What type of fall protection system must limit the deceleration distance of a falling employee?

A Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) is designed specifically to limit the deceleration distance of a falling employee. This system typically consists of a harness, lanyard, and anchorage point. When a worker falls, the PFAS engages to arrest the fall, and the components are designed to minimize the distance the worker falls after the system activates. This is critical in preventing injury upon deceleration and ensuring that the fall does not result in the worker hitting the ground or striking other objects below. The components work together to provide a secure and safe means of stopping a fall while also controlling how rapidly that stop occurs, thereby protecting the worker.

In contrast, guardrails provide a preventative barrier but do not confront the dynamics of a fall once it occurs. Safety nets serve to catch and absorb the energy of a fall but do not have the same direct control over deceleration as a PFAS. Safety harnesses are part of the PFAS and do not operate independently to limit deceleration without the accompanying systems.