from a free fall of more than six feet and from contact with any lower level.

A competent person must evaluate the work situation and determine what fall restraint or arrest equipment is appropriate and necessary before work can begin. In all cases, the fall arrest system should ensure that the worker will not come into contact with a lower surface, or experience a free-fall of more than six feet. When using personal protective equipment (PPE, you should know the manufacturer's recommendations for use of the equipment, as well as the proper lifeline anchoring and tie-off techniques.

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