Fall Protection

Fall Protection

Working at elevated heights requires fall protection. This can be as simple as a physical barrier that prevents you from falling or as complex as a series of anchor points connected to a body harness you wear.

Guardrails

A barrier erected along an unprotected or exposed side, edge or other arear of a walking working surface to prevent workers from falling to a lower level.

Safety Net Systems

A horizontal or semi-horizontal, cantilever-style barrier that uses a netting system to stop falling workers before they make contact with a lower level or obstruction.

Personal Fall Arrest Systems

A system that arrest/stops a fall before the worker contacts a lower level.  Consists of a body harness, anchorage, and connector, and may include a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or a suitable combination.  OHSA strictly prohibits the use of body belts as a part of a personal fall arrest system.

Travel Restraint Systems

A combination of an anchorage, anchorage connector, lanyard (or other means of connection), and body support to eliminate the possibility of a worker going over the unprotected edge or side of a walking-working surface.

Work Positioning Systems

A system of equipment of connectors that, when used with a body harness or body belt, allows a worker to be supported on an elevated vertical surface, such as a wall or window sill, and work with both hands free.

Ladder Safety System

A system attached to a fixed ladder designed to eliminate or reduce the possibility of a worker falling off a ladder.  A ladder safety system usually consists of a carrier, safety sleeve, lanyard, connectors and a body harness.  Cages and wells are NOT considered ladder safety systems.

For more information on Fall Protection email safety@longwood.edu.