An energy absorber (also called a shock absorber or fall arrester) dissipates the kinetic energy generated during a fall, reducing the peak impact force transmitted to the worker’s body.
How it works
Most absorbers are constructed as a tear-away fabric pack or a webbing loop sewn with progressively tearing stitches. As the worker falls and load is applied, the stitches release in sequence, dissipating energy as heat and friction over a longer distance — turning a sharp impact into a controlled deceleration.
Standard limits
EN 355 (Europe) limits the maximum arrest force to 6 kN (approximately 600 kg) — well below the threshold for serious internal injury.
Single-use device
After any fall event, an energy absorber must be retired from service even if it appears intact. The protective material is single-use by design.