To comply with OSHA, a fall arrest system should be rigged to prevent free fall greater than?

A fall arrest system is designed to catch a worker in the event of a fall, and it's crucial to minimize the distance that a person can fall before the system engages. According to OSHA regulations, the standard for personal fall arrest systems specifies that the maximum free fall distance should not exceed 6 feet. This limitation is in place to reduce the impact forces experienced during a fall, thereby enhancing safety for the worker. Keeping free fall under this threshold helps to ensure that the fall arrest system can effectively function without exceeding the safety limits of the equipment and the capabilities of the human body to withstand the forces involved.

Other options may represent greater distances for free fall which could increase the risk of injury upon falling, as the potential for higher impact forces and swinging or pendulum effects become a concern, thus making them less compliant with OSHA safety standards.