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Anchor Points 
Pre-engineered or custom anchor points for many different applications.
Cable-Based Lifelines
Horizontal and vertical cable lifeline systems, for travel restraint or fall arrest.
Catwalks
Provide safe and easy access to elevated work stations while mitigating fall hazards.
Confined Space & Rescue
Equipment for access in confined spaces, or to allow for prompt worker rescue.
Ladder Systems
Safety systems designed to keep users on ladders protected from falls.
Loading Platforms, Stairs & Gangways
Passive safety systems that protect workers no matter what they need to access.
Portable Fall Protection
Systems that can be moved or stored as needed, for ultimate flexibility.
Rigid Rail Systems
In areas with minimal fall clearance, rigid rail systems are the solution.
Roof Fall Protection
Systems to protect rooftop workers from inboard and outboard fall hazards.
Roof Guardrail & Safety Railing
Passive safety solutions that don't require special training or regular inspections & testing to be compliant.
Suspended Access & Window Washing
Anchorage products, davits, monorails, and rigging sleeves for window washing and suspended access maintenance.

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If your worker is subject to a fall while on the job, Diversified has a solution. We can design, engineer, fabricate, and install fall protection systems for any application.

Aircraft & Aerospace
Proven fall protection solutions for aviation maintenance and manufacturing.
Construction
Permanent and temporary fall protection solutions for construction applications.
Feed & Grain
Solutions for feed & grain worker protection during storage, maintenance, transportation, and more.
Government & Military
Fall protection solutions for government and military installations, including aircraft hangars, rooftops, and more.
Healthcare & Education
Systems for hospitals, schools, universities, and more.
Industrial Applications
Versatile safety systems for industrial facilities.
Oil, Gas, & Chemical
Protect at-height workers on silos, towers, pipe racks, drilling platforms, rigs, and more.
Retail Fall Protection Equipment
Systems to protect workers at shopping and retail centers.
Road & Rail
Railcar, truck, and bus fall protection solutions.
Ship & Barge
Fall protection for ships & barges transporting oil, grain, materials, and more.
Stadiums, Arenas, & Convention Centers
Keep workers and visitors safe while protecting aesthetics at any large venue.
Steel & Foundry
Fall protection solutions for foundry and steel mill applications, including crane rails & more.
Suspended Access & Window Washing
Anchors, outriggers & rigging sleeves, davit systems, and more for suspended access.
Utilities & Energy
Systems for power plants, solar and wind generation, and more.
Data Centers
Systems that protect workers maintaining critically important data equipment. 

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Not sure which system you need? Find the right solution for your application by industry.

Fall Hazard Assessment
A fall protection expert can visit your site to assess all fall hazards and ensure nothing is missed.
Design & Engineering
Our in-house P.E.s and structural engineers design application-specific fall protection systems to meet your specific needs.
Guardrail Rental
Only need to ensure safety for a temporary job or construction project? Diversified offers OSHA-compliant guardrail rental to keep you compliant without needing to purchase a full system.
Fabrication
While we have excellent relationships with many suppliers, we also have the capability to design custom products & solutions for a variety of applications.
Installation
Diversified has a network of installers nationwide who will ensure your system is installed correctly.
Training
Required Authorized User & Competent Person training, performed onsite to avoid workplace disruptions.
Inspections & Recertification
We will perform federally mandated annual inspections, or regular required recertification & testing of systems. When we inspect systems, we assume all liability for its proper functioning.
SIT Services for California
OPOS creation, suspended access inspection, letters of written assurance, and more

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Diversified will perform all necessary services to keep your site compliant, and provides and stores all documentation about its performance as required by OSHA.

OSHA & ANSI Regulations
A breakdown of current OSHA regulations and ANSI standards and how you can ensure your compliance
Product Literature
Access our full spec sheet library to learn more about our fall protection products and systems.
ROI Calculator
Get a general idea of how much a single workplace accident can end up costing.

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Learn about fall protection every week in our free educational webinars! Most are eligible for AIA continuing education credit.

19 Dec, 2021 fall protection

The Difference Between Fall Prevention, Travel Restraint, and Fall Arrest Systems

Fall protection clients often wonder, “What is the difference between fall prevention, travel restraint, and fall arrest systems?” After all, these terms all sound similar enough to be interchangeable.

However, each method of fall protection has a different meaning. Learn more about each system below, or contact a fall protection specialist to discuss your options.

 Fall Prevention vs. Travel Restraint vs. Fall Arrest

In a nutshell, these different fall protection systems each try to protect a worker from fall hazards in a different way.

Fall prevention systems aim to passively prevent a fall from happening.

