What You Need to Know About Fall Protection

Falls are one of the most prevalent causes of work-related injury and death. In order to prevent falls from overhead and elevated work stations or into open holes in floors and walls, a number of fall protection requirements have been designed and implemented by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Fall protection is usually put in place where workers are performing duties at heights, but it is equally necessary when employees are working near the edges of holes, on steep or slippery surfaces, or around dangerous machinery and equipment.

Preventive Fall Protection

Employers have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their workers at all times, so it is incumbent upon them to have a fall prevention policy in place. It is far better to prevent falls in advance, rather than cope with on-the-job injuries later. In order to prevent fall injuries, employers are required to ensure the following measures are taken throughout the workplace:

  • Cover holes in floors. Install floor hole covers, toe boards, and railing on every floor hole into which an employee could accidentally fall.
  • Guard elevated areas. Install guard rails and toe boards around the edge of any elevated floor, platform, or runway that is elevated above the surrounding area.
  • Secure dangerous equipment. Install guard rails and toe boards around dangerous machinery or other equipment that employees can fall into or onto.
  • Additional protection. In addition to guard rails, covers, and toe boards, employers may need to employ additional fall protection measures and equipment, including safety harnesses and line, safety nets, stair railings, and hand rails.

OSHA Requirements

According to OSHA regulations, employers are required to arrange the workplace in such a way as to prevent employees from falling from overhead platforms and raised work stations, or through holes in the floors and walls. OSHA requirements necessitate fall protection when workers operate more than four feet above the surrounding area in all workplaces classified as general industry. This requirement is increased to five feet in shipyards, six feet in construction operations, and eight feet for longshoring activities.

OSHA further requires that fall protection equipment be installed for employees working over and around dangerous machinery or equipment, regardless of the height of the work area.

In addition to installation of fall protection equipment, employers are required to take the following precautions:

  • Ensure that work conditions are free of avoidable hazards.
  • Keep floors in work areas dry and clean as much as possible.
  • Distribute required appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to employees for free.
  • Ensure that workers receive training about job hazards in a language they understand.

Fall Safety Standards in the Construction Industry

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 971 workplace deaths in 2017 were in the construction industry, 39.2% of which were due to falls. For this reason, fall protection is specifically addressed in OSHA’s construction industry standards.

In order to ensure that they are enforcing adequate safety standards in the ever changing construction industry, OSHA frequently consults with experts in the field and publishes proposed rules and updates in the Federal Register to allow industry participants to submit questions, comments, and suggested changes before they are finalized.

OSHA also regularly publishes detailed preambles, directives, and letters of interpretation to further clarify regulatory processes and requirements. Additionally, OSHA ensures the publication of case summaries and national consensus standards related to fall protection, to keep construction industry participants up to date on the most recent developments and interpretations of OSHA rules and regulations.

With these resources, construction companies and workers can easily stay updated on the most recent OSHA rules and regulations for fall protection and prevention. However, according to OSHA, some of the most frequently violated regulations include those for fall protection in the construction industry. Some of the most common violations include:

Fall Safety Standards Outside the Construction Industry

Although the construction industry experiences a high number of fall-related incidents, it is not the only industry in which employees are at risk of falling. With this in mind, OSHA has created safety standards for fall protection in a number of other industries outside construction, including shipyard employment, marine terminals, longshoring, and general industry.

As with the construction industry, OSHA provides myriad resources to assist employers and employees in their understanding of the fall safety standards and regulations. Federal Register Notices, preambles, directives, letters of interpretation, and national consensus standards are readily available for fall-related rules to ensure adequate analysis, clarification, and apprehension.

Per OSHA, numerous fall-related regulations for work environments outside the construction industry are commonly violated, including:

Protecting Workers from Falls

Fortunately, it is relatively easy for employers to protect employees from falls through the use of guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall protection. Along with the appropriate equipment, employers should adopt and enforce safe work practices, and ensure that their employees are trained appropriately.

Along with standard protection equipment, employers can reduce employee exposure to fall risks through the use of warning lines, designated areas, control zones, and other prevention systems. It is also helpful for employers to conduct regular hazard assessments and develop an extensive fall protection plan. If employers and employees are in the habit of considering fall hazards before work commences, they are more able to manage prevention and avoid falls.

If employees use personal fall protection systems, such as safety harnesses and restraints, be sure to note attachment points in the work area and ensure proper employee use and inspection of the equipment.

Types of Safety Harnesses

Personal fall protection systems come in a variety of styles, ensuring that the user has the best safety equipment for their particular use case. Below is a short list of the most commonly used safety harnesses.

  • Fall arrest.Fall arrest harnesses allow sufficient mobility for workers to perform their duties while still providing fall protection. In the event of a fall, a fall arrest harness is secured by a lanyard, deceleration device, or lifeline anchored to a stable point, which slows or stops the fall safely, and prevents the worker from making contact with the ground.
  • Work positioning.A work positioning harness is connected at two points and anchored firmly to the work area, so that the user can freely use both hands.
  • Travel restraint.Travel restraint harnesses allow workers full access to the work area but limit the area in which they can travel with a lanyard or lifeline, thereby preventing them from approaching edges and other fall hazards.
  • Descent and ascent.Descent and ascent harnesses are used with mechanical devices to raise and lower employees into and out of work areas, thereby preventing the employee from encountering potential fall risks by climbing into or out of elevated work areas.
  • Evacuation. Evacuation harnesses are used to assist in rescues by raising and lowering the subject to a safe level. Evacuation harnesses are not equipped for regular use and should only be used for short periods of time in the event of an emergency.

Professional Fall Protection

Appropriate knowledge and use of fall protection methods and equipment is key to avoiding untimely injuries or fatalities due to falls. When fall protection methods are appropriately implemented, they can prevent falls altogether or significantly reduce the severity of injuries sustained. Make sure that you are up to date on the most recent OSHA regulations for fall protection in your industry, so that you can rest assured that your employees have the best possible protection.

To learn more about fall protection equipment and systems, contact Webb Rite today!

fall protection and safety infographic