Fall Protection

CAI Safety Systems, Inc. does not ship some Fall Protection, Fall Arrest, or Fall Restraint Systems outside the Continental US **. Here’s why…

  • Some CAISS fall protection systems have been rated to comply with USA Federal OSHA, Cal-OSHA, ANSI, and other US compliance standards and regulations.
  • Due to conflicts with the compliance standards and regulations of other countries, such as Canada, Mexico, and Europe, these fall protection systems may or may not comply with local standards.
  • Products marked with: “Availability: CAISS does not ship this product outside the continental USA.” qualify for this category.
  • If you would like to purchase one of these systems outside the United States, please contact your local fall protection distributor such as 3M, Honeywell, etc.
  • If you have any questions, please contact us.
  • For Canada, a good source for fall protection material would be:

** Continental United States: Includes all continental states, Alaska, and Hawaii.

User equipment comprises devices such as SRLs, Harnesses, Lanyards, etc. You are required by law, and the manufacturer of the equipment, to adhere to strict inspection, use, and maintenance requirements. At CAISS, our competent inspectors conduct comprehensive functional tests on the fall protection equipment to ensure that it is operating properly and that all components are working together as intended.

NOTE: CAISS does not repair your equipment in this inspection program. We will provide you with suggestions on the necessary repair, replacement, or modification of the equipment on inspection completion in a detailed report.

  • Placing your order online: Visit Fall Protection User Equipment Inspection page and place your order by choosing the correct equipment. Input the "Brand" and "Model #" of the equipment. (if you do not have this on hand, CAISS will contact you after receiving the order)
  • Once the above information is received, our customer service will provide you with a Inspection Authorization Number (IAN#). Reference this number on the exterior of all packages you are shipping.
  • When shipping your equipment to CAISS, please remember to arrange a return as well with your shipping carrier.
  • Inspection paperwork is included with all repaired products returned to you.
  • Upon completion of the service, we will confirm shipment to the destination noted on the purchase order.
  • The program guarantees a 4-5 business days turnaround time up to 12 units. For more than 12 units, please call us to verify lead time.
  • The client is responsible for freight costs to CAISS and return to the client.

Related CAISS resources:

If you have a fall protection system that requires a full body harness and tying off to an anchor or horizontal lifeline, you are required by law, and the manufacturer of the equipment, to adhere to strict inspection, use, and maintenance requirements. At CAI Safety Systems, our competent inspectors conduct comprehensive functional tests on the fall protection equipment to ensure that it is operating properly and that all components are working together as intended.

NOTE: CAISS does not repair your equipment in this inspection program. We will provide you with suggestions on the necessary repair, replacement, or modification of the equipment on inspection completion in a detailed report.

  • Functionality: Our inspector will conduct a functional test of the fall protection system to ensure that it is operating properly and that all components are working together as intended.
  • Tag-Out: If any defects or damage are found during the inspection, we will alert you and advise if the system needs to be taken out of service or may continue in use until repairs or replacement can be made.
  • Replacements: We will provide a proposal if necessary to repair, replace, or modify any part of the fall protection system.
  • Update Labels: The existing labels will be updated with the current inspection date for the benefit of all future users.
  • Inspection Report: A report will be generated to provide an executive summary.
    • Inspection reports for each component, identifying items that failed the inspection or are showing signs of wear and tear.
    • If necessary, we will point out any current procedures that could be modified or added to improve safety and longevity of your system.
    • We will provide a proposal if necessary to repair, replace, or modify any part of the fall protection system.

Related CAISS resources:

Cal-OSHA fall protection guardrails are subject to strict requirements, primarily outlined in the California Code of Regulations. Key standards include a top rail height of 42–45 inches above the walking surface, a requirement for a midrail or equivalent, and a minimum strength of 20 pounds per linear foot for a live load. Posts must be spaced no more than 8 feet apart on center.

  • Title 8, Section 3209: Standard Guardrails. More strict than the federal rules for guardrails and roof fall protection systems.
  • Title 8, Section 1620: Design and Construction of Railings. More strict than the federal rules for guardrails and roof fall protection systems.

