What is fall protection training?

Fall protection training teaches workers to recognize fall hazards, understand fall protection systems, and use fall protection equipment properly. OSHA requires this training when workers are at 6 or more feet in construction, or 4 or more feet in general industry, covering guardrail systems, safety nets, personal fall arrest systems, warning lines, and controlled access zones.

How long does fall protection training take?

eTraining's Fall Protection Training takes approximately 1 to 2 hours to complete. The course is self-paced with 7 units, includes knowledge check quizzes after each unit, and allows pausing and resuming on the same device.

Does fall protection certification expire?

OSHA does not specify an expiration date for fall protection training at the federal level. However, retraining is required when workplace conditions change, workers don't follow procedures, or original training proves inadequate. Many employers mandate annual refresher training.

What are the 4 levels of fall protection training?

The four recognized levels are: (1) Awareness training — basic hazard recognition; (2) Authorized/User training — for equipment users; (3) Competent Person training — for supervisors identifying hazards; (4) Qualified Person training — for engineers designing systems. eTraining offers Awareness and Competent Person courses.

What is a personal fall arrest system?

A personal fall arrest system (PFAS) is a fall protection system that stops a worker during a fall from a working level. It consists of three components: a full-body harness, a connecting device (lanyard or lifeline), and an anchorage point rated for at least 5,000 pounds per worker.

Is Fall Protection training available in Spanish?

Yes. eTraining offers a complete Fall Protection course in Spanish at the same price. The Spanish version covers identical OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M content and provides personalized certification upon completion.

Fall Protection Training & Certification

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Everything included with your OSHA Fall Protection Training training.

✓Instant certificate of completionPrintable PDF, ready immediately after passing
✓Mobile-friendly platformTrain on desktop, tablet, or smartphone
✓Progress saved automaticallyStop and restart without losing your place
✓30-day satisfaction guaranteeFull refund if you're not satisfied

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Course Details at a Glance

Everything you need to know before enrolling in the OSHA Fall Protection Training.

Detail

Information

OSHA Standard

29 CFR 1926 Subpart M

Course Duration

1-2 hours

Format

100% online, fully narrated with photos and interactivity

Passing Score

70% on final exam

Certificate

Personalized certificate, printable immediately upon passing

Languages

English and Spanish

Device Compatibility

Desktop, tablet, and smartphone

Accepted

Our courses meet federal standards, but state requirements may vary. Please verify before purchase.

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Who Should Take the OSHA Fall Protection Training?

Find out if this training applies to your role, your job site, or your employer's compliance requirements, and whether it matches the certification you need.

✓Construction workers performing tasks at 6 feet or above
✓Roofers, ironworkers and steel erectors
✓Scaffold and ladder users
✓General industry workers at heights of 4 feet or more
✓Maintenance workers performing elevated tasks
✓Supervisors and safety officers overseeing work at height
✓Workers in demolition and renovation
✓Painters and exterior building maintenance workers
✓Residential construction workers

Enroll Now — $25.00

Industries That Require OSHA Fall Protection Training

Employers across a wide range of industries use this course to meet federal, state, and site-specific safety training requirements for their workforce.

✓Commercial and residential construction
✓Roofing contractors
✓Steel erection and structural work
✓Telecommunications tower work
✓Window cleaning and building maintenance
✓Bridge and highway construction
✓Oil and gas (elevated platform work)
✓Manufacturing and warehousing (elevated platforms and mezzanines)
✓Utilities (power line and pole work)
✓Painting contractors

Enroll Now — $25.00

Why eTraining

Better Training.
Better Outcomes.

Over 50,000 workers trained. Here's what makes us the trusted choice for OSHA compliance.

OSHA Citation Printed on Every Certificate

Every certificate shows OSHA citation — so your employer and site safety officer can verify compliance at a glance.

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Pay once, get instant access — no account setup, no app downloads, no IT required. Works on any browser.

Built for Field Workers, Not Classrooms

Content is grounded in real hazardous waste site operations — not recycled classroom slides. Scenarios reflect the work your crew actually does.

