About the author  ⁄ Heidi Lopez-Hidalgo, P.E.

Heidi Lopez-Hidalgo is a Senior Application Engineer for 3M Fall Protection. She is a fall protection subject matter expert and a licensed professional engineer with a background in structural engineering (hlopezhidalgo@mmm.com).

The design of structures utilized to support fall protection systems (FPS) for workers at height is a topic that is often researched and questioned but is not a straightforward process. Unlike other common structures with design requirements such as loads, factors of safety, and minimum requirements defined in their respective codes and design guides, the design requirements for fall protection loads can be somewhat ambiguous. This article aims to provide a basic overview of FPS, define what regulations and standards exist in this space, and recommend a best practice approach for engineers to define strength requirements for fall protection anchorages.

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STRUCTURE magazine