Fall Protection · Practice Tool
Fall Distances
Two calculations, in the order the course does them. Work out the free fall distance first, check it against what your equipment is rated for, then add the deceleration distance and the safety factor to get the clearance you need below you.
The safety factor is always 3 feet.
Read this first. A practice tool, not an authority. Your equipment's own instructions and your written fall protection plan decide what is safe. If they disagree with this page, they are right.
Step 1
Free Fall Distance
How far you fall before the system starts to slow you down. Length of connector plus the height of your D-ring, less the distance from the anchor point to the edge.
Free Fall Distance
LC + HD - AE = FFD
The maximum free fall is whatever your equipment is rated for. Read it off the equipment or its instructions; this page does not know it.
From the manufacturer's instructions. Commonly 6 ft, and 12 ft for equipment rated for it.
Free Fall Distance
LC + HD - AE
—
Free fall distance
Enter the three measurements and your equipment's rating
Worked examples from the course material
| LC | HD | AE | MFF | FFD | Load |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 4.5 | 4 | 6 | 6.5 ft | |
| 6 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 3 ft |
Fall Distance Practice, 2026-07-14. Both rows are that worksheet's Scenario 1 and Scenario 2.
Step 2
Clearance Requirement
How much room you need below you. Free fall distance, plus the deceleration distance of your energy absorber, plus the three foot safety factor.
Clearance Requirement
FFD + DD + SF = CR
Deceleration distance is also called maximum elongation. It is on the equipment's label or in its instructions.
Carried down from step 1. Type over it to work this step on its own.
Always 3 ft.
Clearance Requirement
FFD + DD + SF
—
Clearance requirement
Enter the free fall distance, deceleration distance and your working height
Worked examples from the course material
| FFD | DD | SF | WH | CR | Load |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.5 | 3.5 | 3 | 14 | 13 ft | |
| 3 | 3.9 | 3 | 25 | 9.9 ft |
Fall Distance Practice, 2026-07-14. Both rows continue that worksheet's Scenario 1 and Scenario 2.