The Problem with a Tie-Off Concept
The “tie-off” concept is the idea that fall arrest equipment is provided to a worker and the decision of where to anchor that equipment is left up to the worker to determine while moving about during the course of the work. This situation is frequently encountered during construction activities where the workplace is constantly changing and proper fall protection methods are not identified at each stage of the work. The tie-off concept is often implemented by employers who want to appear as if they are in compliance with worker safety regulations, and frequently leads to a false sense of security which results in an even more hazardous workplace.