Fall arrest systems are typically used when a person needs to work on fragile surfaces where there is a fall hazard. It is important to note that fall arrest systems are different from fall prevention and restraint systems and should only be relied upon as the last line of defence for workers in situations where fall prevention is not feasible.
What Do Fall Arrest Systems Do?
A fall arrest system will stop you mid-fall, preventing you from suffering serious injury. A fall restraint system, on the other hand, aims to prevent the fall from occurring in the first place. Arresting the fall should be considered a last resort, as if possible, it is always better to avoid a serious fall altogether.
Fall arrest systems allow the wearer a full range of motion so that they can move freely around areas where there is a high risk of falling.
They usually consist of:
Should the user fall while at height, the lanyard will catch them before they hit a lower surface, minimising the risk of injury upon impact.
When to Use a Fall Arrest System
If you cannot prevent a fall from happening using guardrails, safety nets or other fall restraint systems, a fall arrest system will be necessary.
For example:
If when working at height the hazard is dynamic (moving or fluctuating) like temporary structures or moving cranes, it will be difficult to prevent the worker from accessing certain dangerous areas. This is when a fall arrest system would need to be implemented as the worker cannot be restrained from the hazard due to unpredictability.
Fall arrest systems can also be used if a worker needs access to a confined, enclosed space and there is not enough room to set up a restraint system.
If you have any questions about our fall arrest systems or when to use them, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Safety Harnes Direct, a member of our team will be happy to help!
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