Fall Protection Glossary

Browse key work at height and safety terminology — fall protection, PPE, confined space, rescue, and access equipment terms used across industrial and construction environments.

A

Anchor Point

A secure point of attachment on a structure used to connect fall protection equipment.

B

Body Harness

A full-body system worn by a worker to distribute fall arrest forces across the chest, shoulders, waist, and thighs.

C

Confined Space

An enclosed area not designed for continuous occupancy, with restricted entry and exit, that may contain hazardous atmospheres.

D

Deceleration Distance

The vertical distance a worker travels while a fall arrest device slows them down, measured from activation to a complete stop.

E

Energy Absorber

A device, often integrated into a lanyard, that reduces the peak impact force on the body during fall arrest.

F

Fall Arrest System

A complete personal protective system that safely stops a worker after a fall has occurred.

G

Guardrail

A passive collective fall protection system: a permanent or temporary barrier installed at the edge of an elevated working area.

L

Lanyard

A flexible line of webbing or rope used to connect a worker's harness to an anchor point or lifeline.

P

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

Equipment worn by a worker to minimise exposure to workplace hazards that cannot be eliminated by other means.

R

Rescue Plan

A documented procedure for promptly recovering a worker who has fallen and is suspended in their harness.

W

Working at Height

Any work where a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury — regardless of fall height.