Fall prevention stops a worker from ever reaching a fall hazard; fall protection, in the narrower sense, stops a fall safely once it has started. Guardrails, hole covers and travel restraint are fall prevention. Safety nets and personal fall arrest systems are fall protection. Wherever you can, prevent the fall first, and only rely on arresting it when prevention is not practical.
To make it more confusing, regulators such as OSHA use “fall protection” as the umbrella term for both. This guide explains the difference, the systems in each group and how to choose between them on a construction site.
Fall Protection vs Fall Prevention at a Glance
| Fall prevention | Fall protection (fall arrest) | |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Stop the worker reaching the edge or opening | Stop a fall that has already started before the worker hits the level below |
| Examples | Guardrails, parapets, hole covers, scaffolds and work platforms, travel restraint | Personal fall arrest systems (harness, lanyard or SRL, anchor), safety nets |
| Is a fall possible? | No, when correctly installed and used | Yes, the worker falls and the system arrests them |
| PPE and training | Passive systems need little or no PPE; restraint needs a harness and training | Harness, connector and anchor, plus training in use and inspection |
| Rescue plan needed? | Rarely | Always: a suspended worker must be rescued promptly |
| Place in the hierarchy | Preferred | Used when prevention is not practical |
What Is Fall Protection? Laws and Standards
When working with both feet on the ground it is still possible to obtain injuries by slipping, tripping and falling; anything above ground level is going to bring intrinsic risks. According to OSHA, fall protection must be provided at elevations of four feet in general industry workplaces, five feet in shipyards, six feet in the construction industry and eight feet in longshoring operations.
Because this distance does not seem very high workers often do not realize the true danger of fall hazards. It’s easy to picture the dangers of falling when you are working several stories off the ground but maybe not so much when the height is not as tall as you are. A fall from this height can still result in serious injury; therefore well planned and executed safety measures should be taken no matter what the height.
Employers have a lawful duty to keep their workers safe in every workplace. There are rules for all types of businesses. Here the discussion analyzes fall protection and fall prevention types – what excels in certain scenarios as well as the disadvantages of some fall protection.
Legal Regulations: OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Act was signed in December 1970, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) opened in 1971 following public outcry against rising injury and death rates on the job. The agency focuses its resources on reducing injuries, illnesses, and deaths in the workplace. OSHA estimates that worker deaths in America have fallen from about 38 a day in 1970 to 15 a day in 2023. Even so, fall protection in construction (29 CFR 1926.501) was OSHA’s most frequently cited standard in fiscal year 2024.
Consensus Standards: ANSI
Founded in 1918, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems and personnel in the United States. OSHA regulations are the law, but ANSI publishes consensus standards to provide a more current and thorough view of how to plan, implement and manage a fall protection program, mainly through the ANSI/ASSP Z359 Fall Protection Code. OSHA and ANSI both work to reduce the threat of fall fatalities.
Outside the US
In the UK, the Work at Height Regulations 2005 set out the same thinking as a simple hierarchy: avoid work at height where you can, prevent falls where you cannot avoid it, and minimise the distance and consequences of a fall where the risk remains. Australia’s model WHS Regulations take a similar approach for any fall from one level to another that is reasonably likely to cause injury. For a wider overview, see our guide to the basics of fall protection.
The Importance of a True Fall Protection Program
Once you grasp the magnitude of fall hazards and the risks associated with them, an initial budget can be created. Next comes a phased implementation plan based on priorities and budget. Without a true fall protection program, you’ll be spending on solutions that do little to reduce overall risk. Not evaluating all pieces of the program together can become costly, ineffective and inefficient.
The Hierarchy of Fall Protection
Most safety professionals rank the options in this order, from most to least effective:
- Eliminate the fall hazard, for example by working from the ground or prefabricating at ground level.
- Prevent falls with passive protection such as guardrails, covers and platforms.
- Restrain the worker so they cannot reach the edge.
- Arrest a fall with safety nets or a personal fall arrest system.
- Administrative controls such as warning lines, safety monitors and training, which support the other measures but should not be relied on alone.
