What are the 3 Types of Fall Protection? (How They Work, Examples & Why They Matter)
Written By: Jeff Kirschner, General Manager
Every year falls remain one of the leading causes of workplace injuries and fatalities, especially in industries like construction, oil and gas, and manufacturing.
Whether it’s working on elevated platforms, open edges, or unstable surfaces, ensuring worker safety isn’t just about following regulations—it’s about protecting the lives of your workers and keeping operations running smoothly.
What is a Fall Protection System?
A fall protection system is a set of equipment, devices, and procedures designed to prevent or arrest falls from heights, ensuring worker safety in elevated work environments.
Fall protection systems aren’t one-size-fits-all solutions. The best safety strategy involves layering multiple types of protection to reduce risks while maintaining productivity.
By understanding the three types of fall protection, business owners and site managers can create a safe working environment that meets industry regulations and protects employees working at heights without slowing down operations.
The Three Types of Fall Protection Systems
Fall protection systems are categorized into three primary types:
- Fall Elimination: Removing the fall hazard entirely
- Fall Prevention: Keeping workers on stable ground using physical barriers and restraint systems
- Fall Arrest: Catching workers if a fall occurs to prevent serious injuries or fatalities
Each system plays a crucial role in preventing falls and ensuring a well-being-first approach in the workplace. Let’s break them down further.
1. Fall Elimination: The First Line Of Defence
How It Works
The most effective way to prevent falls is to eliminate the hazard entirely. This means designing job sites and workflows, so employees don’t need to work at heights in the first place.
Examples include:
- Installing equipment at ground level rather than elevated platforms
- Using engineering controls, such as automated systems (e.g., robotic arms, extendable tools) to perform tasks, reduces the need for workers to perform high-risk tasks at heights
- Redesigning work areas to eliminate the need for ladders or open edges
Why It’s Important
Elimination is the most effective and fail-proof form of fall protection. If workers never have to be exposed to a fall hazard, there is zero risk of injury. However, when working at heights is unavoidable, fall prevention is the next layer of defence.
2. Fall Prevention: Keeping Workers On Solid Ground
When elimination isn’t possible, the focus shifts to preventing falls before they happen using fall restraint systems and physical barriers.
Types of Fall Prevention Systems
- Guardrails: Installed around elevated work areas to block open edges
- Travel Restraint Systems: Secures workers with a harness and anchor point to prevent them from reaching fall hazards
- Scaffolding: Provides stable, enclosed platforms for safe access to elevated work
Why It’s Important
Unlike fall restraint and fall arrest systems, prevention systems require little to no worker interaction, reducing the chance of human error. When properly installed, these systems provide workers safe access to heights without slowing productivity. However, if a worker does fall despite prevention measures, a fall arrest system becomes the last resort for protection.
3. Fall Arrest: The Last Line Of Defence
When a fall occurs, fall arrest systems stop workers before they hit the ground. These systems don’t prevent falls—they mitigate the impact.
Types of Fall Arrest Systems
- Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS): Includes a harness, lanyard, and anchor point to catch a falling worker and limit free fall distance
- Safety Nets: Installed beneath work areas to catch falling workers and tools
- Lifeline Systems: Use anchored cables or ropes, often with rope grabs or self-retracting lifelines, to provide continuous fall protection and a controlled stop in the event of a fall.
Why It’s Important
Fall arrest systems are the last line of defence, preventing serious injury or death when a fall occurs. They are essential in high-risk environments where falls can’t be entirely eliminated. However, improper use or poor installation can lead to suspension trauma, making proper training and regular inspection critical for effectiveness.
Common Workplace Hazards That Require Fall Protection
Falls can happen in any industry, but specific workplace hazards make them more likely:
- Unprotected edges and open holes: Found on roofs, scaffolding, or platforms
- Slippery or unstable surfaces: Create a higher risk for falls, especially in industries like oil and gas
- Lack of training: May cause workers to use safety equipment improperly, leading to higher accident rates
- Cluttered work areas: Create trip hazards that can cause falls from heights
Business owners can proactively protect workers and maintain productivity by identifying workplace hazards.
Choosing the Right Fall Protection System for Your Business
Selecting the appropriate fall protection equipment depends on several factors:
- The type of work being performed
- The height of potential falls
- The work environment and structural limitations
- Compliance with industry regulations
Prioritizing Safety Without Slowing Down Work
A strong fall protection system does more than prevent serious injury—it keeps employees safe while ensuring productivity. You can reduce risk by combining safer work methods, proper equipment, and ongoing training without slowing operations.
At Trojan Safety, we help businesses across industries implement customized fall protection strategies that meet compliance standards while keeping workers safe.
Protect your workplace by signing up for Trojan Safety’s Worker Fall Protection Training Course today, or contact us to learn how we can support your safety needs.
