Lanyards

For most fall protection users, the two most important components in their fall protection system are the body harness and lanyard. Like many things, there are options when it comes to choosing a lanyard. Your first condieration is the type of lanyard you need. To decide, you need to know if you’re engaged in a work positioning or fall arrest application.

According to OSHA 1926.502(e), "Positioning devices shall be rigged such that an employee cannot free fall more than 2 feet."

According to OSHA 1926.502(d), shock-absorbing lanyards must "...limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 1,800 pounds (8 kN) when used with a body harness..." and "...be capable of sustaining a minimum tensile load of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN)..."

Using these two OSHA guidelines means that if your fall potential is just 2ft or less, then you can use a simple restraint lanyard (no shock absorber required). But, you need a shock-absorbing lanyard that limits arresting forces to 1800lbs or less if you (like most users) are subject to a fall hazard of greater than 2ft. Still confused? Please Contact Us so we can help you find the right lanyard for your job. We offer fall protection lanyards from leading manufacturers like FallTech®, Capital Safety and Elk River®, shown below, separated by manufacturer.