Fall protection system

A fall protection system comprising:

• a mast assembly with a fixed mast section and with exactly one movable mast section;
• exactly one winch assembly, to the movable mast section;
• and
• a locking mechanism adapted to lock the movable mast section relative to the fixed mast section, the locking mechanism comprising:
• a locking pawl connected to the winch assembly, wherein the locking pawl is adapted to rotate between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and wherein the locking pawl engages with the fixed mast section in the engaged position to prevent relative movement between the fixed mast section and the movable mast section;
• at least one spring adapted to bias the locking pawl towards the engaged position;
• wherein the winch assembly is adapted to retain the locking pawl in the disengaged position against the biasing of the at least one spring based on a tension selectively applied by the winch assembly, and wherein the at least one spring is adapted to allow the locking pawl to rotate to the engaged position based on at least a decrease in the tension selectively applied by the cable.