Travel restraint systems actively restrain a user from being able to reach an edge or drop-off.

Fall arrest systems are designed to stop (or “arrest”) a fall that has already begun.

When you understand the difference between these types of fall protection systems, you can choose the best solution for your application.

 

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How does a fall prevention system work?

Fall prevention systems are passive, meaning they don’t require any change in routine from their users. Someone can simply go about their usual business and be protected from a fall. Many clients prefer a fall prevention approach because it doesn’t require workers to take any preparatory steps prior to entering the work area.

What is an example of a fall prevention system?

One example of a fall prevention system is rooftop guardrail. If you have a perimeter rooftop guardrail system in place, you and your workers are protected from falls the moment you step foot on the roof, all the way until you exit the work area. The guardrail prevents someone from falling over the edge, but it doesn’t require someone to hook into a system, such as with a self-retracting lifeline (SRL).

Fall prevention is the safest approach to rooftop safety. However, since it can also require the most significant financial investment of the three approaches to fall protection, it’s helpful to learn your other options.

 

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Travel Restraint Systems

You may have heard this referred to as "fall restraint" systems. However in the OSHA update to 1910 Subpart D this is clarified and updated to be "travel restraint." This makes more sense as the system isn't restraining a fall, it's restraining travel. But what does a travel restraint system look like?

Travel restraint is a fall protection strategy that prevents workers from reaching—and tumbling over—an unprotected leading edge. With a travel restraint system, the user is restricted from moving too close to the edge.

These systems can take a variety of forms, including single point anchors and horizontal lifelines. However, each system has a common denominator: Workers must wear a body harness and connect a lanyard to an anchor point.

Fixed single point anchors  are used for smaller, clearly defined work areas, while horizontal lifelines are used for larger applications that require maintenance personnel to roam more freely about the rooftop.

What is an example of travel restraint equipment?

A rigid post single-point anchor system is one example of travel restraint equipment. The rigid post anchor is affixed to a beam, allowing a user to attach a lanyard or lifeline to the anchor point on one end and their harness on the other.

Other single point anchor systems, such as portable anchors, vacuum single point anchors, and truss anchor kits, work in a similar fashion, although the method of attachment of the anchor point differs.

What is the purpose of a travel restraint lanyard?

The lanyard used in travel restraint equipment is a key component of the system. The lanyard is engineered to stop the worker from ever reaching the edge, and therefore a fall is prevented. Lanyards for travel restraint are often fixed lengths and must be able to withstand 800 lbs. of force. Note that this requirement is different than what is required for a fall arrest lanyard, described below.

 

Fall Arrest Systems

In the hierarchy of fall protection, fall arrest systems are a last resort strategy. That’s because they are designed to stop a fall already in progress.

Although the primary goal is always to keep workers from ever approaching an unprotected leading edge, this strategy is not always feasible. A fall arrest system is designed for such situations.

What is an example of a fall arrest system?

Fall arrest systems often take forms similar to rooftop travel restraint systems, such as single point anchors and horizontal lifelines.

As with travel restraint systems, workers connect to the system’s anchor points with body harnesses and lanyards. However, for fall arrest applications, the equipment is engineered to withstand the much greater forces associated with stopping falls. Fall arrest systems must stop a fall before an employee strikes surfaces below the work area. As such, a fall arrest lanyard must be able to withstand a dead weight of 5,000 lbs.

Also, fall arrest systems are engineered to account for the forces that accumulate in stopping such a fall using shock absorbers. This prevents the user from sustaining serious bodily harm when the fall is arrested.

 

Which Fall Protection is Right For You?

The next logical question here is: Which system is best? Most people immediately grasp that preventing a fall from ever happening is preferable to arresting a fall in progress but still need to match the proper system with the application and available budget.

A rooftop guardrail system is nearly foolproof, plus you’ll save on annual inspections and re-certifications. But if your perimeter is very large or you have a severely sloped roof, you’ll need to consider alternatives.

Travel restraint systems are preferable to fall arrest systems, but with some applications, workers have no choice but to work close to the leading edge, making a fall arrest system more appropriate.

Finding the right approach for your rooftop application requires a formula that considers budget, frequency of use, and the precise location of the rooftop work areas. The best way to ensure a safe rooftop work environment is to choose a fall protection company like Diversified Fall Protection. We have the design and installation credentials to meet OSHA fall protection requirements while keeping your personnel safe and productive.

To learn more, download our white paper on selecting a fall protection company or contact the safety pros at Diversified Fall Protection for more information.

Contact us to request a fall safety review

Schedule an assessment with Diversified Fall Protection

 

Schedule an assessment with Diversified Fall Protection

Contact Us to request a fall safety review