The impact from even a 4 ft. fall can be enough to cause serious injury. There are many methods to prevent employees from falling, but all fall protection systems are classified as either passive or active. Passive fall protection Passive fall protection consists of components and systems that do not require any action on the worker's part. However, they require a qualified person to design and inspect. Active fall protection Active fall protection is made up of components and systems that require some manipulation by the worker to make the protection effective.
All active systems begin with an anchorage point and have some components connected to the worker.
Many different kinds of passive and active fall protection systems are available. Choosing the one best suited to a particular task requires planning, forethought, and an understanding of the systems available. A complete analysis is required to determine the fall protection system best suited to the application. The first factor to consider in selecting a fall protection system is the height at which the worker will be performing the job. Second, analyze the job site and specific task to be done.