What type of fall protection system is required when working on a horizontal surface?

In the context of working on a horizontal surface, a fall arrest system is the most appropriate type of fall protection. This system is designed to prevent workers from falling to lower levels and includes equipment such as harnesses, lanyards, and anchorage points that work together to stop a fall after it has occurred.

When working on horizontal surfaces, there can still be significant risks of falling, for example, when working near openings, edges, or unprotected areas. The fall arrest system is crucial because it ensures that if a worker does slip or stumble, the system activates to catch their fall, minimizing the impact of the fall and providing a critical layer of safety.

Other systems, while they have their distinct uses, are not as effective for the specific scenario of working on horizontal surfaces where the risk of a serious fall exists. A positioning device system would allow a worker to work hands-free but does not provide the same level of protection from falls as a fall arrest system. Meanwhile, a harness and lanyard system is more specifically a component of a fall arrest system, rather than a standalone answer in this context. Safety nets are generally used in more construction-related or elevated platform scenarios and would not be practical or effective for a horizontal work surface where immediate