Fall Arrest Equipment

construction worker on platform wearing fall arrest equipment

Fall arrest systems are vital to working at height, and it’s important to choose the right system for your application.

Here, we’ll discuss what to look for when choosing a fall arrest system for your employees.

What is Fall Arrest Equipment?

Fall arrest equipment is any form of protection that stops a fall while it’s already in progress. For instance, if a worker falls from height, a harness can stop their fall short, preventing serious injury.

Fall arrest equipment comes in two categories: personal and general.

Personal fall arrest systems (PFAS)

Personal fall arrest equipment is the most common type of fall arrest found in workplaces. It typically consists of four parts:

  1.     Anchorage, which is a component to which the system is affixed, such as a lifeline
  2.     Bodywear, such as a harness
  3.     Connector, which connects the harness to the anchorage
  4.     Deceleration device, which slows falls and dissipates energy, preventing injury

For example, a full-body harness connected to a lifeline by a solid lanyard would constitute a personal fall arrest system. Each person working at height should wear one to prevent injuries in the unlikely event that they fall.

General fall arrest systems

A general fall arrest system is any safety measure put in place to stop falls. For instance, a safety net set up below a working scaffold would constitute a general fall arrest system.

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Fall Arrest Equipment Applications

Fall arrest equipment is recommended for any scenario in which personnel are working at height. The greater the height, the more important fall protection becomes, though it should be considered for any elevation that could result in serious injury.

Common applications of fall arrest equipment include:

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Components of Effective Fall Arrest Systems

When buying fall arrest equipment for your workforce, it’s important to ensure it satisfies the demands of working at height, including being able to withstand the forces generated by a fall. As such, look for the following.

Energy absorption

During a fall, the person falling exerts a great deal of force on their fall protection equipment, so it’s important to make sure it can withstand those forces. One way is through energy absorption.

Devices that absorb the shock of falls are referred to by OSHA as deceleration devices, and they include such items as self-retracting or shock-absorbing lanyards. With the use of deceleration devices, the process of stopping a fall in progress exerts less strain on the wearer of the equipment.

Weight limits

There are also strict standards in place on how much weight the different components of fall arrest equipment should be able to hold. For example, vertical lifelines should be designed to withstand 5,000 pounds of force per user.

Sturdy materials

There are regulations on how certain components should be built and what types of materials should be used. For example, OSHA specifies that D-rings and other connectors should be drop forged, corrosion-resistant, and free of sharp edges.

Choosing the Right Fall Protection

To choose the right fall protection for your work area, consider these factors:

  • Weights/loads involved
  • Elevations
  • Distance from nearby objects, including those below
  • Whether a vertical lifeline or horizontal (with two fixed points) would be appropriate
  • Anchorage options

Scaffolding Solutions delivers high-quality services and products with an emphasis on safety. Let us help you select the best fall arrest equipment for your application to ensure safety and productivity on your job site.

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Lynn PierceLynn Pierce ★★★★★ Great service! Exceptional communication! I’m greatly to worked with Scaffolding Solutions.John WoodJohn Wood ★★★★★ Our heavy mechanical construction company have worked with Scaffolding Solutions for years now. Scaffolding Solutions are amazingly fast, responsive, & professional. They always exceed our expectations! Mr. Frank Giuliano is absolutely the best. Frank is always accommodating, extremely knowledgeable and always “safety first” in his approach to our scaffolding needs. We manage heavy mechanic projects within the transportation industry for Government agencies and Scaffolding Solutions & Mr Giuliano always exceed our clients needs. We highly recommend Scaffolding Solutions & Mr. Frank Giuliano for any, commercial or residential projects, you or your company has. 5 STARS! OUTSTANDING QUALITY WORK! GREAT COMPETITIVE RATES!Response from the ownerThank you, John! We are proud to be your "access partner of choice". Looking forward to many more successful projects to come. Thank you for your business! Hal CoganHal Cogan ★★★★★ Frank and his team with Scaffolding Solutions were great! Even with last minute changes and numerous headaches the day of they still got the job done. I look forward to working with them again!Response from the ownerThank you, Hal! Our goal is to provide the best service, safety and pricing of any other access company in the DMV. Exceeding your expectations is our mission! Hann HannHann Hann ★★★★★ Frank & his team didn't meet our expectations, they exceeded them. Everyone was extremely professionally throughout the project. Communication was over the top. Couldn't have asked for more complete turnkey service. Scaffolding Solutions is top of the list for any scaffold or shoring needs.Response from the ownerThank you! The amazing partnership, friendship and teamwork we have with Hann and Hann is what we're all about. We appreciate your business! rolando Tobarrolando Tobar ★★★★★ Great work & access to all kind of work ...The best in the DMVResponse from the ownerThank you Rolando! Our goal is to provide the best service of any other access company in the DMV. Kevin TaylorKevin Taylor ★★★★★ The team at Scaffold Solutions really got me out of a bind this past week. Set-up scaffold on Saturday morning and came back Sunday morning to take it back down. Communication was great, speed and safety were excellent and price was fair. I appreciate the solid communication and follow-up from their team and they did a great job helping me get the steel installed in the elevator shaft. Thank you!Response from the ownerThank you Kevin! We were very happy to partner with you on this work and "get it done". Safety, communication, speed - and great pricing. You hit the nail on the head my friend! Diana MiraldiDiana Miraldi ★★★★★ Response from the ownerThank you for your 5-star review Diana! Giselle AllenGiselle Allen ★★★★★ I recently had my fourth floor loft terrace enclosed. Scaffolding Solutions, LLC is the only choice you need to ensure your project is successful! Frank Giuliano visited my home and assessed the area, then coordinated with the Patio Enclosure installation manager to build a custom design that was efficient for the project. Frank’s customer service was remarkable. He constantly communicated updates and I felt very comfortable contacting him with any questions. The scaffolding crew only took one day to assemble and disassemble the scaffold without incident. They were pleasant, professional and respectful of my property. Hands down this was the best experience and I definitely recommend Scaffolding Solutions, LLC.Response from the ownerThank you Giselle! We were happy to be able to help you with your project...and are very glad the experience was so positive for you. Have an amazing day! G Man PalenciaG Man Palencia ★★★★★ Joe PodgurskiJoe Podgurski ★★★★★ fernando santos sanchezfernando santos sanchez ★★★★★ el lugar luce muy bonito, la atención muy amableMichael MatiasMichael Matias ★★★★★ Ruff Ryder SincereRuff Ryder Sincere ★★★★★ Response from the ownerThank you Ruff! We appreciate your business and look forward to many more successful projects together! Luis Jomar Rodriguez SanchezLuis Jomar Rodriguez Sanchez ★★★★★ Shannon WalkerShannon Walker ★★★★★ Charles AppichCharles Appich ★★★★★ Richard WhiteRichard White ★★★★★ Chad EssexChad Essex ★★★★★ Andi LopezAndi Lopez ★★★★★ Muy buenoDomonic ClardyDomonic Clardy ★★★★★ David BucciarelliDavid Bucciarelli ★★★★★ Fantastic companyMatthew AlemanMatthew Aleman ★★★★★ i love the work they did at DCJose PietriJose Pietri ★★★★★ Great company and innovative scaffolds!Diana DuVallDiana DuVall ★★★★★ The best service and competitive pricing!Tony BullockTony Bullock ★★★★★ I work hereJoel DiazJoel Diaz ★★★★★ Timmy WilloughbyTimmy Willoughby ★★★★★ Scaffolding Solutions... All I can say is "WOW". I was impressed with the professionalism, courtesy and efficiency of the complete experience.js_loader