When workers are exposed to fall hazards that cannot be eliminated, it is critical to prevent falls or ensure that if a fall occurs, injuries are minimized.
Lifesaving Equipment
A fall-protection system using lifesaving equipment is designed to prevent or arrest falls. Proper use of roof safety harnesses and other systems is essential to worker safety.
Types of Fall Protection Systems
- Personal Fall-Arrest System (PFAS)
- Combines an anchorage point, full-body harness, and lanyard or lifeline.
- Prevents the worker from falling too far.
- Personal Fall-Restraint System
- Prevents workers from reaching positions where a fall could occur, such as roofs or scaffolds.
- Positioning-Device System
- Positions a worker while limiting a fall to 2 feet.
- Guardrail System
- Physical barriers that prevent falls off edges or openings.
- Safety-Net System
- Mesh netting that catches a falling worker before they hit the ground.
- Warning-Line System
- Lines indicating boundaries where fall protection is required.
- Slide-Guard System
- Prevents workers from sliding down sloped roofs.
- Note: Not permitted in residential construction as the primary fall-protection method.
Fall Protection ABCDs
A – Anchorage Connectors
- Roof anchors, permanent or temporary, used for construction, repair, or maintenance.
B – Body Wear
- Full-body harness that connects the worker to the anchor.
- Distributes fall impact forces through shoulders, thighs, and pelvic region to reduce injury risk.
C – Connectors
- Devices such as energy-absorbing lanyards, fall limiters, self-retracting lanyards, rope grabs, or retrieval systems that connect the body harness to the anchor point.
D – Descent and Rescue
- Having an emergency program in place reduces injury and increases the chance of survival in the event of a fall.