A construction worker is required to wear a personal fall arrest system while working on a roof. The lanyard being used is 6 feet long with a 3.5-foot deceleration distance. What is the minimum distance the anchor point must be below the roof edge to prevent the worker from hitting the ground on a 20-foot high building?
Correct Answer
C) 12 feet
Total fall distance = lanyard length (6') + deceleration distance (3.5') + safety factor (2.5') = 12 feet minimum clearance required below the working level.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The total fall clearance calculation is: lanyard length (6 ft) + deceleration distance (3.5 ft) + safety factor/worker height allowance (2.5 ft) = 12 feet. The anchor must be positioned so the worker has at least 12 feet of clear vertical space below the working level before striking the ground. On a 20-foot building this is feasible, confirming 12 feet is the required clearance.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 4 feet
4 feet accounts only for roughly the deceleration distance and ignores the full lanyard extension and the additional safety margin for worker height. A 4-foot clearance would result in the worker striking the lower level or ground during the deceleration phase.
Option B: 2 feet
2 feet is far too short and does not account for any meaningful component of the fall arrest system's operation. Selecting 2 feet reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of fall clearance calculations.
Option D: 6 feet
6 feet equals only the lanyard length. This ignores the deceleration distance (3.5 ft) and the safety margin (2.5 ft). A worker falling 6 feet would still be decelerating through the next 3.5 feet and could strike the ground before arrest is complete.
Memory Technique
Use the acronym LDS: Lanyard + Deceleration + Safety margin. 6 + 3.5 + 2.5 = 12. Remember 'LDS = 12' for this standard PFAS clearance scenario. The safety margin of 2.5 ft accounts for the D-ring location on a 6-foot-tall worker's back.
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