Fall arrest anchor points must support at least 5,000 lbs per attached worker and be independent of worker support.

Fall arrest anchor points must support at least 5,000 lbs per attached worker and be independent of worker support.

• A. 3,000 lbs and independent
• B. 5,000 lbs and independent
• C. 5,000 lbs but not independent
• D. 10,000 lbs and independent

Answer: (B)

The essential idea is that fall arrest anchors must be capable of withstanding the force of a fall for each attached worker—and they must do so independently of the worker’s own support system. This means the anchor point is not tied into the person or the surface the person is standing on; it has its own solid load path that won’t rely on the worker’s weight or on the immediate structure being used to access the work. So the correct choice matches both requirements: a rating of 5,000 pounds per attached worker and independence. A 3,000-pound rating doesn’t meet the minimum load. A 5,000-pound rating that isn’t independent fails the independence requirement. A 10,000-pound rating and independent would also meet the standard, but the question is about the required minimum, which is 5,000 pounds independent.

The essential idea is that fall arrest anchors must be capable of withstanding the force of a fall for each attached worker—and they must do so independently of the worker’s own support system. This means the anchor point is not tied into the person or the surface the person is standing on; it has its own solid load path that won’t rely on the worker’s weight or on the immediate structure being used to access the work.

So the correct choice matches both requirements: a rating of 5,000 pounds per attached worker and independence. A 3,000-pound rating doesn’t meet the minimum load. A 5,000-pound rating that isn’t independent fails the independence requirement. A 10,000-pound rating and independent would also meet the standard, but the question is about the required minimum, which is 5,000 pounds independent.