
2.4WorkPositioning:WorkPositioningsystemsareanassemblyofcomponents,subsystems
andconnectorstopartiallysupportandstabilizeaworkeratanelevatedworklocationand
allowtheuserfreeuseofbothhands.
Thesystemshallbesecuredtoananchoragecapableofsupportingatleasttwicethepotential
impactloadofanemployee’sfallor3,000lbs.,whicheverisgreater.Eachworkpositioning
systeminstallationmustbeindependentlycapableofsupportingtheseloads.Workpositioning
systemsallowamaximum24”offreefall.
2.5Suspension:Suspensionsystemstypicallyincludebodysupportandaback‐upPFASwith
anFBH,withasuspensionlineandbosun’sseatconnectedviaacarabiner.
2.6Rescue:RescuesystemstypicallyincludeanFBH,andaspecializedsetofequipmentto
rescueaworkerafterafallevent.
2.7ApplicationLimits:Takeactiontoavoidsharpedges,abrasivesurfaces,andthermal,
electricalandchemicalhazards.Considersystemrequirementswhenmakingattachments.
DONOTusethecarabinerstohoisttoolsormaterials.
3.SYSTEMREQUIREMENTS
3.1Capacity:ThecapacityofthecarabinersinSpecificationsislistedas425lbs.(193kg).
NOTE:TomaintainANSIZ359compliance,limittotaluserweighttonomorethan310lbs.,
(140.6kg),includingclothing,tools,etc.
NomorethanonePFASmaybeconnectedtooneanchorageatonetime.
3.2CompatibilityofComponents:FallTechequipmentisdesignedforusewithcompatible
componentsandsubsystemsonly.Substitutionsorreplacementsmadewithnon‐approved
componentsorsubsystemsmayjeopardizecompatibilityofequipmentandmayaffectthe
safetyandreliabilityofthecompletesystem.Connectorsareconsideredtobecompatiblewith
connectingelementswhentheyhavebeendesignedtoworktogetherinsuchawaythattheir
sizesandshapesdonotcausetheirgatemechanismstoinadvertentlyopen.ContactFallTechif
youhaveanyquestionsaboutcompatibility.Connectors(hooks,carabiners,andD‐rings)must
becapableofsupportingatleast5,000lbs.(22kN).Connectorsmustbecompatiblewiththe
anchorageorothersystemcomponents.Donotuseequipmentthatisnotcompatible.Non‐
compatibleconnectorsmayunintentionallydisengage.Connectorsmustbecompatibleinsize,
shape,andstrength.Self‐lockingsnaphooksandcarabinersarerequiredbyANSIZ359and
OSHA.
3.3MakingConnections:Onlyuseconnectorsthataresuitabletoeachapplication.Ensureall
connectionsarecompatibleinsize,shapeandstrength.Visuallyensureallconnectorsarefully
closedandlocked.FallTechcarabinersaredesignedtobeusedonlyasspecifiedineach
product’suser’sinstructions.Ensurethecarabinerisnotbent,cracked,brokenorotherwise
damaged.Ifinspectionrevealsadamagedcarabiner,removeitfromserviceimmediately.
Ensurethelockfunctionsnormally.Connectthecarabinertolineuptheloadalongthe
carabinersverticalaxis.SeeFigure3.
3.4AnchorageStrength:Thefollowinglistsminimumanchoragestrengthrequirements:
FALLARREST:PerANSIZ359,anchoragesselectedforPFASshallhave:
oastrengthcapableofsustainingstaticloadsinthedirectionspermittedbythePFASwhen
inuseofatleast;(A)3,600lbs.(16kN)whencertificationexistsor(B)5,000lbs.(22.2kN)
inabsenceofcertification.
oOSHArequiresthatanchoragesusedforattachmentofaPFASshallbeindependentof
anyanchoragebeingusedtosupportorsuspendplatforms.Theattachmentmustbeable
tosupportatleast5,000lbs.peruserattached,orbedesigned,installedandusedaspart
ofacompletePFASwhichmaintainsasafetyfactorofatleasttwo,andisunderthe
supervisionofaqualifiedperson.
RESTRAINT:Anchoragesforrestraintapplicationsmustsupportastaticloadofatleast
3,000lbs.(13.4kN)appliedinanydirectionpermittedbythesystemwheninuse.Each
installationmustindependentlysustainthisload.