Fall Arrest vs. Fall Restraint | GHB Fall Protection Safety

Personal Fall Arrest Systems

A fall arrest system provides maximum freedom of movement for workers to conduct their duties. In doing so it allows them to reach the point where a fall could occur, such as the edge of a roof for gutter maintenance. However, in the event of a fall, the fall will be arrested and so allow the person to either effect a self-rescue or be rescued.

Fall arrest consists of 2 types:

1. General fall arrest, such as nets; and personal fall arrest, such as lifelines.
2. 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 A B C D’s of Fall Arrest:

A – Anchorage – a fixed structure, 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.
S – Site Safety Plan

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 – OSHA, ANSI, LnI, and State Legislation. The work setting generally dictates the combination or combinations that are most appropriate.

Fall Restraint System – A System the prevents a person from reaching a ‘Fall Risk’

A fall protection system that prevents the user from falling any distance. The system is comprised of either a body belt or body harness, along with an anchorage, connectors and other necessary equipment. The other components typically include a lanyard, and may also include a lifeline and other devices. OSHA Standard Number 1926.751

Fall Restraint Lifeline and harness — A fall protection system that prevents the user from falling any distance – example a worker with a full body harness, attached to a horizontal lifeline. The worker is incapable of reaching a fall hazard.

Fall Restraint Guard Rail — A fall protection system that prevents the user from falling any distance – example a guard rail

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Summary

Article Name

Fall Arrest vs. Fall Restraint | Fall Protection

Description

Personal Fall Arrest provides maximum freedom of movement for workers to conduct their duties. Fall Restraint System prevents a person from reaching a Fall Risk

Author

George Brewer

	Fall Prevention	Fall Restraint	Fall Arrest
How it Protects?	Prevents people from reaching the fall hazard by creating a barrier between the person and the fall hazard.	Prevents people from reaching a fall hazard through a tie off system.	Stops a fall that is in progress through a tie off system.
Equipment	No individual equipment	Custom fitted equipment	Custom fitted equipment
Training	None	Custom fitted equipment	Custom fitted equipment
Inspection	After Install and Annually	Yes, extensive and ongoing	Yes, extensive and ongoing
Maintenance	Annually	Every Use by the Individual	Every use by the individual
Injury Risk	None	Mild	High
Costs	Higher up front costs.	Lower initial costs but hidden costs include: training, equipment maintenance, and setup time.	Lower initial costs but hidden costs include: training, equipment maintenance, and setup time.
OSHA ANSI	Preferred – minimum risk.	Better than fall arrest.

Fall Prevention

Fall Restraint

Fall Arrest

Personal Fall Arrest Systems

Fall Restraint System – A System the prevents a person from reaching a ‘Fall Risk’