Updated Wednesday 28 March 2018

Not sure how to calculate fall clearance or what the difference is between a Shock-absorbing lanyard and a Shock-absorbing stretch lanyard? Refer to our glossary for help defining the terminology used in the working at heights industry. Still confused? Contact our customer service experts and we’ll help you sort things out.

A

ABC’s of Personal Fall Protection

The basic elements of any fall protection system are A for anchorage, B for body support and C for connectors.

Active fall protection system

A means of providing fall protection that requires employees to actively wear and use fall protection equipment, and which requires training.

Anchorage

A secure point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards, or deceleration devices.

Anchorage connector

A means of attaching a personal fall arrest, fall restraint, work Positioning or rescue system to the anchorage that comes in many common types including anchor slings, roof anchors, beam clamps, rail sliders, trolleys, eyebolts and shepherd hooks.

Arresting Force

The force imposed upon the worker and the anchorage point the moment the fall arrest system stops the fall. It is measured in kilo newtons (kN), a maximum of 6kN is allowable.

B

Back D-ring

Also known as the dorsal attachment or dorsal D-ring. Attachment point that is located on the back of the full-body harness, positioned between the shoulder blades.

Body belt

A secure point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards, or deceleration devices.

Body Harness

Means straps which may be secured about the employee in a manner that will distribute the fall arrest forces over at least the thighs, pelvis, waist, chest and shoulders with means for attaching other components of a personal fall arrest system.

Body Support

Comes in the form of a full body harness that provides a connection point on the worker for the personal fall arrest system. Depending on the application, they can be used as part of a system to protect the worker from falling and to limit the extent of potential injury in case of a fall.

C

Climb Assist

A vertical fall protection system that assists the user in the ascent or descent of a fixed ladder to reduce fatigue.

Clearance (calculation)

To determine the required fall clearance add the appropriate factors together, this will give you the safe required distance (RD) below the working surface for work which is to be carried out where there is any risk of falling. Calculation: free fall distance energy absorber deceleration distance clearance to obstruction during fall arrest

Competent Person

AS/NZS 1891.4 defines a Competent Person as: A person who has, through a combination of training, education and experience, acquired knowledge and skills enabling that person to correctly perform a specified task.

Competent Person Classifications

• Height Safety Operator - A person who is able to perform harness based work at heights under the direct supervision of a height safety ​supervisor


• Height Safety Equipment Inspector - A person who is competent in the skills needed to detect faults in height safety equipment and to determine remedial action


• Height Safety Manager - A person who is competent in the selection, design, manufacture or installation of height safety systems or equipment, or the development of control measures or work practices

Competent rescuer

An individual who develops procedures and methods for conducting a rescue for each foreseeable fall hazard prior to the commencement of work ensures that the authorised rescuers have been properly trained and are proficient at performing rescues, and identifies the resources necessary to conduct a rescue and verifies those resources are on hand.

Connector

A device that is used to connect components of personal fall arrest, fall restraint, work positioning or rescue systems. Connectors include but are not limited to lanyards, snap hooks, carabiners and deceleration devices, and specialty systems such as self-retracting lifelines, ladder climbing systems, vertical lifelines and rope grabs.

Controlled access zone (CAZ)

An area in which certain work (e.g., overhead bricklaying) may take place without the use of guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems or safety net systems and access to the zone is controlled.

Confined space

An enclosed or partially enclosed space that is at atmospheric pressure during occupancy and is not intended or designed primarily as a place of work, and (1) is liable at any time to - a) have an atmosphere which contains potentially harmful levels of contaminants; b) have an oxygen deficiency or excess; or c) cause engulfment; and (2) could have restricted means for entry and exit.

Counterweight system

A system that uses weights to provide a sturdy support structure to offset the weight of a worker.

D

D-Ring

A component that is integrated into fall protection equipment commonly found on body support and some anchorage connectors, which allows for the attachment of a connecting device.

Davit Arm or Davit Post

Davits are an alternative to the basic tripod. They have a variety of base configurations to fit a wide variety of openings and holes.

Debris net

A netting system that is designed to contain debris. These systems are usually not rated for fall arrest.

