The ABCDE of Fall Protection Safety (Systems & PPE)

• A Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) is made up of five critical elements: anchorage, body support, connecting device, descent and rescue, and education. 

• All fall protection equipment must be inspected before every use for damage, defects, or improper function. 

• A worker whose fall has been arrested remains at serious risk until they are safely rescued.

• Use passive fall protection whenever possible; when hazards can’t be eliminated, active systems like PFAS must be used correctly as a complete ABCDE system.

The ABCDEs of fall protection are a commonly used framework for remembering the five fundamental components of a complete fall protection system: anchorage, body support, connecting device, descent and rescue, and education.

Individually, none of these components can adequately protect a worker from a fall. When properly selected, inspected, and used together as an integrated system, they form a compliant and effective Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS).

An anchorage is the secure point of attachment for the entire Personal Fall Arrest System. Common anchorages include structural steel (such as I-beams), engineered anchor points, or approved structural members. Anchorage points must always be independent of the worker’s means of support.

According to OSHA, anchorages used for fall arrest must be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN) per worker attached, or be designed, installed, and used under the supervision of a qualified person with a safety factor of at least two.

More practically, an anchorage connector is the component that joins the connecting device (such as a lanyard or SRL) to the anchorage. Common examples include cross-arm straps, beam anchors, D-bolts, and concrete anchors.

Anchorage placement is critical to worker safety. The preferred anchorage location is directly overhead, which minimizes free-fall distance and helps prevent a dangerous swing fall. Swing falls occur when the anchorage is positioned laterally from the worker, causing pendulum-like motion that can result in serious secondary impact injuries.

The only acceptable form of body wear for fall arrest is a full-body harness. Body belts are prohibited for fall arrest applications.

A full-body harness is designed to distribute fall forces across the strongest parts of the body, including the thighs, pelvis, chest, and shoulders. This distribution significantly reduces the risk of internal injury during fall arrest.

The dorsal (back) D-ring, located between the shoulder blades, is the correct attachment point for fall arrest systems. Other D-rings, such as side or frontal D-rings, are intended for work positioning, ladder climbing, or rescue, not fall arrest unless specifically designed and approved for that use.

After a fall has been arrested, suspension trauma becomes a serious concern. Devices designed to mitigate suspension trauma include:

• Trauma straps: Allow the worker to stand in the harness to relieve pressure on the femoral arteries.

• Integrated relief systems: Some harnesses include built-in suspension relief features, sometimes referred to as a “chair-in-the-air” configuration, allowing the worker to assume a seated position until rescue.

Education is the element that ensures every part of the ABCDE system is selected, inspected, and used correctly.

OSHA requires that workers exposed to fall hazards receive training from a competent person, covering:

• Recognition of fall hazards

 • Proper inspection of equipment

 • Correct use and limitations of PFAS components

 • Rescue procedures

Even the highest-quality equipment cannot protect a worker who does not know how to use it properly.

Fall protection systems are generally categorized as active or passive, based on how much worker involvement is required for them to be effective. Most comprehensive fall protection programs use a combination of both.

Passive fall protection systems protect workers without requiring any action or special behavior once installed. These systems are always on and do not rely on worker decisions to function.

Common examples include:

• Guardrails
• Covers over floor openings
• Permanent stair systems
• Fixed parapet walls

Because passive systems eliminate the fall hazard entirely, OSHA considers them the preferred method of fall protection whenever feasible. They also reduce the risk of human error, which is a major factor in fall incidents.

Active fall protection requires the worker to take deliberate action, such as putting on equipment and connecting to an anchorage, to be protected.

Examples include:

• Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)
• Travel restraint systems
• Positioning systems
• Controlled descent devices

The ABCDEs discussed in this article primarily apply to active fall protection systems, particularly PFAS. While active systems are highly effective when used correctly, they depend heavily on proper training, inspection, and consistent use.

Whenever possible, passive systems should be used to eliminate fall hazards. However, many jobs, such as roofing, steel erection, tower work, and maintenance, cannot rely on passive protection alone. In those cases, active systems become essential, making training and system integrity critical.

While the ABCDEs form the core of fall protection, additional PPE is critical for overall safety when working at heights. Head protection, such as hard hats or safety helmets, is essential due to the constant risk of falling objects and secondary impacts.

• System Compatibility: Components from different manufacturers should only be used together if they are designed and tested for compatibility. Incompatibility can lead to failures such as snap-hook roll-out.

 • Regulations and Standards: Equipment must meet OSHA requirements. ANSI standards, while voluntary, establish best-practice performance benchmarks.

 • Application and Environment: Consider exposure to dirt, oil, moisture, chemicals, temperature extremes, and job-specific hazards.

All PFAS components must be inspected before each use. Inspection logs for harnesses, lanyards, and SRLs should be completed and retained for the service life of the equipment.

Key don’ts:

• Don’t use fall protection gear for material lifting
• Don’t attach lanyards to guardrails unless specifically rated
• Don’t tie knots in web lanyards, as this can reduce strength by up to 50%

Effective fall protection depends on using a complete system, not individual components. The ABCDEs work together to reduce risk when working at height. When hazards can’t be eliminated with passive protection, a properly selected, inspected, and trained PFAS is essential for keeping workers safe.