Fall Protection

Calculating PFAS Clearance Distance

Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS) must be used in accordance with the following OSHA requirements:

“Each employee on a walking/working surface (horizontal and vertical surface) with an unprotected side or edge which is 6 feet or more above a lower level shall be protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.”

“Personal fall arrest systems, when stopping a fall, shall: limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 1,800 pounds when used with a body harness; be rigged such that an employee can neither free fall more than 6 feet, nor contact any lower level; bring an employee to a complete stop and limit maximum deceleration distance an employee travels to 3.5 feet; and, have sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy of an employee free falling a distance of 6 feet, or the free fall distance permitted by the system, whichever is less.”