Deceleration device

Means the additional vertical distance a falling employee travels, excluding lifeline elongation and free fall distance, before stopping, from the point at which the deceleration device begins to operate. It is measured as the distance between the location of an employee's body belt or body harness attachment point at the moment of activation (at the onset of fall arrest forces) of the deceleration device during a fall, and the location of that attachment point after the employee comes to a full stop.

Deceleration distance

The additional vertical distance a falling employee travels, excluding lifeline elongation and free fall distance, before stopping, from the point at which the deceleration device begins to operate. It is measured as the distance between the location of an employee's body belt or body harness attachment point at the moment of activation (at the onset of fall arrest forces) of the deceleration device during a fall, and the location of that attachment point after the employee comes to a full stop.

Demonstration trailers

Vehicles typically used for on-site fall protection training and demonstrations to conduct drop tests and showcase the proper use of fall protection equipment.

Descent System

A system used to help safely lower a worker to a lower level of a structure or to the ground in a controlled manner.

Dorsal D-ring

Also known as the back D-ring. Attachment point that is located on the back of the full-body harness, positioned between the shoulder blades.

Dorsal Extension

A device that connects to the rear D-ring of your harness that enables easier connections to lanyards and other devices by extending the reach from the rear D-ring.

Double or Triple Action Device

A self-closing hook or karabiner with a keeper latch which will automatically close and remain closed until manually operated. These units have a minimum of two (double) or three (triple) distinct and deliberate consecutive actions to manually open them.

E

End Anchor

Anchorage points on each end of the horizontal lifeline system.

Energy absorber

Also known as a shock absorber. An energy-absorbing unit that will limit the force exerted on the worker in the event of a fall.

F

Fall arrest

A form of fall protection that is designed to arrest a falling worker prior to them striking an object or a lower level.

Fall arrest force

Forces exerted on the body when a fall is arrested.

Fall arrest system

Also known as a personal fall arrest system. The complete collection of equipment and components that is designed to stop a fall in progress.

Fall clearance

The vertical distance needed to safely arrest a fall. When using a self-retracting lifeline, a minimum of 6 feet of clearance from the working level to the lower level is recommended. When using a lanyard, the required distance from the anchorage to the nearest obstruction equals lanyard length plus, deceleration distance, height of the worker and a recommended safety factor of 1.5 feet.

Fall hazard

Any location where an employee is exposed to a potential fall.

Fall prevention

A type of fall protection that prevents a fall from occurring. This could be done through passive (Guardrails) or active (Restraint) means.

Fall protection

Methods used to minimise injury and associated costs, both monetary and human, due to falls.

Fall protection equipment

Equipment that is used by a worker to prevent or arrest a fall.

Fall protection plan

A plan that is needed whenever one or more workers are routinely exposed to fall hazards. The plan must be developed and consistently audited and updated to ensure that fall hazards are identified and controlled and that workers are aware of all hazards and trained in the appropriate control method. The plan should also include a rescue plan for each fall hazard.

Fall restraint system

A system that prevents an employee’s centre of gravity from reaching a fall hazard.

First-Man-Up System

A system used to install and remove a fall protection device to an overhead location using a telescoping pole and adaptor tool.

Force

Measured in technical terms in Newtons (N). The weight of something in Newtons (N) is calculated by multiplying its mass in Kilograms (kg) by the value of Gravity, which is 9.81 (m/s2). A Kilogram (kg) is a unit of mass (i.e. the weight of a static object).

Force = Mass x Acceleration.

For rough calculation purposes: 1000N = 1kN, 1kN = 100kg, 10kN = 1000kg.

Free-fall

The act of falling before a personal fall arrest system begins to apply force to arrest the fall.

Free-fall distance

The vertical displacement of the fall arrest attachment point on the employee's body belt or body harness between onset of the fall and just before the system begins to apply force to arrest the fall. This distance excludes deceleration distance, and lifeline/lanyard elongation, but includes any deceleration device slide distance or self-retracting lifeline/lanyard extension before they operate and fall arrest forces occur.

Frontal D-ring

A connector located on the front of a full-body harness in the sternum area.

