OSHA 1926.502(d): personal fall arrest system anchorages and limits
Under 29 CFR 1926.502(d), personal fall arrest anchorages must support at least 5,000 pounds per employee or be designed with a safety factor of two under a qualified person. Systems must limit free fall to 6 feet, keep the worker off any lower level, and limit arresting force to 1,800 pounds with a harness.
Official text
(d)(15) Anchorages used for attachment of personal fall arrest equipment shall be independent of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms and capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN) per employee attached, or shall be designed, installed, and used as follows: (i) as part of a complete personal fall arrest system which maintains a safety factor of at least two; and (ii) under the supervision of a qualified person.Read the full section on eCFR
(d)(16) Personal fall arrest systems, when stopping a fall, shall: (i) limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 900 pounds (4 kN) when used with a body belt; (ii) limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 1,800 pounds (8 kN) when used with a body harness; (iii) be rigged such that an employee can neither free fall more than 6 feet (1.8 m), nor contact any lower level; (iv) bring an employee to a complete stop and limit maximum deceleration distance an employee travels to 3.5 feet (1.07 m); and, (v) have sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy of an employee free falling a distance of 6 feet (1.8 m), or the free fall distance permitted by the system, whichever is less. Note: If the personal fall arrest system meets the criteria and protocols contained in appendix C to subpart M, and if the system is being used by an employee having a combined person and tool weight of less than 310 pounds (140 kg), the system will be considered to be in compliance with the provisions of paragraph (d)(16) of this section. If the system is used by an employee having a combined tool and body weight of 310 pounds (140 kg) or more, then the employer must appropriately modify the criteria and protocols of the appendix to provide proper protection for such heavier weights, or the system will not be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of paragraph (d)(16) of this section.Read the full section on eCFR
(d)(21) Personal fall arrest systems shall be inspected prior to each use for wear, damage and other deterioration, and defective components shall be removed from service.Read the full section on eCFR
What it requires, in plain English
- Anchorages must be independent of any anchorage supporting a platform and hold at least 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN) per employee attached, or be part of a complete system with a safety factor of at least two under a qualified person’s supervision.
- The system must be rigged so the employee can’t free fall more than 6 feet (1.8 m) or contact any lower level.
- Maximum arresting force is 1,800 pounds with a body harness, and deceleration distance is limited to 3.5 feet (1.07 m).
- Systems must be inspected before each use for wear, damage and deterioration, and defective components removed from service.
Where it shows up on site
- Lanyards tied off to conduit, handrails or light framing
- Tie-off points at foot level that allow a long free fall
- Workers on low decks wearing long lanyards that would let them reach the level below
Verify on site before you call it
A photo rarely shows every fact a standard depends on. Confirm these in person before treating the condition as a violation:
- What is the anchorage, and is it rated for 5,000 pounds per worker or designed by a qualified person?
- Is the anchorage independent of anything supporting a platform?
- Given the anchor location and lanyard length, could the worker free fall more than 6 feet or strike a lower level?
- Was the harness and lanyard inspected before use, and has any component been subjected to a fall?
Typical corrective actions
- Move tie-off to a rated anchorage or one designed by a qualified person, independent of platform supports.
- Shorten the lanyard or use a self-retracting lifeline where clearance below is limited.
- Remove damaged harnesses, lanyards and connectors from service.
- Set up a pre-use inspection routine for every harness and lanyard.
Common questions
How strong does a fall protection anchor point have to be?
Under 1926.502(d)(15), at least 5,000 pounds per employee attached. The alternative is an anchorage designed, installed and used as part of a complete personal fall arrest system with a safety factor of at least two, under the supervision of a qualified person.
What is the maximum free fall distance for a personal fall arrest system?
Six feet. 1926.502(d)(16)(iii) requires the system to be rigged so the employee can neither free fall more than 6 feet (1.8 m) nor contact any lower level.
Turn the observation into a notice
Record what the photo shows, confirm the on-site checks above, and identify the responsible company and due date. Use the fillable construction safety notice template or follow aworked example from observation to verified fix. Cirqify can draft the notice from your circled photo for you to review.
Related standards
This guide summarizes federal OSHA construction standards for general information. It is not legal advice. States with their own OSHA-approved plans may set different or additional requirements; see federal and state coverage.