“You say tomato. I say tomahtoe. You like potato. I like potahtoe…”

Fall restraint. Fall arrest. The two are often confused—and there are similarities—but they are not the same. Generally, it is a matter of fall prevention vs. fall protection. Yet, those terms apply to a range of safety systems and products. The differences between fall restraint and fall arrest are specific and critical to employers looking to protect their employees working at height.

Fall restraint prevents a worker from reaching a fall hazard or falling any distance. Whether using a horizontal lifeline or a tie-off system (harness, lanyard, rope) with a permanent anchor, a fall restraint system may allow a worker to reach the roof edge but not fall over the edge.

In fall restraint, the worker can act continuously within the span of the lifeline system or the radius from an anchor point. If an employee trips on a working surface, such as a pipe on a rooftop, there is less potential for a serious injury. Falling from the roof, however, can be deadly. (Thus, for maximum safety, a perimeter guardrail system should also be in place.)

Keep reading this article on KeeSafety.ca