Full-body harness

A means of supporting the body with straps that fasten around the user and distribute fall arrest forces over the upper thighs, pelvis, chest and shoulders.

G

Guardrail system

A passive form of fall prevention. Usually, a barrier consisting of vertical and horizontal rails to prevent workers from reaching a fall hazard.

H

Hardware

Any metal component such as a D-ring, snaphook or carabiner used to attach components of a fall protection system.

Hierarchy of Control

The hierarchy of control is a sequence of options which allow you to control a hazard from the highest level of control to the least preferred option. These measures, in order, are: identification, elimination, substitution and isolation. If these are not practical, fall protection equipment must be used.

Horizontal lifeline system

A system comprised of a flexible line such as wire, rope or cable, with connectors at both ends for securing it horizontally between two anchorages or anchorage connectors.

Horizontal Life Line – Permanent

A permanently installed horizontal lifeline that is built into the structure for use as the anchorage not only during construction but also for maintenance and repairs later on.

Horizontal Life Line – Temporary

A pre-engineered horizontal lifeline system that is easy to install/remove and can be used on more than one job site without damaging the surface that it is attached to.

I

Impact indicator

A visual reference that a piece of fall protection equipment has been involved in a fall and should be taken out of service.

Infeasible

It is impossible to perform the construction work using a conventional fall protection system (i.e., guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system) or that it is technologically impossible to use any one of these systems to provide fall protection.

Inertia Reel

An inertia-activated reel that retracts and releases. In the event of a fall the reel locks.

Intermediate (HLL Reference)

Lifeline connection points that support the HLL at mid points and divide the overall length of the HLL into smaller spans.

J

K

Karabiner

A connector with a self-closing gate that can be manually locked or that automatically locks, and is used to attach to a fall protection component. Can be double action or triple action.

L

Lanyard Assembly/Shock-Absorbing Lanyard

A line of rope, webbing or cable incorporating a shock absorber and connectors at each end to connect the harness to the anchor device.

Latch Protection Device

A device that attaches to the eye of a snap hook that reduces the risks that can become present in various work methods/techniques that cause the webbing or shock absorber to wrap around the back of the locking gate of the hook and unintentionally ‘trip’ the gate.

Leading Edge

The edge of a floor, roof, or formwork for a floor or other walking/working surface (such as the deck) which changes location as additional floor, roof, decking, or formwork sections are placed, formed, or constructed. A leading edge is considered to be an "unprotected side and edge" during periods when it is not actively and continuously under construction.

Lifelines (VLLs, HLLs or SRLs/SRDs)

A component consisting of a flexible line for connection to an anchorage at one end to hang vertically (vertical lifeline), or for connection to anchorages at both ends to stretch horizontally (horizontal lifeline), and which serves as a means for connecting other components of a personal fall arrest system to the anchorage.

Load arrestor

A back-up safety device to completely stop a dropping load (material loads only, not personnel) if it breaks free from the main support line. It is typically used in conjunction with lifting equipment such as cranes and hoists.

Low-slope roof

A roof having a slope less than or equal to 4 in 12 (vertical to horizontal).

Lower levels

Those areas or surfaces to which an employee can fall. Such areas or surfaces include, but are not limited to, ground levels, floors, platforms, ramps, runways, excavations, pits, tanks, material, water, equipment, structures, or portions thereof.

M

Manual descent control device

A friction device that, once engaged, requires the user to control lowering speed.

N

Netting system

Passive systems, usually designed to contain debris or for fall arrest.

Non-certified anchorage

An anchorage that a competent person determines to maintain the strength required for the type of fall protection system to be utilised, usually beams, trusses or other suitably strong structures.

O

P

Pass through buckle

Is composed of two mating flat metal frames. The female frame is an open rectangle that is permanently attached to a loop at the end of a strap. The male frame is attached to the joining strap by passing the webbing through the two slots in the frame. To engage the buckle, turn the male buckle at an angle so that it will pass through the female frame. After it has passed through, turn it back so that the male frame lies directly on top of the female frame.

Passive fall protection system

A means of providing fall protection that does not require an employee to wear or actively use the equipment. This includes guardrails and personnel-rated netting systems.

