Final answer:
A Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) must limit the maximum deceleration distance to 3.5 feet to protect the employee in the event of a fall.
Step-by-step explanation:
When stopping a fall, a Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) must bring an employee to a complete stop and limit the maximum deceleration distance to 3.5 feet. This requirement is essential to ensure safety by minimizing the impact forces on the employee's body in the event of a fall. In the physics-based examples provided, when calculating forces experienced during rapid deceleration—such as stopping a falling person or object—the stopping distance is a critical factor in determining the force that will be applied to the person's joints or to a jogger's legs. These physics principles underpin the safety standards set for PFAS, ensuring that the forces experienced during a stop are within safe limits.
When stopping a fall, a Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) must bring an employee to a complete stop and limit the maximum deceleration distance to prevent injury. The typical standard for maximum deceleration distance is generally around 3.5 feet.
For example, when calculating the force needed to stop the downward motion of a jogger's leg, the force is determined by the mass of the leg, the initial speed, and the stopping distance. If a jogger's leg has a mass of 13.0 kg, a speed of 6.00 m/s, and stops in a distance of 1.50 cm, the magnitude of the force needed to stop the leg can be calculated.
Overall, the specific maximum deceleration distance can vary depending on the context and safety regulations in place.