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FALL PROTECTION
PREVENTION, RESTRAINT, AND ARREST: ONE STEP AT A TIME

FALL PREVENTION
Fall Prevention is protecting the worker from a fall hazard by eliminating the hazard itself or eliminating access to the hazard.

FALL RESTRAINT
Fall restraint allows the worker to still do the work needed, but prevents them from reaching the hazard.

Examples: Working near the edge of a trap or pit opening, working on the top of a roof structure, or working on a front of house position.

FALL ARREST
Fall Arrest provides the most freedom for the worker to accomplish their tasks. During the course of their work they can work around the hazard and if a fall occurs they will be arrested allowing for either a self-rescue or be rescued.

Examples: Self-retracting lanyards on wire rope ladders. Horizontal life lines on roof truss or loading rails.

Direct from OSHA website:

All fall protection products fit into four functional categories. 1. Fall Arrest; 2. Positioning; 3. Suspension; 4. Retrieval.

https://www.osha.gov/Region7/fallprotection/fall_protection_info.html

Fall Arrest
A fall arrest system is required if any risk exists that a worker may fall from an elevated position, as a general rule, the fall arrest system should be used anytime a working height of six feet or more is reached. Working height is the distance from the walking/working surface to a grade or lower level. A fall arrest system will only come into service should a fall occur. A full-body harness with a shock-absorbing lanyard or a retractable lifeline is the only product recommended. A full-body harness distributes the forces throughout the body, and the shock-absorbing lanyard decreases the total fall arresting forces.

Positioning
This system holds the worker in place while keeping his/her hands free to work. Whenever the worker leans back, the system is activated. However, the personal positioning system is not specifically designed for fall arrest purposes.

Suspension
This equipment lowers and supports the worker while allowing a hands-free work environment, and is widely used in window washing and painting industries. This suspension system components are not designed to arrest a free fall, a backup fall arrest system should be used in conjunction with the suspension system.

Retrieval
Preplanning for retrieval in the event of a fall should be taken into consideration when developing a proactive fall management program.

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