Permit-required confined space

A space that has one or more of the following characteristics: (1) contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere; (2) contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant; (3) has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross-section; or (4) contains any other recognised serious safety or health hazard (such as a fall hazard).

Personal fall arrest system (PFAS)

A system used to arrest an employee in a fall from a working level. It consists of an anchorage, connectors, a body belt or body harness and may include a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or suitable combinations of these. As of January 1, 1998, the use of a body belt for fall arrest is prohibited.

Personnel net

A netting system that is designed to withstand fall arrest forces.

Pole Strap

A work positioning strap designed to be placed around a pole/structure and attached at two points, one on each side of a line worker’s fall arrest harness while the wearer is working on the pole.

Positioning device

A body belt or body harness system rigged to allow an employee to be supported on an elevated vertical surface, such as a wall, and work with both hands-free while leaning.

Positioning Belt

A configurable device used to protect a worker at heights while allowing them to position themselves to comfortably and safely complete a task with both hands.

Program administrator

Individual responsible for all phases of the fall protection program, including its development, implementation and ongoing monitoring. He or she must provide guidance to all those affected by the fall protection program, assign all duties and responsibilities, provide training programs, participate in accident investigations and evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

Q

Quick-connect buckle

A buckle that allows for one-handed operation for fast and easy donning of a full-body harness.

R

Rescue

The ability to retrieve or rescue an individual from confined spaces or heights. Rescue must always be a component of any fall protection program.

Rescue Positioning Device (RPD)

A rescue or positioning system that allows the worker to simply raise or lower himself or someone else to a work level.

Rescue system

Equipment and components used to help a fallen worker return to the ground or location from which he or she fell, or that retrieves or evacuates an employee from dangerous situations or confined spaces.

Restraint Technique

Control on a person’s movement by connection to an anchorage to physically prevent the person from reaching a position at which there is a risk of a free or limited free fall.

RFID

Radio-frequency identification technology is incorporated into a product through RFID Tags for identification and tracking purposes using radios waves.

Risk Assessment

The evaluation of hazards within the worksite which have the potential to cause frequent serious injury or illness to occur.

Rollout

A process by which a snap hook, carabiner or similar device unintentionally disengages from another component to which it is attached.

Rope grab

A deceleration device which travels on a lifeline and automatically, by friction, engages the lifeline and locks so as to arrest the fall of an employee. A rope grab usually employs the principle of inertial locking, cam/level locking, or both.

S

Safety-monitoring system

A system in which a competent person is responsible for recognising and warning employees of fall hazards. A means of administrative controls.

Safety Sleeve

According to ANSI A14.3-2002, it shall be operated entirely by the person using the ladder safety system. It shall permit the person using the ladder safety system to ascend or descend without having to continually manipulate the safety sleeve.

Self-retracting lifeline/ Self-retracting device

A deceleration device containing a drum-wound line which can be slowly extracted from, or retracted onto, the drum under slight tension during normal employee movement, and which, after the onset of a fall, automatically locks the drum and arrests the fall.

Service Centre (Factory Authorised)

A canter that has been approved by the manufacturer to repair and certify equipment.

Shock absorber

Also known as an energy absorber. An energy-absorbing unit that will limit the force exerted on the worker in the event of a fall.

Shock-absorbing lanyard

A connective device used with a personal fall arrest system that features an integral shock absorber to dissipate the energy of a fall, limiting fall arrest forces.

Shock-absorbing stretch lanyard

A connective device used with a personal fall arrest system that expands and contracts following the employee’s movement. Helps prevent trips, falls and snags.

Shock Pack

Part of the shock-absorbing lanyard that contains the energy absorber that will be deployed in the event of a fall.

Snaphook

A connector with a hook-shaped body that has an opening for attachment to a fall protection component and a self-closing gate to retain the component within the opening. Hooks must be double-acting to be compliant.

Span

The distance between intermediates or anchor points for a horizontal lifeline system.

Steep roof

A roof having a slope greater than 4 in 12 (vertical to horizontal).

