The sternal D-ring is used for fall attachment when the fall distance is not greater than 2 feet.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not specified
• D. Only for rescue

Answer: (A)

The sternal (chest) D-ring is a front attachment point on a full-body harness that is intended for work positioning and very short, controlled movements rather than regular fall arrest. Because a fall that pulls on the chest concentrates load in a different way than a fall arrested from the back, the chest D-ring is not the preferred point for stopping a fall. However, when the potential fall distance is very small—about two feet or less—the energy involved is limited enough that using the sternal D-ring for fall attachment can be acceptable. This short-fall limit helps minimize chest and thoracic loading while still preventing a larger fall. In typical fall scenarios, the dorsal D-ring remains the standard for fall arrest, and the chest D-ring should be reserved for short, low-energy situations or for work positioning and rescue tasks.