What fall protection is required for personnel on an elevated aerial platform?

• A. No fall protection is required.
• B. A life vest is sufficient.
• C. A hard hat only.
• D. A properly fitted harness with lanyard attached to approved anchor points; additional fall arrest systems per policy.

Answer: (D)

On elevated aerial platforms, fall protection must include a properly fitted harness with a lanyard attached to approved anchor points, plus any additional fall arrest systems as required by policy. The harness distributes the fall force across your body, the lanyard and energy absorber limit the impact, and the anchor points must be rated and approved for fall arrest to securely stop a fall. Relying on a life vest or a hard hat alone does not prevent a fall; a life vest protects buoyancy, and a hard hat protects the head but does not arrest motion. No fall protection is unsafe on an elevated platform. So the best answer is the combination of a properly fitted harness, a lanyard connected to approved anchors, and any additional system per policy.