What Does
Fall Arrest Mean?
Fall arrest is the act of stopping a free fall or the instant where a downward free fall is stopped by the aid of some supporting equipment. Fall arrest is a form of fall protection system that prevents a fall from causing serious harm or death. A fall arrest arrangement offers significant freedom of movement for workers to carry out their assigned duties while preventing them from falling when they’re working above the ground. Fall arrest systems are usually part of a larger fall arrest plan.
Safeopedia Explains Fall Arrest
There are two key types of fall arrest systems:
- General Fall Arrest: This system is able to catch a single or a number of workers without them striking any other hazards. The system, such as net, is usually installed in a workplace that is far above the ground
- Personal Fall Arrest: This is the most common type of fall arrest and may consist of a full-body harness, shock absorbing lanyard, anchorage connector or, occasionally, a self retracting lifeline
Personal fall arrest systems limit the impact force of a free falling user and prevent the user from hitting the ground. In the workplace, most fall injuries occur due to the absence or lack of fall protection. Fall arrest systems may act as an effective mechanism for fall injury prevention.