The purpose of a deceleration unit in a harness is to reduce fall impact force. What is a common type of deceleration unit?

A shock absorbing lanyard is designed specifically to reduce the impact forces experienced by a worker in the event of a fall. It typically contains a mechanism that gradually extends or absorbs energy during a fall, which helps to slow down the speed at which the person falls and minimizes the peak forces exerted on the body. This is crucial for preventing serious injuries.

In contrast, a static line is used to provide constant support and is not designed to absorb shock during a fall; rather, it allows for movement along a fixed point. A vertical lifeline serves as a means to connect a harness to an anchor point, but it does not inherently have the energy-absorbing features that would help reduce impact forces. An anchor strap is used to secure an anchoring point but does not interact with fall dynamics in the same way that a deceleration unit does. Therefore, the shock absorbing lanyard is the appropriate choice for its intended function of reducing fall impact.