Suspension Intolerance

(Also known as Orthostatic Intolerance, Suspension Trauma). A term used to describe the potential after-effects of immobile suspension within a full body safety harness following a fall from height. It presents with the development of a range of symptoms which may result in unconsciousness or death, and is thought to occur as a result of low blood pressure secondary to blood pooling in the legs, pelvis and abdomen of victims who are suspended and motionless.

Suspension trauma straps

A device that can be attached to or is integral on a full-body harness that is deployed following fall arrest and used to minimise the impact of suspension trauma.

Swing fall

A pendulum-like motion resulting from a fall that occurs in a position located horizontally away from the anchorage.

Sub-Pelvic Strap

A strap incorporated into a full body harness which passes under the buttocks connecting the two leg loops. It is designed to distribute the forces from the inside of the legs to the outside to lessen the effect of injury following a fall.

T

Tie Back Lanyard

Acts as both the connecting means and an anchorage connector and comes in two styles. One incorporates an adjustable D-ring on the lanyard for attaching the snap hook and the other is designed for the hook to go around the webbing itself, which requires a specialty hook with a gate strength capacity of 5,000 pounds (22kN).

Tie-Off Adapter

Alternative anchorage connectors for a fall arrest system made of different materials, including cable, web and chain.

Tongue Buckle

Similar to a belt buckle, the worker inserts the webbing strap through the buckle and places the buckle tongue into the grommet hole and adjusts for proper fit and comfort.

Tripods

Lightweight, portable devices usually used for manhole entry and retrieval applications.

Trolley

An anchorage connector that rolls along the I-beam to provide horizontal mobility to the worker.

Twin-leg lanyard

Also known as a double-leg lanyard. Two lanyards that are connected at one end. Used to provide 100 percent tie-off to keep the employee protected in the event of a fall at all times as he or she moves from one location to another.

Type 1 Fall Arrest Device

Includes rope & rail grabs - A fall arrest device that travels along an anchorage line and, when loaded, locks to the line. The user is connected to the activating lever, which locks the device in the event of a fall. A typical use of a Type 1 device is as a ladder fall‑arrest system, using a rigid rail or flexible line attached to the ladder.

Type 2 & 3 Fall Arrest Device - Self Retracting Lifeline (SRL)

A deceleration device containing a drum‑wound line which may be extracted and retracted under slight tension when the user moves vertically away from and towards the device. In the event of a fall, the device will quickly lock the drum and prevent the lifeline from paying out, thus arresting the user’s fall and limiting the force to 6kN. When incorporating a retrieval winch, it becomes a type 3 fall arrest device.

V

Vertical lifeline system (VLL)

A system comprised of a flexible line such as wire, rope or cable, with a connector at the upper end, along which a fall arrester travels.

U

Unprotected sides and edges

Any side or edge (except at entrances to points of access) of a walking/working surface, e.g., floor, roof, ramp, or runway where there are no wall or guardrail system at least 39 inches (1.0 m) high.

W

Walking/working surface

Any surface, whether horizontal or vertical on which an employee walks or works, including, but not limited to, floors, roofs, ramps, bridges, runways, formwork and concrete reinforcing steel but not including ladders, vehicles, or trailers, on which employees must be located in order to perform their job duties.

Warning line system

A barrier erected on a roof to warn employees that they are approaching an unprotected roof side or edge, and which designates an area in which roofing work may take place without the use of guardrail, body belt, or safety net systems to protect employees in the area.

Webbing

Woven fabric used on fall protection equipment components such as full-body harnesses and lanyards.

Wedge grip

Easily adjusted termination for wire rope cable that requires no tools to install and is 5,000 lb. (22Kn) rated.

Winch

A device that lifts and lowers loads and contains a mechanism that controls pay-out and take-up of the line. Provides a mechanical lifting advantage.

Work area

A portion of a walking/working surface where job duties are being performed.

Work Positioning

Use of fall protection components in a way that allows a worker to be supported in a harness under tension so that a fall is prevented, e.g. the use of a pole strap or lanyard.

X

Y

Z

Have we missed anything? Want to add something new? Feel free to leave a comment below and we'll add it to the list.