The Big Three: Prevention, Work Positioning and Fall Arrest
When people talk about the types of fall protection systems a worker can use, they usually group them into three:
- Fall Prevention
- Work Positioning
- Fall Arrest
Each type has an intended use; however, the best for any job with height would be fall prevention since the worker is “prevented” from falling.
Fall Prevention
Fall prevention is the ideal solution when it comes to workplace safety. Anytime a hazard can be engineered out to completely remove the risk of falling, it becomes the ideal approach and should be taken if possible. One type of fall prevention is a guardrail system. This can be added to platforms, gangways, stairs and more. Guardrails have a top rail and a midrail installed halfway between the top edge of the guardrail and the walking or working level. Under OSHA construction rules, the top rail must be 42 inches (plus or minus 3 inches) above the walking or working level, and it must withstand a force of at least 200 pounds applied within 2 inches of the top edge in any outward or downward direction.
In order to reduce slipping there should also be a non-slip surface for walking which is often accomplished with an open patterned, grating type, walking surface which provides traction and allows water and debris to drain through. Non-slip coatings are used in industrial and marine applications on flat horizontal stair treads and other walk surfaces to provide greater traction for users.
A guardrail system is certainly the most preferred solution for fall prevention since the worker can move about freely while performing his/her job and won’t require additional safety equipment such as a body harness, lifeline, or anchorage.
Another form of fall prevention is travel restraint (sometimes called a tether system): a harness connected by a fixed-length lanyard or line to an anchorage, set up so the employee cannot reach the edge of an unguarded elevated surface, therefore preventing the fall. Size the lanyard for the worst case, including any slope or corner, and use anchorages rated for restraint. ANSI/ASSP Z359 calls for restraint anchorages to hold at least 1,000 pounds when they are not certified by a qualified person, and some manufacturers specify more, so follow the equipment instructions.
Work Positioning
A work positioning system secures a worker to a location keeping him/her from falling. The system consists of two items – a harness and a lanyard. The body harness has a D ring on each side of the waist. The lanyard attaches to one D ring then around a stationary item and back to the D ring on the other side. The lanyard must be long enough to allow the worker sufficient movement for the job without leaving slack in the system.
Typical uses are rebar and formwork installation, and tying off on a wood pole. OSHA requires positioning devices to be rigged so the worker cannot free fall more than 2 feet, and their anchorages must support at least twice the potential impact load or 3,000 pounds, whichever is greater. Work positioning is not fall arrest: where a fall hazard remains, a separate fall arrest system is needed as a backup.
Fall Arrest
A typical personal fall arrest system is made up of three items: a full body harness, a connector (a lanyard with an energy absorber or a self-retracting lifeline) and an anchorage.
Some lanyards are a fixed length of six feet or less and some are retractable; known as a SRL or self-retracting lifeline. The lanyard can be attached to a fixed nonmovable point or consist of a rope grab attached to a horizontal life line which would be anchored at each end. The three pieces working together must be able to resist the shock load caused by a fall. OSHA requires anchorages for personal fall arrest to support at least 5,000 pounds per worker attached, or to be designed by a qualified person as part of a complete system with a safety factor of at least two. The system must also be rigged so the worker cannot free fall more than 6 feet or contact any lower level.
An important point to note is that the worker should remain in close proximity to the anchorage because the further he/she moves horizontally, the larger the arc created in the pendulum swing if a fall occurs. If there’s any contact with a stationary object during a fall a serious injury could occur regardless of the fall arrest system’s shock absorbing device.
Always check the clearance below the work: the free fall distance, the deceleration distance of the energy absorber, the harness stretch and the worker’s height all add up. If there is not enough clearance to the next level, use a shorter connector, a self-retracting lifeline or switch to restraint.
After a Fall: Suspension Trauma
Further considerations should be taken before using a fall arrest system. A fall can turn into an emergency situation quickly.
When a worker has fallen, they may be unconscious, and there should be a rescue plan to bring the worker to safety quickly. OSHA requires employers to provide for prompt rescue of employees in the event of a fall.
Harness Hang (Suspension Trauma)
Suspension trauma, also called orthostatic intolerance or harness hang, can occur when the body is held upright without any movement for a period of time. Blood pools in the legs, less returns to the heart and brain, and the worker can faint. If the person faints but remains upright in the harness, the condition can become life-threatening.
