Abstract: A spool and cord type arresting device for use by persons to arrest a fall, has a spool rotationally mounted in a casing and a cord wound on the spool for paying out from the casing thereby rotating the spool. A pair of pawls are pivotally mounted on the spool for outward pivoting movement under centrifugal force responsive to rotation of the spool. The casing has a part circular track surrounding the spool and a slider mounted for travel around the track. The slider engages a compressible buffer element in the track. When the spool is rotated at a critical speed, the pawls pivot outwardly to an extended position and one of the pawls engages the slider thereby moving same around the track and compressing the buffer element until the spool is arrested by complete compression of the buffer element.