Falls are consistently ranked a top cause of construction deaths and injuries, so it’s no wonder OSHA and NIOSH are preoccupied with fall prevention.
From mandated training and safety signage to well-fitting harnesses and PPE, fall safety protocols should be routinely evaluated and updated to reflect the industry’s best practices.
No One Is Immune from Falls
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is the first line of defense against workplace hazards, particularly in industries where physical labor and environmental exposure are common.
PPE refers to the specialized clothing and equipment worn by employees for protection against health and safety hazards. It safeguards against frostbite, hypothermia, and other cold-related risks, ensuring employees remain protected and capable of performing their duties effectively.
Additionally, proper PPE usage enhances visibility in low-light conditions, mitigating accidents and maintaining productivity. It's not just about comfort; it's a necessity for sustaining worker health and productivity in challenging cold environments.
Let's also consider the potential hazards linked to cold weather on worksites, specifically for workers. Understanding these risks equips us to proactively address and mitigate them, ensuring the well-being and safety of everyone on site.
What Is Fall Protection vs. Fall Prevention?
Industry safety materials conflate the terms “fall protection” and “fall prevention,” even though the words are not identical. By understanding their differences, you’ll be better prepared to create and refine fall-safety protocols.
Fall Prevention
Avoiding falls is the #1 goal for jobsite managers and construction company owners. To prevent falls, contractors must invest in passive prevention structures and equipment to safeguard crew members from unprotected areas and ledges.
Fall prevention equipment controls or removes the possibility of a worker ending up in a dangerous situation. Standard fall prevention equipment includes guardrails, stairways, netting and platforms.
Fall Protection
Think of fall protection as the “backup system” for fall prevention equipment. Fall prevention structures and devices are not foolproof, so fall arrest protection systems add another layer of defense against fall-related injuries.
Fall protection safety measures involve supplying crews with properly fitted personal arrest harnesses and lifeline systems.
Steps to Improving Work Zone Safety
If the risks are significant, how can construction, excavation, manufacturing and transportation contractors protect crew members working at heights?
And how can dedicated business owners avoid non-compliance citations, fines and work delays?
According to the OSHA Fall Protection Campaign, there are three essential steps to improve work zone safety, protectt workers, and complyi with the latest safety regulations.
Step 1: PLAN to complete every job safely
Work crews adapt on the fly as building and excavation projects evolve, or logistical challenges arise. To prep for unpredictable sea changes, consider every eventuality and create a project playbook that:
- Lays out tasks, risks & interventions.
- Gives crew members easy access to passive, compliant interventions (OSHA-approved scaffolding, ladders and more).
- Defines “Plan B” — a workable alternative if things don’t go as planned.
Step 2: PROVIDE the right equipment
It may sound like an exaggeration, but crew members working at six feet or above could be in grave danger of injuries and lethal falls.
It is the employer's responsibility to provide fall prevention equipment and fall protection gear tailored to the job.
These tools include state-of-the-art ladders, scaffolding, PPE and more. For example, a roofing company must provide more than scaffolding and ladders for roof installers.
They must also supply personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) that fit correctly and undergo routine inspection.
Step 3: TRAIN workers to use the equipment.
On-the-job fall prevention training includes several steps:
- Teaching teams to identify risks.
- Providing compliant fall protection gear for all workers.
- Training crews to use their fall protection harness and other lifeline gear.
Popular Fall Prevention Gear
Preventing workplace falls begins with understanding and planning for the safety challenges of ladders, scaffolds, roofs, ledges, holes and unprotected machinery.
A passive fall protection system stops injuries by keeping workers from accidentally stepping into holes, falling into dangerous machinery or backing off the edge of platforms and narrow runways. Fall prevention systems include fixed restraints such as:
- Guard rails
- Self-closing gates
- Floor-hole covers
- Machinery cages
- Safety netting
- Toe boards
With these fixtures in place, workers can concentrate on welding a pipe or installing ductwork while staying within the confines of their overhead work area.
Elevated worksites frequently require fall protection solutions, too. Construction workers performing tasks on ladders, scaffolding, roofs or trench ledges will benefit from a safety harness system.
A safety harness system is a personal protective device that reduces the chances of serious injury due to falls. Unlike a guard rail, a safety harness is an active fall protection tool requiring action from a worker trained to use it properly.
A fall protection harness does not prevent injuries but can reduce the risk of a resulting disability or fatality.
Choosing the Right Fall Protection PPE
Personal fall protection equipment consists of four main device types:
- Anchor points tied into a structural feature. These anchor points provide solid support for PPE assembly.
- Safety harnesses that evenly distribute fall shock throughout the body. Harnesses attach to anchoring lanyards to position and hold workers in place.
- Lanyards and lifelines that connect harnesses to key anchor points. Depending on your application, these lifelines also serve as restraints.
- Rope grabs and positioning assemblies, which add security and versatility to a standard fall protection harness.
When combined, these components form a customized harness system. They can also be purchased as a assembled kit.
How to determine the best type of fall protection equipment?
Before choosing fall prevention equipment, consider the elevated height you are trying to accommodate. Additionally, we have crafted a set of questions to assist in determining which equipment is best suited to each situation.
Does the worker need to move freely but be shielded from an unprotected boundary?
Consider a restraint device consisting of three components:
- Body harness/belt
- Fixed-length connecting lanyard
Does the crew member need to remain securely in place while using both hands?
This application requires a positioning device with four components:
- Anchor point
- Body harness/belt
- Self-retracting cable
Does the individual require protection during a possible free fall?
Shop for a personal fall arrest system consisting of four components:
- Anchor point
- Full-body harness
Whatever fall protection equipment you choose, confirm its OSHA compliance for material strength, load capacity, size and length.
When you buy from an established dealer like Maryland’s 95 Traffic Safety Supply, you’re investing in dependable fall protection at competitive pricing.
Fall Protection Solutions & Training
Protecting workers and complying with OSHA regulations can get overwhelming, fast. Fortunately, the fall protection experts at 95TSS can help!
We study the latest OSHA requirements and confirm that all harnesses, lanyards, anchors and safety accessories meet necessary specs. And when you need help with the use and care of fall safety equipment, we’re your first choice!
Located in the heart of the DMV, 95TSS maintains a stocked showroom with same-day pickup of construction equipment and fall protection solutions.