OSHA lists the warning signs as faintness, breathlessness, sweating, paleness, hot flushes, increased heart rate, nausea, dizziness, an unusually low heart rate or blood pressure, and greying or loss of vision. A conscious worker should keep pumping their legs or stand in trauma relief straps while waiting for rescue.
Crush Syndrome
Compression or crush syndrome can have the same effect as having a leg trapped under a rock, cutting off the circulation. The person seems fine, yet circulation is not occurring in the compressed limb, and toxins (waste by-products of the cells) build up below the compression. Once the pressure is released, those toxins suddenly flow into the circulatory system and can send the body into shock. This can also be fatal if not treated quickly and properly.
The practical lesson for both conditions is the same: get the suspended worker down as quickly and safely as possible, follow your rescue plan, and get them medical attention immediately, even if they say they feel fine. Use our Safety Harness Rescue Procedures template to plan it before work starts.
Creating a Safer Workplace
There are several steps to take in making the workplace safer for employees and visitors. First evaluate all activities that go on during a normal workday and see where improvements might be beneficial. Where fall protection is needed select what’s appropriate focusing on “preventing” falls when at all possible, then on “protecting” workers who do fall in areas where prevention isn’t an option. Whether conducting a hazard assessment or developing a comprehensive fall protection plan, thinking about fall hazards before they occur will help to manage workplace safety and focus attention on prevention efforts. If using personal fall protection systems, particular attention should be given to identifying attachment points and ensuring that employees know how to properly don and inspect their equipment.
- Make improvements to the workplace by creating non-slip surfaces, making sure there are no floor holes, unprotected sides, wall openings and other hazards.
- Develop a written fall prevention plan that can be read and followed by all employees.
- Perform daily evaluations focusing on hazards associated with routine and non-routine tasks.
- Eliminate the need for fall protection when possible by rescheduling, isolating or changing the task.
- Make sure fall protection equipment is appropriate, inspected regularly and used properly.
- Conduct mandatory fall prevention training for employees on a routine basis.
- Train workers on how to identify fall hazards and on the correct personal protection equipment (PPE) to use for each situation.
- Fall protection equipment needs to be inspected regularly (another reason to focus on prevention) in accordance with OSHA requirements and manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Partner with other employers to find out what their best practices are and to share fall prevention tactics.
- Visit OSHA’s fall protection page and check the current ANSI/ASSP Z359 standards to ensure that you are compliant with all rules.
Fall Protection vs Fall Prevention FAQ
What is the difference between fall protection and fall prevention?
Fall prevention stops a worker from reaching a fall hazard, using guardrails, covers, platforms or travel restraint. Fall protection, in the narrower sense, stops a fall after it has started, using safety nets or a personal fall arrest system. Prevention is always preferred.
Is a harness fall prevention or fall protection?
It depends on how it is rigged. A harness with a short lanyard that stops the worker reaching the edge is fall prevention (travel restraint). The same harness with an energy-absorbing lanyard or self-retracting lifeline that lets the worker reach the edge is fall protection (fall arrest).
What are the three types of fall protection?
The three types of fall protection systems usually listed are fall prevention (including guardrails and travel restraint), work positioning and fall arrest.
What is the difference between fall restraint and fall arrest?
Fall restraint keeps the worker from reaching the edge, so no fall can happen. Fall arrest allows the worker to reach the edge and stops them after they fall, which means higher anchor strength, enough clearance below and a rescue plan.
At what height does OSHA require fall protection?
OSHA requires fall protection at four feet in general industry, five feet in shipyards, six feet in construction and eight feet in longshoring operations.
Why is fall prevention better than fall arrest?
With fall prevention the worker never falls, so there is no risk of impact injuries, swing falls or suspension trauma, and no rescue is needed. Passive systems such as guardrails also protect everyone on the level without relying on each worker using PPE correctly.
Related Templates and Guides
- Fall Protection vs Fall Prevention Whitepaper
- Fall Protection Health and Safety Policy
- Toolbox Talk – Fall Safety
- Safety Harness Rescue Procedures
This guide is general information. Rules for contracts, payment and site safety differ by country, state and province. Check your contract and local regulations, and get professional advice where it matters.
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