Fall Protection Calculator
Calculate total fall distance, required clearance, and SRL alternatives for fall arrest systems.
Inputs
Results
Total Fall Distance (ft)
16.5
Required Clearance (ft)
19.5
Max Arrest Force (lbs)1,800
SRL Fall Distance (ft)6.5
SRL Required Clearance (ft)9.5
OSHA Compliant1
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter working height (ft or m) and select fall protection system type (guardrail, PFAS, safety net).
- Enter worker weight (lbs or kg) and lanyard length (ft) for PFAS calculations.
- Read minimum fall clearance distance (ft) required below the work surface.
- Verify anchor point strength meets OSHA minimum 5,000 lbs per attached worker.
- Check that total fall distance (free fall + deceleration + D-ring + harness stretch) clears any obstructions.
How the result changes with Free Fall Distance (ft)
| Free Fall Distance (ft) | Total Fall Distance (ft) | Required Clearance (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | 11.7 | 14.7 |
| 4.2 | 14.7 | 17.7 |
| 7.8 | 18.3 | 21.3 |
| 11 | 21.5 | 24.5 |
What each input means
- Free Fall Distance (ft)
- Distance before fall arrest engages (OSHA max 6 ft).
- Lanyard Length (ft)
- Length of the shock-absorbing lanyard.
- Deceleration Distance (ft)
- Shock absorber deployment distance (OSHA max 3.5 ft).
- D-Ring Height (ft)
- Height of dorsal D-ring from the worker's feet.
- Worker Height (ft)
- Total height of the worker in feet.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersFree Fall Distance (ft) = 6, Lanyard Length (ft) = 6, Deceleration Distance (ft) = 3.5, D-Ring Height (ft) = 5 = 5 input(s) provided
- Calculate Total Fall DistanceTotal Fall Distance16.5 = 16.5
- Calculate Required ClearanceRequired Clearance19.5 = 19.5
- Calculate Max Arrest ForceMax Arrest Force1800 = 1800
- Calculate SRL Fall DistanceSRL Fall Distance6.5 = 6.5
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