Lanyard Types & Selection Guide Canada
A lanyard connects your harness to an anchor point and arrests your fall. Choosing the correct lanyard type for your work is critical to your safety. This guide breaks down every lanyard type and explains when to use each one, all in compliance with CSA Z259.11.
What Is a Lanyard?
A lanyard is the strap, rope, or cable that connects your harness D-ring to a fixed anchor point above you. When you fall, the lanyard stops your descent. The length, material, and design of your lanyard determine how far you fall before stopping and how much force your body experiences during arrest.
Every lanyard in Canada must meet CSA Z259.11 standards, which specify breaking strength, elongation limits, and shock absorption requirements.
Lanyard Types: Complete Comparison
| Type | Material | Length | Best For | Max Free Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shock Absorbing (Single-Leg) | Nylon webbing | 4–6 ft | Standard fall arrest | 6 ft |
| Twin-Leg | Nylon webbing | 2 × 3–6 ft | 100% tie-off, climbing | 6 ft |
| Restraint | Rope or webbing | Short (2–4 ft) | Prevent reaching edge | N/A (no fall) |
| Positioning | Rope or webbing | 4–6 ft | Hands-free work, facade | Low impact |
| Wire Core | Steel wire rope | 4–10 ft | Sharp edges, abrasion | 6 ft |
Shock-Absorbing (Single-Leg) Lanyards
A shock-absorbing lanyard has a built-in shock absorber (usually a stitched fabric packet) that tears open during a fall, gradually extending to dissipate energy. This reduces the force on your body to about 1,200 kg-force (12 kN).
Length: Typically 4–6 feet. The 6-foot rule (explained below) governs maximum length.
Material: Nylon webbing, durable and affordable.
When to use: Standard roofing, general construction, and any scenario where you might free-fall.
Connector: Usually a snap hook or carabiner at each end.
Twin-Leg Lanyards
A twin-leg lanyard has two separate legs (usually 3–4 feet each) so you're always attached to an anchor. As you move, you clip one leg to a new anchor point before unclipping the other. This is mandatory for tower climbers and rope access workers.
Advantage: You never lose physical connection to the anchor system.
Disadvantage: More setup time and skill required.
When to use: Vertical climbing, confined space entry, rope access, or any job with continuous movement along multiple anchor points.
Restraint Lanyards
A restraint lanyard is short (2–4 feet) and connects you to an anchor point above the level of your waist. Its purpose is to prevent you from reaching an unguarded edge, not to catch a fall. No shock absorber is needed because the lanyard prevents the fall from happening.
When to use: Roof edges, platform edges, or anywhere a guardrail is not practical. Also used in positioning work where you need short tethering.
Example: Working on a roof edge; the restraint lanyard keeps you 4 feet back from the edge.
Positioning Lanyards
A positioning lanyard connects to a D-ring at your side (not your back) and allows you to lean forward or away from a structure while keeping both hands free for work. It prevents you from swinging or falling sideways.
When to use: Facade work, window cleaning, or any job requiring you to work hands-free against a vertical surface.
Important: Always use positioning lanyards in pairs (left and right), and pair them with a shock-absorbing lanyard attached to your back D-ring as a secondary safety line.
Wire-Core Lanyards
Instead of nylon webbing, a wire-core lanyard uses steel wire rope with nylon sheathing. Wire core resists sharp edges (rebar, sheet metal, concrete burrs) and is essential on rough or metal structures.
When to use: Metal roofing, steel structures, industrial sites with sharp edges, or any environment where a nylon lanyard would fray or cut.
Trade-off: Heavier and slightly less comfortable than nylon, but much more durable in harsh conditions.
The 6-Foot Rule Explained
Understanding Maximum Free Fall
A maximum 6-foot free fall is the standard in Canadian fall protection. Here's why:
- A 6-foot lanyard allows up to 6 feet of free fall before the shock absorber engages.
- Beyond 6 feet, the forces on your body exceed safe limits (around 1,200 kg-force or 12 kN).
- Most Canadian codes and CSA standards mandate a maximum 6-foot free fall distance.
- If your anchor point is more than 6 feet above you, you must use a shorter lanyard or reposition to a higher anchor.
Formula: Free fall = lanyard length + harness size adjustment + elongation of shock absorber. Keep total free fall under 6 feet.
100% Tie-Off and Twin-Leg Practice
Many Canadian provincial codes require 100% tie-off: you must always be attached to an anchor. Twin-leg lanyards ensure this. As you move along a structure, you clip leg 1 to anchor point B before releasing leg 2 from anchor point A. You're never unattached.
This practice is especially critical for ironworkers, tower climbers, and rope access technicians working on structures with multiple anchor points.
Connector Types
Choosing the Right Connector
- Snap Hook: Quick-connect, but can snag or roll off an anchor under certain angles. Use only on secure anchor points where roll-off is impossible.
- Carabiner (Locking): More secure than snap hook. The gate locks after clipping, preventing accidental release. Recommended for towers and complex work.
- Rebar Hook: Designed for concrete with rebar. The wide opening fits over rebar without requiring a dedicated anchor point.
- Soft-Eye Splice: A sewn loop at the lanyard end for connection to an eye-bolt or fixed ring. Permanent, very secure.
Selection rule: Match your connector to your anchor point. Never force a connector onto an unsuitable anchor.
Material Comparison: Rope vs. Webbing vs. Wire
Most common. Lightweight, affordable, and comfortable. Susceptible to abrasion and UV damage. Best for general construction and roofing with low-risk edges.
Stronger than webbing, more abrasion-resistant. Heavier and less comfortable to wear. Good for industrial and utility work.
Maximum durability on sharp edges and metal structures. Heaviest option. Most expensive but longest lifespan in harsh environments.
Lanyard Inspection Tips
Check your lanyard before every use:
- Look for fraying, tears, or discolouration in the webbing or rope.
- Inspect the shock absorber packet for seams that have split or stitching that has failed.
- Check connectors for cracks, bends, or corrosion.
- Verify that locking carabiners gate and lock smoothly.
- Ensure the CSA label is present and legible.
- After any fall (even a short one), retire the lanyard immediately. The shock absorber has deployed and cannot be reset.
Lanyard Retirement and Storage
Replace a lanyard if it shows visible damage, has been deployed in a fall, is older than 5 years, or has been exposed to harsh chemicals or extreme UV. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Do not leave it coiled tightly; hang it loosely to prevent kinks. Inspect annually.
Shop Lanyards and ConnectorsFrequently Asked Questions
A shock-absorbing lanyard catches a fall and reduces impact force. A restraint lanyard prevents you from reaching an unguarded edge, so no fall occurs. They're used in different scenarios and are not interchangeable.
A 6-foot free fall is the maximum that the human body can safely absorb with proper shock absorption. Beyond 6 feet, injury risk increases significantly. Always measure and verify that your free fall distance stays within 6 feet.
Only if you position your anchor point high enough that your total free fall (lanyard length + harness + shock absorber elongation) does not exceed 6 feet. If you cannot achieve this, you must use a shorter lanyard or find a higher anchor.
100% tie-off means you are always attached to an anchor point. Twin-leg lanyards enable this: you clip one leg to a new anchor before releasing the other from the previous one. Required on many Canadian jobsites.
CSA Z259.11 specifies design, testing, and performance standards for lanyards and connectors in Canada. It covers breaking strength, shock absorption, elongation limits, and connector specifications.
No. A deployed shock absorber cannot be reset. Even if the lanyard looks fine, internal fibres have been damaged. Always retire and replace a lanyard after any fall.