Personal Fall Arrest System Inspection Requirements

Osha requires that personal fall arrest systems be rigged so an employee cannot free fall in excess of 6 feet 1 8 m.

Personal fall arrest system inspection requirements.

This article addresses the requirements of osha1926 502 d 21 which states that personal fall arrest systems shall be inspected prior to each use for wear damage and other deterioration and defective components shall be removed from service. Z359 15 2014 safety requirements for single anchor lifelines and fall arresters for personal fall arrest and rescue systems sets requirements for the design criteria qualification testing performance requirements marking and instructions user inspections maintenance and storage and removal from service of single anchor lifelines and. Personal fall arrest systems shall be inspected prior to each use for mildew wear damage and other deterioration and defective components shall be removed from service if their strength or function may be adversely affected. Even a few additional feet of free fall can significantly increase the arresting force on the employee possibly to the point of causing injury and possibly exceeding the strength of the system.

Further information on inspection criteria has been provided in paragraph g inspection considerations in part ii of appendix c relating to 1926 502 d personal fall arrest systems. As stated in the standard section i paragraph f personal fall arrest systems must be regularly inspected for the following. A personal fall arrest system is one option of protection that osha requires for workers on construction sites who are exposed to vertical drops of 6 feet or more. If the personal fall arrest system meets the criteria and protocols in appendix d of this subpart and is being used by an employee having a combined body and tool weight of less than 310 pounds 140 kg the system is considered to be in compliance with the provisions of paragraphs d 1 i through iii of this section.