To minimize the chance of injury in the event of a fall, how should lanyards be kept?

Keeping lanyards as short as possible is important for minimizing the chance of injury during a fall because it reduces the distance a person can fall before the lanyard engages and provides a stop. A shorter lanyard ensures less slack, which limits free fall distance and consequently decreases the impact forces on the body when coming to a halt. This is crucial for the effectiveness of fall protection systems, as it helps maintain the worker in an upright position and allows rescue operations to commence more quickly if needed.

In contrast, longer lanyards can introduce unnecessary slack that increases the fall distance, potentially resulting in more severe injuries or even creating a risk of hitting lower levels or structures during a fall. Therefore, keeping lanyards as short as possible is a key safety practice in fall protection protocols.