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What is Fall Arrest Training?

Fall arrest is a type of fall protection that both causes a falling person to stop falling in a safe manner and helps to decrease the chances of someone falling in the first place. Fall arrest training is often given to employees who are at elevated heights in their work environment.

What are the Types of Fall Arrest Systems?

There are 2 main types of systems that aid in fall protection.

Fall Restraint Systems. These systems keep you from falling. They include guardrails, lifelines, and safety lanyards.

Fall Arrest Systems. On the other hand, these systems stop you as you fall. Fall arrest systems include equipment like nets.

What Equipment is Used?

Both fall restraint and arrest systems have durable equipment that workers must be trained with and use at all times.

Passive Fall Protection: This type of equipment is not directly in contact with workers, but still helps to keep them from falling from tall heights. This protection includes rooftop and portable guardrails, warning lines, and skylight and roof hatch railings.

Anchors: There are many options for anchor equipment. Deadweight anchors are a type of lifeline that can be placed on a level surface and keep workers from reaching the edge. Anchor points are installed into the roof and can then be used to tie lanyards, lifelines, and other tie-off equipment. These can be permanent or temporary, but both are vital to keeping employees safe at elevated heights.

Safety Harnesses and Lanyards: Harnesses allow workers to connect themselves to anchor points and lifelines so they keep from falling. Workers are connected to anchor points by utilizing lanyards.

Lifelines: There are different types of lifeline equipment, but they all help stop falls. Retracting lifelines immediately stop a fall with a breaking mechanism. These types of lifelines eliminate dangerous slack because the line retracts back up into the mechanism. Horizontal and vertical lifelines are also helpful when railings are not an option.

What do You Learn in Fall Arrest Training?

Fall restraint and arrest training is important for you and your coworkers safety. Various topics of importance are covered in a training session, but here are some of the main topics often covered.

  • Ladder safety
  • When and how to use safety equipment like nets, guardrails, and lifelines
  • Legal requirements
  • Height requirements for using a harness and other equipment
  • Limitations when working near boundaries
  • The fundamentals of a fall restraint and a fall arrest system
  • Load testing when regarding nets, railings, and other equipment

Gaining training in fall arrest can save your life, but using fall protection without training could be disastrous. Make sure you are properly trained before using any fall protection equipment.

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