Personal Fall Protection Systems: What you need to know

This analysis covers the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) general industry standard for personal fall protection systems. Falls from heights and on the same level are among the leading causes of serious work-related injuries and deaths. The personal fall protection systems rule affects a wide variety of general industry firms, including building management services, utilities, warehousing, retail, window cleaning, chimney sweeping, and outdoor advertising. OSHA estimates the personal fall protection systems and the walking-working surfaces rules could prevent 29 fatalities and 5,842 lost-workday injuries every year.

Anchorage means a secure point of attachment for equipment, such as lifelines, lanyards, or deceleration devices.

Belt terminal means an end attachment of a window cleaner’s positioning system used for securing the belt or harness to a window cleaner’s belt anchor.

Body belt means a strap with means both for securing about the waist and for attaching to other components such as a lanyard used with positioning systems, travel restraint systems, or ladder safety systems.

Body harness means straps that secure about the employee in a manner to distribute the fall arrest forces over at least the thighs, pelvis, waist, chest, and shoulders, with a means for attaching the harness to other components of a personal fall protection system.

Carabiner means a connector generally composed of a trapezoidal- or oval-shaped body with a closed gate or similar arrangement that may be opened to attach another object and, when released, automatically closes to retain the object.

Competent person means a person who is capable of ...