Fall clearance: the math crews get wrong.

Fall clearance is the distance a fall-arrest system needs to stop a fall before the worker reaches a lower level. A harness alone does not tell you that distance.

Review the manufacturer’s instructions for every part of the system. Account for the anchorage position, free fall, deceleration, harness movement, worker height and the required safety margin. The calculation changes with the equipment and setup.

Before work starts, measure the available clearance and identify lower obstructions. Have the competent person review the system, access and rescue plan. Do not use a generic number in place of equipment-specific instructions.