Personal Fall Arrest Anchor Selection

Why it matters

Your harness and lanyard are only as good as what they are hooked to. An anchor that rips out at 800 pounds turns a fall arrest system into extra weight on the way down. OSHA requires anchorages capable of 5,000 pounds per worker, or engineered systems with a safety factor of two under a qualified person. Today we talk about what qualifies as an anchor and what never does.

Hazards

• ⚠ Tying off to guardrails, conduit, vents, sprinkler pipe, or rebar candy canes
• ⚠ Anchors rated for one worker holding two
• ⚠ Anchors set low or far away, creating long free falls and swing falls
• ⚠ Reusing single-use energy-absorbing anchors after a fall
• ⚠ Steel anchor points welded or bolted by guesswork instead of spec
• ⚠ Not checking what is under the membrane or deck the anchor screws into

Controls and safe practices

• ✓ Anchor only to points rated 5,000 pounds per person or engineered by a qualified person.
• ✓ One worker per anchor unless the anchor is rated and documented for more.
• ✓ Anchor at or above your dorsal D-ring where feasible to shorten free fall.
• ✓ Plan swing: anchor as close to directly overhead of the work as you can get.
• ✓ Install manufactured anchors per instructions: right fasteners, right structure, right count.
• ✓ Inspect anchors before each use and retire any anchor that has caught a fall, per the manufacturer.
• ✓ Not sure it holds 5,000 pounds? It is not an anchor. Ask before you clip.

Crew discussion questions

1. What anchors are we using today, and what are they attached to?
2. What is the free fall and total fall clearance from our anchor heights?
3. Where would you swing if you fell from where you work?
4. What things on this site look like anchors but are not?

Applicable OSHA standards

29 CFR 1926.502

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