Visit: CAI Safety Systems Guardrail Fall Prevention Systems

  • 29 CFR 1910.29: General industry standard for fall protection systems and falling object protection.
  • 29 CFR 1926.502: Criteria and practices for fall protection systems in construction.
  • 29 CFR 1926.501: Duty to have fall protection, including when working at the edges of excavations or over dangerous equipment.

For safe transitions, the ladder safety system should be configured so the user can remain protected while moving onto/off the upper landing. According to compliance, the fall arrest system must extend at least 3ft. (36") above the top rung of the ladder for safe transition.  The exact “extension above the top rung/landing” depends on:

  • the ladder type (through vs. side-step),
  • the landing geometry,
  • and the manufacturer’s system requirements for the rail/cable termination and connector travel.

Related CAISS resources:

A cage can help with ladder climbing control, but OSHA has moved away from cages as the primary means of fall protection on taller fixed ladders. Existing cages may be allowed in certain situations, but OSHA’s fixed ladder rules require compliant solutions (ladder safety systems / PFAS) and include a long-term phase-out timeline for cages. OSHA

Visit: CAI Safety Systems Fixed Vertical Ladders

Under OSHA’s fixed ladder rules, fixed ladders extending more than 24 feet above a lower level generally must have a ladder safety system or personal fall arrest system (instead of relying on cages alone).

Related CAISS resources:

OSHA updated its Walking-Working Surfaces rules (general industry, 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D & related fall protection rules) with a final rule published in November 2016 and effective January 2017, aimed at reducing slip/trip/fall hazards.

In most cases, the employer is responsible for identifying fall hazards, selecting compliant systems, providing training, and ensuring proper use — this is a core theme throughout OSHA’s fall protection framework.

Yes. OSHA requires employers to provide for prompt rescue if a fall occurs (or ensure the worker can self-rescue), in both:

  • Construction
  • General industry

OSHA has also clarified that the rule does not specifically require a written rescue plan, but employers still must be capable of prompt rescue.
In California, Cal-OSHA explicitly requires a rescue plan and rescue equipment when PFAS are used.

Related CAISS resources:

Competent person: Someone capable of identifying hazards and authorized to take prompt corrective measures.
Qualified person: Someone with a recognized degree/certificate/professional standing, or extensive knowledge/training/experience, who has demonstrated ability to solve problems related to the work or project (commonly the person who designs/engineers systems).

Related CAISS resources:

Two layers of inspection matter:

  1. Pre-use / frequent user checks (OSHA-required):
    • General industry requires personal fall protection systems be inspected before initial use during each work shift and removed from service if defective. OSHA
    • Construction requires PFAS be inspected prior to each use and defective components removed. OSHA
  2. Formal documented inspections (often required by state rules, owners, or ANSI programs):
    • Cal-OSHA requires fall protection systems/components be formally inspected and documented at least twice annually by a competent person. Cal DIR

Related CAISS resources:

For personal fall arrest / personal fall protection anchorages, OSHA generally requires anchor points to be either:

  • Rated to 5,000 lb per worker attached, or
  • Engineered as part of a complete system with a safety factor of at least 2, under the supervision of a qualified person. OSHA.gov

Related CAISS resources:

It depends on the work type and the regulation that applies:

  • Federal OSHA (general industry): commonly 4 ft. for unprotected sides/edges.
  • Federal OSHA (construction): commonly 6 ft. for many construction activities.
  • Cal-OSHA (California): many construction scenarios use 7.5 ft. as a key trigger height, but California also has task-specific rules (roofing is a common example). Cal DIR

Because exceptions and task-specific rules are common (roof edges, ladders, platforms, leading edges, skylights, etc.), the safest approach is to treat fall hazards as a site-specific assessment, not a single universal number.

Related CAISS resources:

OSHA (Federal OSHA) is the primary U.S. regulator for workplace safety. State-plan OSHA programs (like Cal-OSHA in California and WA-OSHA in Washington) enforce their own rules that can be equal to or stricter than federal OSHA. ANSI/ASSP publishes consensus standards (like the ANSI/ASSP Z359 Fall Protection Code) that represent best practices and are often referenced by owners, engineers, and safety programs—even when not explicitly adopted into law.

Related CAISS resources: