Which test must precede the drop test for fall arrest equipment?

• A. Arc tested
• B. Drop tested
• C. Heat tested
• D. Water tested

Answer: (A)

Arc testing must precede the drop test because it checks how the equipment holds up under electrical arc exposure, a condition that could weaken materials, insulation, or seams. If the arc test reveals damage or degradation, the device wouldn’t be considered safe to undergo the more demanding dynamic load of a fall, so it makes sense to confirm arc resistance first. Only after passing the arc test do you move on to the drop test to verify performance under the actual forces of a fall. The other environmental tests—heat and water—address different conditions and aren’t prerequisites for the fall-arrest drop test.