Get Trained on How to Use a Personal Fall Arrest System

Written by Staff Writer

Falling can be deadly. According to the Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA), falls are the leading cause of death in construction. In 2020, out of 1,008 fatalities, 351 of those fatalities were the result of fatal falls to a lower level. It’s a sobering statistic — one that highlights how important it is for workers to have proper fall protection training and fall protection equipment.

At OSHA Education Center, we offer in-depth education options to help you learn how to use a personal fall arrest system along with other safety courses. Our goal is to help you get accurate information on personal fall arrest systems (PFASs) so you can protect yourself in potentially hazardous situations.

Read on to learn about these systems, including how they work, what OSHA expects from employers and employees and other important strategies to prevent falls.

What Is a Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS)?

According to OSHA, a PFAS is a type of protective equipment designed to securely stop workers who are falling from a working surface. The components of the system include a body harness, a method of anchoring the harness to a fixed point and a connector. The means of connection may include a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or a suitable combination of these.

Depending on the work environment, a full PFAS system may be composed of any number of the following:

• Attachment location
• Body harness or safety harness
• Vertical lifeline/lanyard
• Webbing
• Anchorages
• Horizontal lifeline
• Connectors

There are so many different possible combinations of these components because these systems need to be used in a wide variety of situations. A painter working outside a house faces different risks than an ironworker fitting I-beams on a skyscraper.

How Does a PFAS Work?

Unlike a guard rail or net, which prevents individuals from falling in the first place, personal fall arrest system components work together to stop an accident in progress.

As an example, imagine you are walking on scaffolding on the third floor of a building. You slip on a wet spot, hit a loose guard rail and tumble off the ledge. You are wearing a full-body harness, which is attached to a deceleration device anchored to a secure point. As you plummet, the device slows you down, leaving you awkwardly dangling feet above the ground. If you didn’t have that safety gear connecting you to an anchor, the outcome would have been painful — possibly even deadly.

Importance of PFAS in Preventing Dangerous Falls in the Workplace

Falling hazards can be found in many work environments. OSHA requires employers to identify such risks and provide protective systems to safeguard workers. Companies must also teach employees how to use those systems. A PFAS is a vital tool to minimize the risk of falling injuries.

When you do a job that puts you at risk of falling, your employer should provide you with a PFAS. Obviously, you will do your best to avoid dangerous falls. But if something unexpected happens, your safety gear will make sure you can go home at the end of the day.

Protection Strategies for Worksites to Mitigate Falling Risks

Builders and other industrial employers use a variety of strategies to prevent falls. Protection systems are just one part of a more comprehensive safety plan. Other components can include:

• Using railings, toe-boards and/or floor hole covers to guard all potentially hazardous floor openings
• Installing a guard rail and toe-board around all elevated open-sided platforms, runways and floors
• Using guard rails and toe-boards around all dangerous machines and equipment, such as vats and conveyor belts

Major Federal Regulations for PFAS in Construction

OSHA’s standard for construction fall arrest systems can be found under 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M, which is explained in plain language in this handbook.

There are multiple requirements in Subpart M. Some of the most important include:

• Protective equipment is required for workers working six feet or greater above a lower level
• It’s also required when working near dangerous equipment like machinery or open vats of hazardous materials
• Employers must assess the workplace to determine if walking or working surfaces have sufficient strength to support workers
• They must determine if protective gear is needed and provide that protection at no cost to workers

The regulations cover the vast majority of workplace situations in the industry. They get quite specific, such as Overhand Bricklaying and Related Work, found in 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(9). The general principles of a PFAS system, however, are widely applicable across all job roles.

OSHA Education Center Fall Protection/Prevention Courses

We offer a variety of courses designed to help workers and those in leadership roles understand fall protection and prevention. Our courses provide the information you need to protect yourself and others against fall hazards on construction sites.

Whether you need a basic introduction to the topic or a more extensive education, we have you covered. Our courses include:

• Fall Protection Certificate Course: A 1-hour introductory-level course to learn how to identify and avoid fall hazards, how to inspect safety equipment, what is included in a personal fall arrest system and how to understand general regulatory requirements
• Competent Person: Fall Protection: A 3.5-hour course that trains you to become a designated competent person in the construction industry, including how to identify, control and correct falling hazards in the workplace
• Fall Prevention: The High Ground: An 8-hour advanced course that teaches you how to analyze falling hazards and work safely at heights

We tailor our courses to your unique needs. As an entry-level worker, you might only need the one-hour course. If you are a foreperson or a supervisor, the eight-hour course might be more appropriate.

Other Construction Safety Courses

We offer a wide range of courses to educate workers in construction and industrial roles. For example, many workers need to get an official OSHA 10 card from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Our 10-Hour Outreach Training for Construction course is the perfect solution — offering exactly the information you need and ensuring you get your card promptly.

Some states and even cities, like California and New York City, have their own regulatory requirements for workers. We offer California Construction training, NYC Site Safety Training (SST), and other area-specific programs.

If you work in construction, we can help.

Why Choose Our Construction Safety Courses?

OSHA Education Center is a leading provider of courses based on Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations. We are an authorized provider of Outreach Training and the top choice for construction workers and employers throughout the country.

The success of our education programs has a lot to do with our approach. We understand that you are busy. Going to classes each week takes time and disrupts your schedule. That’s why we make it as simple and easy as possible to get the education you need.

Train with us to:

• Use any device connected to the internet to take your course
• Set the pace of your education
• Save your progress automatically so you can easily stop and start when needed
• Download your certificate of completion instantly

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