Toolbox Talk: Understanding Personal Fall Arrest and Fall Restraint Systems

Understanding Personal Fall Arrest and Fall Restraint Systems

Introduction

When working at heights, understanding the difference between a fall arrest system and a fall restraint system is crucial for your safety. These systems are essential in the construction industry and other situations where employees are exposed to fall hazards. Knowing how to properly use these systems can prevent serious injuries or even save your life.

Fall Restraint Systems: Preventing Falls Before They Happen

A fall restraint system is designed to keep you from reaching a point where a fall could occur, such as the edge of a roof or an elevated platform. The most common fall restraint systems include:

Guardrails: A standard guardrail acts as a barrier, preventing you from getting too close to the edge.
Tie-Off Systems: These systems use a harness and lanyard to “restrain” you from moving too close to a fall hazard.

The primary purpose of a fall restraint system is to stop you from reaching a potential fall point, effectively preventing falls before they happen.

Fall Arrest Systems: Stopping a Fall in Progress

A fall arrest system is used to stop a fall after it has already occurred, preventing you from hitting a lower level. According to OSHA, a personal fall arrest system typically includes:

Anchor Point: A secure point of attachment for the system.
Connectors: Components such as carabiners or snap hooks that link the system together.
Body Harness: A full-body harness that distributes the arresting forces across the body.
Lanyard or Lifeline: A flexible line that connects the harness to the anchor point, often with a deceleration device to reduce impact forces.

The entire fall arrest system must be able to withstand the significant forces generated by a fall, which increase with the distance fallen. For example, without protection, a person can free fall 4 feet in just half a second and 16 feet in one second.

Key Requirements for Fall Arrest Systems

To ensure your safety when using a fall arrest system, here are five critical requirements to keep in mind:

Body Belts vs. Body Harnesses: Body belts are no longer permitted for fall arrest purposes as of December 31, 1997. When using a body harness, the system must limit the maximum arresting force on an employee to 1,800 pounds. In some places, such as Washington State, body belts are currently prohibited for fall arrest purposes.
Free-Fall Distance: The system must be rigged so that you cannot free-fall more than 6 feet or come into-contact with a lower level. After the free-fall, the deceleration device must bring you to a complete stop within an additional 3.5 feet.
Anchorage Point Strength: The anchor point must be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds per employee. Standard guardrails are typically not-sufficient as anchor points because they are not designed to withstand the impact forces generated by a fall.
D-Ring Attachment: The D-ring attachment point on the body harness must be centered on your back, near shoulder level, to ensure proper distribution of arresting forces.
Inspection and Maintenance: Before each use, inspect all components of the fall arrest system for damage or deterioration. If any component has been subjected to the forces of a fall, it must be removed from service immediately.

Summary

Understanding the difference between fall restraint and fall arrest systems is vital for anyone working at heights. Fall restraint systems prevent falls by restricting access to fall hazards, while fall arrest systems stop falls that have already occurred. Always ensure your equipment is properly rigged, anchored, and inspected before use. By following these guidelines, you can protect yourself from serious injury or even save your life when working at heights.