A centrifugal clutch assembly for use with a self-retracting lifeline having a brake hub with ratcheting teeth within a cavity of the brake hub and a plate with a first end and a second end, said first end and said second end each having a first portion and a second portion defining an inlet portion, comprising: a) a pawl having a base portion, an intermediate portion, and an extension portion, said intermediate portion interconnecting said base portion and said extension portion; and b) a spring placing a biasing force upon said pawl, wherein said pawl is pivotable between a first position and a second position relative to the plate, said spring pushing said pawl toward the plate in the first position thereby bypassing the ratcheting teeth, said spring being compressed thereby allowing said pawl to pivot away from the plate in the second position thereby engaging the ratcheting teeth; said centrifugal clutch assembly being characterised by: c) said intermediate portion being configured and arranged to be placed within the inlet portion between the first portion and the second portion on each end of the plate, the inlet portion providing a cavity within which said intermediate portion of said pawl is kept in place by the first portion and the second portion, said pawl being pivotable within the cavity about the intermediate portion and proximate the first portion and the second portion, said base portion extending outward from said intermediate portion and away from said inlet portion, said extension portion extending outward from said intermediate portion and into said inlet portion; and d) the spring being configured and arranged to be placed within the inlet portion between the second portion and said extension portion of said pawl, the second portion and said extension portion keeping said spring in place within the inlet portion. a) a pawl having a base portion, an intermediate portion, and an extension portion, said intermediate portion interconnecting said base portion and said extension portion; and b) a spring placing a biasing force upon said pawl, wherein said pawl is pivotable between a first position and a second position relative to the plate, said spring pushing said pawl toward the plate in the first position thereby bypassing the ratcheting teeth, said spring being compressed thereby allowing said pawl to pivot away from the plate in the second position thereby engaging the ratcheting teeth; said centrifugal clutch assembly being characterised by: c) said intermediate portion being configured and arranged to be placed within the inlet portion between the first portion and the second portion on each end of the plate, the inlet portion providing a cavity within which said intermediate portion of said pawl is kept in place by the first portion and the second portion, said pawl being pivotable within the cavity about the intermediate portion and proximate the first portion and the second portion, said base portion extending outward from said intermediate portion and away from said inlet portion, said extension portion extending outward from said intermediate portion and into said inlet portion; and d) the spring being configured and arranged to be placed within the inlet portion between the second portion and said extension portion of said pawl, the second portion and said extension portion keeping said spring in place within the inlet portion.