Which statement best describes the two types of fall protection and their difference?

• A. Passive System and Active System
• B. Static System and Dynamic System
• C. Personal System and Collective System
• D. Guardrails and Lanyards

Answer: (A)

The main idea is the difference between protection that works automatically from the environment and protection that relies on the worker’s equipment and actions. Passive protection is built into the workplace and provides protection without the worker having to do anything special—think guardrails, toe boards, or safety nets that are in place to prevent or stop a fall. Active protection depends on the worker wearing and using equipment to create a connection to an anchor or to arrest a fall—this includes a harness connected by a lanyard or other devices like positioning or travel-restraint systems.

So, passive systems protect without requiring action from the worker, while active systems require the worker to don and engage the equipment properly.