Fall-arrest apparatus

A fall-arrest apparatus comprises a cable drum (2) and a friction brake including a rotatable brake disc (l4) which is pressed against a stationary brake ring (l5). In the event that the drum (2) accelerates in the unwinding direction to a certain speed, pawls (l9,20) carried by the drum (2) are centrifuged into driving engagement with the brake disc (l4) to cause braking of the drum (2). The apparatus incorporates a fail-safe brake member (24) which is in screw-threaded engagement with a fixed part and is mechanically coupled to the rotatable brake disc (l4) so that rotation of the brake disc (l4) causes the fail-safe brake member (24) to be screwed towards an operative position in which it causes progressive braking force to be applied between co-operating braking members (24,27,29).