Your Lifeline is More Than a Rope: A Deep Dive into Fall Protection Systems

Every job requires Personal Protective Equipment, but for working at height, PPE is truly life support. Understanding the three critical components—the ABCs—is the difference between an arrested fall and a fatality.

The ABCs of Fall Protection

Too often, supervisors focus only on the harness (Bodywear), neglecting the crucial points that secure the worker. The fatal risk comes when a worker connects a perfectly good harness to a compromised system. The FatalFree™ approach mandates a simultaneous check of all three interconnected components: Anchors, Bodywear, and Connectors.

A is for Anchorages: The Foundation of Safety

An anchor point is the fixed structure that bears the full force of a fall. It must be able to support a specific load, typically 5,000 lbs (22kN) per worker, or be engineered for a lower specific load. You must never assume a structural beam, rooftop duct, or railing is a safe anchor. The inspection of anchor points must be documented and current, verifying the stability of the foundation, especially on fragile surfaces or older structures.

B is for Bodywear: The Harness Check

Bodywear refers to the full-body safety harness. Its purpose is to distribute the force of the fall across the strongest parts of the body (thighs, pelvis, chest) and keep the worker upright after a fall. The two critical checks are:

• Inspection: Look for tears, fraying, pulled stitches, chemical damage, or damaged buckles. A harness must be inspected before every single use.
• Fit: Ensure straps are snug—no more than a flat hand can fit between the strap and the body. Loose harnesses can cause severe injury during fall arrest.

C is for Connectors: The Lifeline

The Connector is the device linking the harness to the anchor. This is typically a lanyard, retractable lifeline, or deceleration device. The key feature of most fall-arrest lanyards is the energy absorber, a pack designed to tear open and slow the worker’s decent, reducing the force applied to the body. Supervisors must ensure:

• The connector is appropriate for the fall distance (especially checking for swing hazards).
• The energy absorber has not been deployed (if it has, the lanyard must be removed from service).
• Carabiners and snaphooks are self-locking and securely fastened.

FatalFree™ Takeaway

The system is only as strong as its weakest letter. If one of the ABCs fails, the system fails completely.

About FatalFree™

FatalFree™ helps organizations simplify safety through the Fatal 12 — the twelve most common causes of workplace fatalities. Learn how we make safety practical, visual, and proactive at FatalFree.com.