The term that describes a guardrail system, a positioning system, and a personal fall arrest system is “a method of fall protection.”

Quick Scoop

These three systems are all different ways to protect workers from falling when they work at height.

They differ in how they work, but they share the same overall purpose: providing fall protection.

What each system is

  • Guardrail system: A fixed barrier (rails, posts, toe boards) that prevents workers from reaching an edge where they could fall.
  • Positioning system: A body harness and connectors that support a worker on a vertical surface (like a wall) so they can work hands-free while kept in place.
  • Personal fall arrest system: A harness, anchorage, and connecting device that stops a worker safely after a fall has begun.

Why “method of fall protection” fits

  • All three are recognized in safety training materials as types or methods of fall protection systems used to reduce fall risk.
  • They are not training methods or general PPE categories; they are specifically engineered systems to prevent or arrest falls.

TL;DR: The correct term is “a method of fall protection.”

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.