What is the fall clearance required for a person using a 6ft lanyard?

The correct fall clearance for a person using a 6-foot lanyard is 18.5 feet. Fall clearance calculations must account for several factors, including the length of the lanyard, the fall distance, and any potential elongation of the lanyard that may occur during a fall.

When using a 6-foot lanyard, the formula for determining the total fall clearance required typically considers the following elements:

1. The length of the lanyard (6 feet).

2. The distance a worker may fall before the fall restraint system engages, which averages around 4 to 6 feet depending on system components.

3. The height of the worker (assumed average of about 5 to 6 feet).

4. The potential additional stretch in the lanyard during a fall, which can add around 3 feet depending on the lanyard material and design.

By summing these components, the total fall clearance ultimately required arrives at roughly 18.5 feet (6 feet lanyard + 6 feet fall distance + 5 feet worker height + 1.5 feet for stretch). This calculation ensures that the worker has sufficient clearance to prevent any impact with the ground or lower structures during a fall