• Single Point Anchors
  • 1926.502(d)(15) Anchorages used for attachment of personal fall arrest equipment shall be independent of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms and capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN) per employee attached, or shall be designed, installed, and used as follows:
  • 1926.502(d)(15)(i) as part of a complete personal fall arrest system which maintains a safety factor of at least two; and
  • 1926.502(d)(15)(ii) under the supervision of a qualified person.

Personal Fall Protection System This section is applicable if the personal fall protection system is being used by an employee having a combined body and tool weight of LESS THAN 310 pounds (140 kg). NOTE: Additional requirements for personal fall arrest systems and positioning systems for an employee having a combined body and tool weight of MORE THAN  310 pounds are contained in paragraphs (d) and (e) of OSHA 1910.140. The employer must ensure that personal fall protection systems meet the following requirements:

• Connectors must be drop forged, pressed or formed steel, or made of equivalent materials. 1910.140(c)(2)
• Connectors must have a corrosion-resistant finish, and all surfaces and edges must be smooth to prevent damage to interfacing parts of the system. 1910.140(c)(3)
• When vertical lifelines are used, each employee must be attached to a separate lifeline. 1910.140(c)(4)
• Lanyards and vertical lifelines must have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN). 1910.140(c)(5)
• Self-retracting lifelines and lanyards that automatically limit free fall distance to 2 feet (0.61 m) or less must have components capable of sustaining a minimum tensile load of 3,000 pounds (13.3 kN) applied to the device with the lifeline or lanyard in the fully extended position. 1910.140(c)(6)
• A competent person or qualified person must inspect each knot in a lanyard or vertical lifeline to ensure that it meets the requirements of paragraphs (c)(4) and (5) of this section before any employee uses the lanyard or lifeline. 1910.140(c)(7)
• D-rings, snaphooks, and carabiners must be capable of sustaining a minimum tensile load of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN). 1910.140(c)(8)
• D-rings, snaphooks, and carabiners must be proof tested to a minimum tensile load of 3,600 pounds (16 kN) without cracking, breaking, or incurring permanent deformation. The gate strength of snaphooks and carabiners, must be proof tested to 3,600 lbs. (16 kN) in all directions. 1910.140(c)(9)
• Snaphooks and carabiners must be the automatic locking type that require at least two separate, consecutive movements to open. 1910.140(c)(10)

Snaphooks and carabiners must not be connected to any of the following unless they are designed for such connections: 1910.140(c)(10)(i)

• Directly to webbing, rope, or wire rope; 1910.140(c)(10)(ii)
• To each other; 1910.140(c)(10)(iii)
• To a D-ring to which another snaphook, carabiner, or connector is attached; 1910.140(c)(10)(iv)
• To a horizontal life line; or 1910.140(c)(10)(v)
• To any object that is incompatibly shaped or dimensioned in relation to the snaphook or carabiner such that unintentional disengagement could occur when the connected object depresses the snaphook or carabiner gate, allowing the components to separate. 1910.140(c)(11)