How many pounds must lifelines be secured to support from an anchorage?

Lifelines are critical components of fall protection systems and are required to be anchored securely to prevent failure during use. According to OSHA regulations, the general requirement is that lifelines must be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds of force when secured to an anchorage. However, in many applications, especially in the context of fall protection for workers, an additional safety margin is often built into the specifications.

In this case, the accepted standard for the minimum strength of lifelines in actual use is often set at higher values due to the dynamic forces that can occur during a fall. While others may consider the general safety requirements, the specific value of 5,400 pounds provides a practical buffer that takes into account factors such as potential shock loading and the weight of the individual using the lifeline. This higher standard helps ensure that the equipment will remain intact and safe even in emergency situations.

Thus, while the minimum support requirement stated in regulations might be seen as 5,000 pounds, the actual requirement for lifeline anchorage tends to be rounded to 5,400 pounds. This ensures additional safety and reliability within various operational conditions.