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 consideration 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)(1), "Positioning devices shall be rigged such that an employee cannot free fall more than 2 feet."

According to OSHA 1926.502(d)(16)(ii), shock-absorbing lanyards must "...limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 1,800 pounds (8 kN) when used with a body harness..." and according to OSHA 1926.502(d)(9) "...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 positioning lanyard (no shock absorber required, aka restraint lanyard). But, you need a shock-absorbing lanyard that limits arresting forces to 1,800lbs or less if you (like most users) are subject to a fall hazard of greater than 2ft. We offer both types from fine manufacturers like FallTech® and Capital Safety. We stock and sell more shock-absorbing lanyards than we do positioning lanyards, so if you need a positioning lanyard then check out the last five lanyards on this page.

Still confused? Please Contact Us so we can help you find the right lanyard for your job.