Choosing the Right Fall Protection for Your Construction Crew

When you’re working at height, the only thing standing between you and a nasty fall is your gear. Harnesses, lanyards, anchors, it all matters. 

The challenge is knowing which bit of kit is right for which job. This guide runs through the main types of fall protection equipment, what each one does, and when they’re typically used.

Different countries have their own rules and numbers around fall protection, but the message is the same everywhere: falls are preventable if you’ve got the right setup. 

Learn the gear, match it to the job, and you’ve already taken most of the risk out of working at height.

Why Fall Protection Gear Matters

Working at height is risky, and the only thing between your crew and a serious fall is the equipment they use. But gear alone isn’t enough — it has to be backed up with proper training, regular inspections, a rescue plan, and compliance with safety standards.

Let’s break down the main types of fall protection equipment and what they’re used for.

Harnesses

The harness is the core of any fall protection setup.

• Full-Body Harness:
  
  • Straps over your shoulders, legs, and chest.
    
  • Designed to spread the force of a fall across your body.
    
  • Comes with a back D-ring for fall arrest, and sometimes side or front rings for positioning.
    
  • Comfort matters: look for padding and adjustable straps.
    
• Specialised Harnesses:
  
  • Tower climbing harnesses include seat slings for long climbs.
    
  • Construction harnesses may add tool loops, quick-connect buckles, or extra padding.
    

Rule of thumb: A harness should fit snug but not cut off your circulation. If workers hate wearing it, they won’t wear it right.

Lanyards

Lanyards connect the harness to the anchor point. But there are different types:

• Restraint Lanyards:
  
  • Keep workers from reaching an edge in the first place.
    
  • Simple, effective, and often the safest choice.
    
• Shock-Absorbing Lanyards:
  
  • Built with an energy absorber (a pack that tears open during a fall).
    
  • Slows the fall and reduces the impact on the body.
    
  • Requires enough clearance below the worker (often 15+ feet).
    
• Adjustable Lanyards:
  
  • Let workers shorten or lengthen as needed.
    
  • Useful for positioning but must be used carefully.
    

Self-Retracting Lifelines (SRLs)

Think of these as seatbelts for construction.

• How they work: A line feeds out as you move, retracts automatically to avoid slack, and locks instantly if you fall.
  
• When to use:
  
  • Ideal for limited clearance situations.
    
  • Great when workers need mobility without dragging a long lanyard.
    
• Types:
  
  • Overhead SRLs for anchors above the user.
    
  • Edge-rated SRLs for leading-edge work or when anchors are at foot level.
    

Anchors

Anchors are what everything else connects to. Choosing the right one is as important as choosing the harness.

• Permanent Anchors:
  
  • Built into structures, engineered for fall arrest.
    
• Temporary Anchors:
  
  • Beam clamps, roof anchors, straps, or trolley systems.
    
  • Designed to move with the job site.
    
• Horizontal Lifelines:
  
  • Cable or webbing stretched between two anchors.
    
  • Allow movement along an edge while staying tied in.
    

Anchors must be rated for fall arrest and installed correctly. A strong point is only safe if it’s designed and tested for the load.

Vertical Lifelines & Ladder Safety Systems

For crews climbing towers, scaffolds, or tall ladders:

• Vertical Lifelines: Rope systems with a rope grab device that slides as you climb and locks if you slip.
  
• Rigid Rail Systems: Fixed rails with sliding sleeves that track movement and stop a fall instantly.
  

These systems keep hands free for climbing and offer constant protection.

Rescue Kits

The part that often gets ignored. If someone falls and ends up hanging, you need a way to bring them down safely.

• Controlled Descent Devices: Lower a worker slowly to the ground.
  
• Rescue Haul Kits: Pulley systems for lifting someone back up.
  
• Integrated SRL/Rescue Systems: Some SRLs now include built-in rescue features.
  

Having the gear is only half the battle — someone has to know how to use it.

Inspection and Maintenance

Fall protection equipment is only good if it works. That means regular checks.

• Before Each Use:
  
  • Look for frayed straps, cuts, burns, rust, or bent hardware.
    
  • Check labels and ensure the gear is still in serviceable condition.
    
• Scheduled Inspections:
  
  • Most standards call for competent inspections every 6–12 months, depending on the region.
    
  • Keep written records of inspections.
    
• Storage:
  
  • Keep gear dry, clean, and out of direct sunlight or harsh chemicals.
    
  • A harness thrown into the back of a ute under the sun will wear out faster.
    

Training on Equipment Use

Even the best equipment won’t help if it’s not used right. Crews need to know:

• How to fit and adjust a harness properly.
  
• The difference between restraint and fall arrest.
  
• How to check clearance requirements for lanyards and SRLs.
  
• How to connect to anchors safely.
  
• What to do in case of a fall (rescue procedures).

Where to Buy Fall Protection Equipment

You can read about gear all day, but sooner or later you’ve got to buy it. Not all suppliers are created equal. You want stores that carry certified gear, have a good range, and know their stuff when you’ve got questions. Here are some of the top places crews go to stock up:

• Trusted Manufacturer Distributors: Don’t mess around with no-name knock-offs. Buy from official distributors of the big players in fall protection. Brands worth looking at include Honeywell (Miller), 3M DBI-SALA & Protecta, MSA Safety, FallTech, and Guardian. These companies build gear to global standards, and buying through their authorised distributors means you’re getting equipment that’s tested, certified, and built to hold when it counts.
  
• Specialist Height Safety Stores: These are shops that only deal in working-at-height equipment. They usually have trained staff who can help match gear to your crew’s needs instead of just selling what’s in stock. The names change depending on where you are — in the UK, big suppliers include SafetyLiftinGear and Arco; in the US, look at places like Fall Protection Depot or Diversified Fall Protection; in Australia, you’ll see dedicated outfits like Height Dynamics and RSEA. Wherever you’re based, the key is to stick with a specialist height safety supplier, not a general hardware store.

A Note on Regulations

Every country has its own numbers and acronyms — OSHA in the US, HSE in the UK, Safe Work in Australia. The details change, but the intent doesn’t:

• Protect workers from falls.
  
• Use guardrails or covers if possible.
  
• When those aren’t enough, use personal fall protection equipment.
  

For your crew, what matters most is understanding the equipment itself and matching it to the job. Regulations make sure it’s done, but the gear is what actually saves lives.

Recap On Types of Fall Protection Equipment

Keeping your crew safe at height is about using the right gear the right way. Backed up with training, inspections, rescue planning, and compliance with safety rules.

That means a harness that fits, lanyards or SRLs that match the job, anchors that are actually rated to hold, and a rescue kit ready if someone does fall.

But equipment is only half the picture. Workers need training so they know how to wear it, connect it, and check their clearance. Gear needs inspecting so a dodgy strap or bent hook doesn’t slip through. And there has to be a rescue plan, because a fall isn’t over until the person is back on the ground.

Put all those pieces together, gear, training, inspections, rescue, and compliance with the standards set by safety authorities. And you’ve covered the essentials of fall protection.