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7.9: Personal Fall Protection Systems

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    If a workplace hazard assessment reveals that employees face potential injury from fall hazards, and engineering controls cannot be used to eliminate the hazard, personal fall protection systems are another option for employers. “Personal fall protection system” (PFPS) means a system (including all components) an employer uses to provide protection from falling or to safely arrest an employee’s fall if one occurs. Examples of personal fall protection systems include personal fall arrest systems, positioning systems, and travel restraint systems.

    29 CFR 1910.140 sets forth requirements for personal fall protection systems. There are several types of these systems:

    ■ Travel restraint systems consist of a combination of an anchorage, anchorage connector, lanyard (or other means of connection), and body support that an employer uses to eliminate the possibility of an employee going over the edge of a walking-working surface.

    ■ A positioning system is a system of equipment and connectors that, when used with a body harness or body belt, allows an employee to be supported on an elevated vertical surface, such as a wall or windowsill, and work with both hands free. Positioning systems also are called “positioning system devices” and “work-positioning equipment.”

    ■ A personal fall arrest system is a system used to arrest an employee in a fall from a walking-working surface. It consists of a body harness, anchorage, and connector. The means of connection may include a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or a suitable combination of these.

    Generally, components of PFPS must be compatible and meet certain strength requirements. Anchorages that PFPS attach to must be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds for each employee attached. If a fall occurs, components subjected to impact loading must be removed from service immediately and not used again until a competent person inspects the system or components and determines that it is not damaged and safe for use for employee personal fall protection. Body belts are prohibited as part of personal fall arrest systems. For more information and to see all the requirements for PFPS, please see 29 CFR 1910.140.

    This page titled 7.9: Personal Fall Protection Systems was last modified on Fri, 14 Aug 2026 16:59:32 GMT and is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jenny Huang.