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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.

What Is Maximum Arresting Force?
30 Jul, 2024 fall protection

What Is Maximum Arresting Force?

There is a common misconception amongst untrained workers (and sometimes even trained ones) that donning personal fall arrest equipment removes all chance of harm or injury to the worker. Fall arrest equipment indeed will prevent contact with a lower level when a fall occurs. However, a fall victim will inevitably feel some fall forces during fall arrest. Fall protection equipment is pretty wonderful, but it is not magic. The rapid decrease in speed from a free fall to an arrested stop can be more than just uncomfortable, it can be downright dangerous if not properly controlled with the right equipment. The forces exerted on the user when a fall occurs is referred to as the arresting force. 

This might seem straightforward, but maximum arresting force (or MAF) is the peak of the anticipated fall forces a worker will experience during a successfully arrested fall.  

OSHA 1926.502(d)(16)(ii) states that fall protection systems must limit maximum arresting forces to 1800 lbs. In other words, anyone properly wearing a full-body harness and properly connected into their personal fall arrest system cannot be subject to more than 1800 lbs of force when a fall occurs. Shock-absorbing connecting devices can further decrease the amount of force the user will experience. The distance the worker falls before their connecting device begins decelerating their fall (free fall), the distance traveled during a fall while shock-absorbing is occurring (deceleration distance), and the shock-absorbing qualities of the connection device will ultimately determine the MAF a user will experience during fall arrest.  

Since every fall is different & unique, this amount will vary, so it’s vital to consult each product’s label and/or user manual.  

For example, most standard 6ft shock-absorbing lanyards will have 900lb MAF printed on the shock pack label. They accomplish this by having a fairly long deceleration distance (approximately 42in) and a beefy shock pack. In contrast, a typical 6ft SRL-P (Personal Self Retracting Lifeline) will have a shorter deceleration distance (approximately 24in), but users can be exposed to up to 1,350 lbs. MAF. Typically, shorter deceleration distances will equate to increased fall forces.  

Ideally, we want to minimize MAF whenever possible. We can accomplish that by elevating anchor points, using SRLs over lanyards to eliminate free fall, and using equipment with longer deceleration distances.  

This is all great info, but why is maximum arresting force important? Well, OSHA 1926.502(d) states anchorages must be “capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds” or “have sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy.” When using non-certified (AKA off-the-shelf) anchors, the supporting structure must withstand 5,000 lbs. of force. However, there are circumstances when the supporting structure where anchorage is required cannot withstand a 5,000 lb. load and a qualified person must certify an anchorage. The MAF anticipated by the connecting device in the personal fall arrest system will determine the force the certified anchor must withstand.  

When the Diversified Fall Protection team needs to create a custom, engineered fall protection system, the maximum arresting force will determine how strong the anchorage support structure must be to support the system. Our goal is to design systems with as little MAF as possible and decrease the amount of fall forces users will experience if they succumb to a fall. When we minimize MAF, we also minimize the risk of injury during fall arrest.   

Whether you need assistance assessing your facility for fall hazards, training personnel on their fall protection hazard awareness, or installing turnkey fall protection solutions, the first step is getting in contact with your local fall protection specialist. If you’re ready to take the next step in further protecting your workers from falls, get in touch with us and someone from our team will be in touch with you shortly! 

Schedule an assessment with Diversified Fall Protection

Contact Us to request a fall safety review