A B C's of Fall Protection

When using Fall Protection, it is important to remember the A,B,C's.

A is for Anchor

Anchors must be rated for 5000 lbs.  Just because the anchor is rated for 5000 lbs make sure what you are attaching it to is also able to handle 5000lbs.  There are many types of anchors to choose from, Residential and Commercial.  One common residential anchor is the temper reusable anchor.  It is sold separately or they come in the Bucket of Safe-Tie.   You must inspect the anchors before every use and only one person is allowed to attach to and anchor point.  Remember, one snap hook for one D-ring.

B is for Body Harness

Harnesses are only good for 5 years, once it reaches the 5 year mark, it must be removed from service.  Full body harnesses must be inspected before every use and every 6 months by the competent person and documented.  Carsonsafety.com has a wide variety of harnesses to choose from.  All of their harnesses are rated for 310 lbs with tools on.  They can go up to 400 lbs when used with a heavy duty shock absorbing device.  Once a harness has been stressed, it must come out of service.  It is important to wear the harness properly.  A harness can harm you more than help you if it is not worn properly.

C is for Connecting Device

There are many types of lanyards.  There are non-shock absorbing, shock absorbing, retractable, and vertical  lifelines.   No matter what you use, it is important to make sure you are following all the guidelines for inspection and use.   You should know what lanyards are for which applications.  For example, a 6' shock absorbing lanyard can only be used when you are 18 1/2 ft above the surface you are trying to not hit.  When you are at heights of less than 18 1/2 ft, you should use a retractable lanyard.


These are just basic guidelines to follow.  You should have at least one to two hours of training on the  fall protection equipment you are using at least once a year.