Trusted by Safety Managers & Contractors

Used by EHS managers, general contractors, and federal site supervisors to keep crews certified on time, every year.

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Student Reviews

What Our Students Are Saying

★★★★★

The course is easy to maneuver and provides valuable information about workplace safety.

Jordan L.

★★★★★

This was a very good course, included all the points we were hoping it would cover. We will recommend this training to our friends and colleagues, thank you.

John R.

★★★★★

I really found that the courses were very informational and accomplished exactly what I wanted. All of the information in the training was factual which is what I appreciate. Safety should be about facts and not opinions. Well done on the courses, don’t change a thing.

Jeremy Hobson

★★★★★

Very informative, I have taken a course in fall protection 3 years ago and I retained very little from it. With your format, I seemed to have retained probably 90% and will be helpfull in the future. Thank You, John.

John Greedy

★★★★★

My work was offering a fall protection class on a Saturday on our own time. I found your website and was very pleased with the test and certification. Turned in the certification to our government contractor and was accepted without hesitation!

Michael Caron

★★★★★

I found this course to be very beneficial. It was clear, easy to follow along, and I learned a lot.

Rade Popovic

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about the OSHA Fall Protection Training.

Fall protection training teaches workers to recognize fall hazards, understand fall protection systems, and use fall protection equipment properly. Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M, employers in construction must provide fall protection and training whenever workers are at heights of 6 feet or more above a lower level. The training covers guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems (harnesses, lanyards, anchors), warning line systems, and controlled access zones.

OSHA requires fall protection training for all construction workers exposed to fall hazards at 6 feet or above. In general industry, the threshold is 4 feet. This includes roofers, ironworkers, scaffold users, ladder users, workers on elevated platforms, maintenance workers, and anyone performing tasks at height. Employers must ensure training is provided before workers are exposed to fall hazards.

eTraining’s Fall Protection Training takes approximately 1–2 hours to complete. The course is self-paced with 7 units and includes knowledge check quizzes after each unit to prepare you for the final exam. You can pause and resume at any time on the same device.

Fall protection in construction is covered by OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M, which requires employers to provide fall protection systems and training for workers at heights of 6 feet or more. General industry fall protection is covered under 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D, with a 4-foot trigger height. These standards specify acceptable fall protection systems, equipment requirements, and mandatory training.

OSHA does not specify an expiration date for fall protection training at the federal level. However, OSHA requires retraining when workplace conditions change, workers are observed not following procedures, or the original training is found to be inadequate. Many employers require annual fall protection refresher training as a best practice, and eTraining recommends renewal at least every 1–2 years.

There are 4 recognized levels of fall protection training: (1) Awareness training – basic hazard recognition and fall prevention concepts (this course); (2) Authorized/User training – for workers who actually use fall protection equipment; (3) Competent Person training – for supervisors who can identify hazards and take corrective action; (4) Qualified Person training – for engineers and professionals who design fall protection systems. eTraining offers both Awareness and Competent Person level courses.

Yes. Online fall protection training meets OSHA’s training requirements when it covers the recognition of fall hazards, proper use of fall protection systems, and is appropriate for the specific work conditions. Employers may supplement online training with site-specific hands-on instruction for equipment use (harness fitting, anchor point selection, etc.).

A personal fall arrest system (PFAS) is a fall protection system that stops a worker during a fall from a working level. It consists of three main components: (1) a full-body harness worn by the worker, (2) a connecting device such as a lanyard or self-retracting lifeline, and (3) an anchorage point rated for at least 5,000 pounds per worker attached. Proper training in selection, inspection, use, and maintenance of PFAS is essential.

A competent person for fall protection is defined by OSHA as someone capable of identifying existing and predictable fall hazards in the surroundings, authorized to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate those hazards, and trained in the proper construction, use, and inspection of fall protection systems. eTraining offers a separate Competent Person Fall Protection Course for supervisors and designated safety personnel.

Yes. eTraining offers a complete Fall Protection course in Spanish at the same price. The Spanish version covers the same OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M content and provides the same personalized certificate upon completion.