Fall Arrest vs. Fall Restraint

Working from heights demands extra safety precautions to reduce the risk of injury. Slips, trips, and falls are some of the leading causes of injury and death in workplaces, especially in the construction industry. You owe it to your employees — and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) — to put systems in place that can minimize fall hazards.

General industry and construction companies alike must take measures to protect their workers from falling. What are the best fall protection methods? There are two options you can choose between — fall arrest systems and fall restraint systems. 

What Is a Fall Arrest System?

A fall arrest system is a type of fall protection system that serves the purpose of stopping or “arresting” a worker after a fall has already occurred. This system’s components include an anchor point or several anchor points, a harness for each worker, and a self-retracting lifeline or safety lanyard connecting the harness to the anchor point. If workers fall while connected to personal fall arrest systems, the system works to stop them mid-fall before they can reach the surface below. 

The act of stopping a worker mid-fall would exert a lot of force upon the worker without measures in place to divert some of that force. That’s why fall arrest systems include various shock-absorbing components that make the sudden mid-air stop more bearable for the worker who has fallen. Every fall arrest system will have a rating that describes how much force it can withstand at a dead weight while also considering the additional force that gravity has contributed to the fall at the moment of arrest. 

Fall arrest systems are ideal for jobs where workers need to complete tasks in a wide area, right up to the edge of a raised platform. Workers would need full freedom to move around these areas and reach those places on or near the edge, which puts them at a greater risk of falling. In these instances, a fall arrest system is the right choice. Workers can perform their tasks near the edge, and the fall arrest system will stop their fall should one occur. 

Here are some considerations to take when determining the right fall arrest system for your needs:

• Total fall clearance: The distance needed to keep the worker from contacting the lower level
• Free fall distance: The distance a worker would fall through the air before the fall arrest system begins arresting the fall
• Deceleration distance: The stretch of the safety lanyard as the fall arrest system decelerates the fall
• Worker height: The height of the worker to consider in addition to the lanyard distance
• D-ring shifting: The amount the D-ring on the worker’s harness shifts after arresting the fall
• Lanyard length and anchor point height: The total length of the lanyard and the highest portion of the anchor point it connects to

What Is a Fall Restraint System?

The term “fall restraint system” may sound like another way to describe a fall arrest system, but the two terms are different in practicality. While a fall arrest system stops a worker mid-fall, a fall restraint system stops a worker from being able to fall in the first place. Like a leash restrains a dog from going past a certain point in its owner’s yard, a fall restraint system stops workers from going past a certain point so they are unable to fall off the edge. 

In other words, a fall restraint system is a form of movement restraint. It prevents a worker from being exposed to a fall hazard by prohibiting them from approaching the hazardous area at all. When employees are performing work from a raised platform, a fall restraint system will contain them within a set work area, and they will be unable to accidentally or purposefully approach the edge. A fall restraint system is a form of fall prevention that keeps workers safer. 

Fall restraint systems are ideal when workers only need to work in a small area on a raised platform. Most fall restraint equipment consists of a horizontal safety line established across two anchor points. The worker will connect to the safety lifeline by a fall restraint lanyard attached to their worn harness. On the other end, the lanyard connects to the horizontal line via an O-ring that will move with the worker in a straight line as they walk back and forth. 

Consider the force the fall restraint system can handle. Workers can exert force on the fall restraint system by leaning away from the safety line, slipping, sliding, or walking perpendicular to the horizontal lifeline. 

Which Fall Protection System Is Right for You?

Now that you know more about the two main types of fall protection systems, their components, and how they work, which is right for you? Here are some factors to consider:

• The raised work area size: Think about the work area where your employees will be performing their tasks. Will the work zone be contained toward the center of the area away from the edges? A fall restraint system may be ideal here. Or will your employees need to do work on or near the edges? If so, then a fall arrest system is the best choice. 
• The work area slope: The work area slope can drastically affect the fall protection system you choose. Fall restraint systems can keep workers in a contained area on a sloped surface. Fall arrest systems can give workers more mobility on sloped roofs if needed. 
• Your budget: You should also take your budget into consideration. Large, elaborate, and permanent fall protection systems will be a larger investment than smaller, portable fall protection systems. Still, it’s important to make room in your budget for fall protection — OSHA requires these systems for general industries if workers are elevated to 4 feet and in construction if they’re elevated to 6 feet. Talk to your fall protection system provider for more information about pricing. 

Our Fall Protection Systems and Equipment

Rigid Lifelines^® has specialized in fall protection systems for over 20 years. We offer many types of fall protection products that can meet your company’s needs, whatever the work. We’re also ready to answer any questions you might have so you can take your next step with confidence. 

If you’d like to learn more or start the process of getting fall protection systems for your next job, contact us online today.