Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS)

From the moment your workers get to a jobsite, their health and safety should be your top concern. You want to send them home just as healthy as they arrived and finding the right safety gear can help you do that.

One way to protect employees who work at heights is to employ proper fall arrest units. A personal fall arrest system (PFAS) stops the fall of someone working at heights, preventing them from plunging to the ground. In addition to eliminating the consequences of the fall, the device also lessens the impact of the fall, limiting injury.

The federal government requires personal fall arrest equipment under certain circumstances. To remain in compliance, you must choose a system that offers your workers the proper protection and gives them the confidence to perform their jobs.

Malta Dynamics carries a fall arrest line suited to your needs. We’ve been in the construction industry for more than 30 years and we understand compliance standards and safety demands. Our fall arresters are easy to deploy and provide a comfortable fit, allowing workers to concentrate on their tasks instead of thinking about how their harness feels. When you purchase our equipment, you’ll feel confident your workers will stay protected.

PFAS Components

While the appearance of fall arrest equipment may vary slightly, every model relies on the same parts. An effective personal fall arrest unit includes three main components.

1. Anchorage

The anchorage provides the PFAS’s secure connection point. The worker connects their lanyard or lifeline to the anchorage, which supports the fall protection system. An anchor may be permanent, such as a roof anchor used on a skyscraper, or temporary, like nail-on anchors used by roofers.

2. Body Harness

A body harness consists of the straps that attach the worker to the PFAS. They wear the harness to distribute the force of the fall across their body, including the chest, shoulders, waist and pelvis. OSHA no longer allows the use of body belts, as they do not distribute the impact of the fall as effectively and can lead to serious internal organ damage.

3. Connectors

The connector forms the line between the anchor and the body belt or harness. These lifelines and lanyards come in one of four primary forms: a standard lanyard, shock-absorbing lanyard, rope grab, and self-retracting lifeline.

When Should a Personal Fall Arrest System Be Used?

Falls cause more fatalities in the construction industry than any other type of accident. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets federal guidelines governing safety regulations. Most private employers fall under OSHA’s purview, and OSHA lays out its guidelines for fall protection in the construction industry in Subpart M.

OSHA says a personal fall arrest unit should be used when a worker has a risk of injury from a fall, such as when:

• They work at a height of more than 6′ above the ground.
• They work on a suspended scaffolding more than 10′ higher than the working surface.
• They work around dangerous equipment, such as open drive belts or vats of acid.

How to Choose the Right PFAS

Determining which personal fall arrest system is right for your jobsite depends on many factors, including your type of work. The first step is to assess your jobsite and see which hazards are present. What height will the worker perform the job? You need that information to choose your PFAS. Measure the free fall distance, which goes from the standing worker’s D-ring to where the lanyard starts arresting the fall. You want the free fall distance to be as minimal as possible — one way to do that is to choose a shorter lanyard.

You should also assess what other obstacles a worker might run into during a fall. What type of work will the employee perform? A PFAS with a positioning harness will give them a greater ability to move. A retrieval harness is more effective in a confined space, such as when a worker lowers into a shaft. This harness makes it easier to rescue a worker who can’t move. A suspension harness gives your worker the best opportunity to work hands-free, such as if they’re painting or washing windows.

Finally, comfort and durability should also factor into your decision. The harness should have a snug but not tight fit and it should stand up to long-term usage. If you work in hot months when temperatures soar, finding a harness constructed from breathable material will also help your worker stay cool and comfortable.

Why Malta Dynamics?

Malta Dynamics knows how to make outstanding personal fall arrest systems because we work in the construction industry and have firsthand knowledge of what you need. We use our products ourselves and search for ways to improve our design and engineering. Our gear has withstood extensive testing in all types of environments and surpassed our expectations. Our equipment will also exceed yours, with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Place an Order for Our PFAS Today

Find comfortable, durable personal fall arrest systems from Malta Dynamics to protect your workers. Browse our selection and place an order online today or contact us at (800) 494-1840 with any questions.