What is one of the mandatory fall protection methods when climbing higher than 4 ft?

When climbing higher than 4 feet, it is crucial to use a fall protection method designed to minimize the risk of falling, and a double lanyard system is considered one of the mandatory methods in many safety regulations. This system ensures that a worker is always connected to a safety line during ascent or descent.

A double lanyard system incorporates two lanyards, allowing the user to remain secured at all times. While one lanyard is attached to the anchor point, the other can be unhooked to move to a new position or when transitioning, providing continuous protection against falls. This redundancy is vital in high-risk environments, ensuring that should one lanyard fail or if the user needs to switch anchors, they will not be left without fall protection.

Other methods, such as single lanyard systems, while still potentially effective, do not offer the same level of safety as they require the user to detach from their safety line at times, increasing the risk of falling. Static cable systems and fixed ladders provide structural support rather than personal fall protection. Thus, the double lanyard system is a strong safeguard against potential falls when working at heights above the established threshold.