GME Supply is North America's Premier Outfitter of fall protection, safety equipment, and gear for at-height workers, industry, and construction.

1391 E Boone Industrial Blvd
Columbia, MO 65202
(718) 210-3913

GME Supply Safety Stand-Down Week 2023: Now I Know My ABCDs

Day Two

The ABCDs of Fall Protection

The abcds of fall protection

The Maximum Degree of Fall Protection

Anchorage, body support, connectors, and decent & rescue - each are important on their own, but when used properly together, they provide the maximum degree of safety for a worker at height. But don’t forget, a rescue plan is an equally important factor when it comes to fall protection. The proper gear for descent and rescue should always be a part of a complete fall protection plan, too

Let’s break down the ABCDs of fall protection.

A is for Anchorage

Anchors provide secure attachment points for workers. There are many ways to properly anchor depending on the industry, job, and structure. If you’re on a tower, an anchorage point could be a tie-off sling, or perhaps an I-Beam anchor could be used in a horizontal system. Look for anchorage points rated for at least 5,000 pounds or even an engineered solution designed for your specific application.

B is for Body Support

Now we’re talking harnesses. There’s no safe and natural way to attach one’s body to a structure. Luckily, harnesses are designed to distribute the forces that occur in a fall to limit injuries, or worse, death. There are many varieties of harnesses available for different industries and jobs.

C is for Connectors

Once you’ve chosen a comfortable harness and your anchor point is secure, you just need one last thing before you’re ready to climb. Here’s where a shock absorbing lanyard or SRL comes in. Twin-leg lanyards provide 100% tie-off. SRL’s can limit your fall distance to a few inches. Again, there are a variety of connectors to choose from, made by many different manufacturers.

D is for Descent and DON’T Forget Rescue

What’s your plan? Every job site needs to have proper rescue equipment and a proper rescue plan in place before anyone starts working. From rope access to confined space, there is specific gear needed to get to a fallen worker and get them to safety. A haul system helps raise them up, and a descent device will lower them down. Or maybe you could add trauma straps to your harness, so if you’re the one dangling you can relieve some of the pressure that gravity is placing on your parts.

Free Resources

ABCDs of Fall Protection - The FREE Poster

ABCDs of Fall Protection free downloadable poster from GME Supply

ABCs of Fall Protection - The Video

Questions or Need More Info?

If you have any questions regarding the above information or need more insight into safety or fall protection in general, reach out to our Gear Experts®! Click here to contact our team, or use the instant chat feature in the lower right hand corner of your browser screen. Also be sure to connect with us on social media to keep up with all of our latest content.

***The content of this page is not intended to replace proper, in-depth training. Manufacturer’s instructions must also be followed and reviewed before any equipment is used.