Cut-resistant leading edge fall arrest system and method

A method for determining a minimum load handling requirement for components of a fall arrest system, the method comprising:

• providing the fall arrest system having a safety line and an energy absorber;
• determining a mean breaking force of the safety line and a standard deviation of the mean breaking force;
• determining a mean deployment force of the energy absorber and a standard deviation of the mean deployment force;
• determining an overlap mean force based on the mean breaking force and the mean deployment force;
• determining an overlap standard deviation based on the standard deviation of the mean breaking force and the standard deviation of the mean deployment force;
• and
• determining a ratio between the overlap mean force and the overlap standard deviation, the ratio being less than or equal to 6.

A method for fabricating a fall arrest system comprising:

• first determining a mean breaking force for each of a plurality of safety lines and a corresponding standard deviation of the mean breaking force;
• second determining a mean deployment force for each of a plurality of energy absorbers and a corresponding standard deviation of the mean deployment force;
• determining, for each pair of safety line and energy absorber, an overlap mean force based on the mean breaking force and the mean deployment force;
• determining, for each pair of safety line and energy absorber, an overlap standard deviation based on the standard deviation of the mean breaking force and the standard deviation of the mean deployment force;
• and
• determining, for each pair of safety line and energy absorber, a ratio between the overlap mean force and the overlap standard deviation, the ratio being less than or equal to 6;
• selecting the pair of safety line and energy absorber that meets a predetermined minimum load handling requirement;
• and
• assembling the fall arrest system with the selected pair of safety line and energy absorber.