A fall arrest system is a complete personal fall protection system designed to safely stop a worker after they have fallen, minimising the forces transmitted to the body and preventing contact with the ground or a lower level.
Three required components (ABCs)
- A — Anchor: a rated anchor point (minimum 22 kN per user under EN 795)
- B — Body wear: a full-body harness conforming to EN 361 or ANSI Z359.11
- C — Connector: a connecting device with energy absorber (shock-absorbing lanyard or SRL)
Arrest vs restraint
Fall arrest is distinct from fall restraint: a restraint system prevents the worker from reaching the fall hazard in the first place, while an arrest system catches the worker after a fall has begun. Restraint is always preferable where the work allows it.