Free Fall Distance: The vertical distance traveled during a fall, measured from the onset of a fall from
a walking working surface to the point at which the fall protection system begins to arrest the fall.
Harness, Full Body: A body support designed to contain the torso and distribute the fall arrest forces
over at least the upper thighs, pelvis, chest and shoulders.
Horizontal Lifeline: A component of a horizontal lifeline subsystem, consisting of a flexible line with
connectors or other coupling means at both ends for securing it horizontally between two anchorages
or anchorage connectors.
Horizontal Lifeline Subsystem: An assembly, including the necessary connectors, comprised of a
horizontal lifeline component and, optionally, of: a) An energy absorbing component or, b) A lifeline
tensioner component, or both. This subsystem is normally attached at each end to an anchorage or
anchorage connector. The end anchorages have the same elevation.
Lanyard: A component consisting of a flexible rope, wire rope or strap, which typically has a connector
at each end for connecting to the body support and to a fall arrester, energy absorber, anchorage
connector or anchorage.
Lanyard Connecting Subsystem: An assembly, including the necessary connectors, comprised of a
lanyard only, or a lanyard and energy absorber.
Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS): An assembly of components and subsystems used to arrest a
person in a free fall.
Positioning: The act of supporting the body with a positioning system for the purpose of working with
hands free.
Positioning Lanyard: A lanyard used to transfer forces from a body support to an anchorage or
anchorage connector in a positioning system.
Qualified Person: A person with a recognized degree or professional certificate and with extensive
knowledge, training and experience in the fall protection and rescue field who is capable of designing,
analyzing, evaluating and specifying fall protection and rescue systems.
Self-Retracting Device (SRD): A device that contains a drum wound line that automatically locks at
the onset of a fall to arrest the user, but that pays out from and automatically retracts onto the drum
during normal movement of the person to whom the line is attached.
Snaphook: A connector comprised of a hook-shaped body with a normally closed gate or similar
arrangement that may be opened to permit the hook to receive an object and, when released,
automatically closes to retain the object.
Swing Fall: A pendulum-like motion that occurs during and/or after a vertical fall. A swing fall results
when an authorized person begins a fall from a position that is located horizontally away from a fixed
anchorage.
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