Lifelines must be secured to an anchorage that can support a minimum dead weight of how many pounds?

Lifelines must be secured to an anchorage that can support a minimum dead weight of 5,400 pounds. This requirement is established to ensure the safety of personnel using fall protection systems. The specified anchorage strength is necessary to withstand the forces experienced in the event of a fall, ensuring that the lifeline and harness system function effectively to prevent serious injury or fatalities.

In the context of safety regulations, such as those outlined by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), the 5,400-pound requirement reflects a factor of safety that considers various dynamics involved in fall scenarios. It accounts for the potential impact forces that could be exerted on the anchorage system, especially when using personal fall arrest systems (PFAS).

This threshold is critical for ensuring that all components of the fall protection system, from the harness to the anchorage point, have adequate strength to sustain a fall without risking failure, thereby protecting workers engaging in tasks at significant heights or in precarious situations.