805 Fall Protection in Construction

Personal Fall-Arrest Systems (PFAS)

A personal fall-arrest system consists of an anchorage, connectors, and a full-body harness that work together to stop a fall and to minimize the arrest force.

Other parts of the system may include a lanyard, a deceleration device, and a lifeline.

• Ensure that personal fall arrest systems will, when stopping a fall:
• Limit maximum arresting force to 1,800 pounds.
• Be rigged such that an employee can neither free-fall more than 6 feet nor contact any lower level.
• Bring an employee to a complete stop and limit maximum deceleration distance to 3½ feet.
• Have sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy of a worker free falling a distance of 6 feet, or the free fall distance permitted by the system, whichever is less.
• Remove systems and components from service immediately if they have been subjected to fall impact, until inspected by a competent person and deemed undamaged and suitable for use.
• Promptly rescue employees in the event of a fall, or assure that they are able to rescue themselves.
• Inspect systems before each use for wear, damage, and other deterioration, and remove defective components from service.
• Do not attach fall arrest systems to guardrail systems or hoists.
• Rig fall arrest systems to allow movement of the worker only as far as the edge of the walking/working surface, when used at hoist areas.

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