Which situation describes a period of free fall?

The situation that describes a period of free fall is when a worker is in a state where they are falling without any support or resistance occurring from fall arrest equipment. This happens before the fall arrest system fully engages and begins to stop the fall.

During free fall, the individual is subject to the force of gravity without any interruption, which can lead to potential serious injury or fatality if proper safety measures are not in place. It is crucial to understand this phase in the context of safety training because even a brief period of free fall can have life-threatening consequences.

The other scenarios refer to conditions where the worker's fall is either being prevented or is no longer occurring. For instance, if a worker is suspended by their harness, they are not in free fall, as the harness is designed to catch and support their weight. Similarly, once a worker has been rescued or has secured their position, they are also not in free fall since they are either safe or anchored in place.