Fall Arrest - Personal Fall Arrest Systems

Personal Fall Arrest Systems

Fall arrest is of two major types: general fall arrest, such as nets; and personal fall arrest, such as lifelines. The most common manifestation of fall arrest in the workplace is the Personal Fall Arrest System, or PFAS ("lifeline").

Such a system must include 4 elements referred to as ABCDs of Fall Arrest:

  • A - Anchorage - a fixed structure or structural adaptation, often including an anchorage connector, to which the other components of the PFAS are rigged.
  • B - Body Wear - a full body harness worn by the worker.
  • C - Connector - a subsystem component connecting the harness to the anchorage - such as a lanyard.
  • D - Deceleration Device - a subsystem component designed to dissipate the forces associated with a fall arrest event.

Each of these elements is critical to the effectiveness of a personal fall arrest system. There are many different combinations of products that are commonly used to assemble a personal fall arrest system, and each must meet strict standards. The specific environment or application generally dictates the combination or combinations that are most appropriate.

Read more about this topic:  Fall Arrest

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