What is prohibited when using personal fall arrest systems?

The prohibition of body belts when using personal fall arrest systems stems from safety regulations and guidelines designed to prevent injury during falls. Body belts do not provide the necessary support and protection that a body harness offers. While body belts may seem effective in securing an individual, they do not distribute the forces exerted during a fall across the body in a manner that minimizes the risk of injury. In contrast, a body harness is specifically designed to protect vital areas and secure the worker effectively, thereby greatly enhancing safety.

Body harnesses, lanyards, and anchor points are essential components of a personal fall arrest system. The harness absorbs and distributes the force of a fall, while lanyards connect the harness to the anchor point, which provides a secure attachment to prevent falls. Thus, the use of body belts is not allowed in these scenarios to ensure that workers have maximum protection against fall-related accidents.