FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT: AN IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE

After decades in the business, fall protection can be a laissez-faire enterprise for both employees and outside construction managers. While people logically know falls are dangerous, and that they can be life-changing (or life-ending) events, the comfort of routine roof climbs, upper-level framing, roof repairs, etc., makes it understandably easy to neglect the simplest of fall protection tenets.

The reality, however, is that more than one-third of all workplace fatalities in 2010 occurred as the result of a fall, making falls the leading cause of construction-related fatalities. Nobody wants a member of their crew to contribute to that alarming statistic. Thus, proper fall protection equipment is one of the most important safety features your company can invest in.
IMPLEMENT PROPER FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT & FALL PROTECTION GUIDELINES
There are a few items that fall under the label "Fall Protection". They are:

The four functional categories of fall protection: arrest, positioning, suspension and rescue/retrieval.
The equipment required to accommodate each of the above functional categories
The educational materials and approach that transmit the importance of fall protection, and applicable actions, to make fall protection a regular part of your daily jobsite happenings.
We'll start with a brief overview of the four functional categories involved with fall protection.

Fall arrest. These are the the mechanisms that are set in place to protect a worker from falling once the fall is underway. Fall arrest equipment includes things like well-fitting harnesses, lanyards and/or lifelines, anchor points and the equipment required to make a rescue once a worker has been caught by the fall arrest system.

Positioning. Positioning systems provide workers with a stable base, foundation or anchoring point from which they can work hands-free. This may be a lift, a cage, a constructed platform etc. It is NOT considered part of the fall arrest system so there is no "two-for-one" here.

Suspension. Like a positioning system, the suspension system will also keep a worker hands-free and can may be lowered or raised (lifts and bucket trucks are typical). Again, these are not replacements for fall arrest systems.

Rescue/Retrieval. When the fall actually happens, and the fall arrest system works successfully, you may have a worker dangling at the end of a rope who needs to be retrieved. Make sure you have a rescue or retrieval system in place to facilitate their rescue. It can involve a system the worker operates by him or herself or one that requires another worker and/or additional pieces of equipment.

LADDERS, ROOFS & SCAFFOLDING: REVIEW THE MOST COMMON SCENARIOS INVOLVING FALL PROTECTION
Here are some of the most common construction jobsite scenarios that require fall protection.

Fall Protection When Working on Ladders

Working on a ladder is one of the most rote activities any construction worker will do in his or her lifetime, which is exactly what makes it so dangerous. Ladders should be inspected and maintained on a regular basis to ensure they operate safely. Always use them as per manufacturers requirements. Additionally:

Choose the appropriate ladder for the job. This means using a ladder of the appropriate height so you aren't "fudging" and/or over-reaching to make up for lost inches.
Make sure there are at least three points of contact at all times.
Only use ladders on level ground or footing.
Always ascend, work and descend while facing the ladder.
Never stand on the very top rung of a ladder or step ladder.
Fall Protection When Working on the Roof

Even a low roof can result in a serious fall injury because there is no way to guarantee how a body will land. Thus, fall protection should be taken as seriously on a 10-foot roof as it is for a 100-foot roof. Things to keep in mind:

Inspect all harnesses, ropes, lanyards and tie-downs each and every time you ascend the roof. Do not use any piece of equipment that is frayed, worn, rusted, difficult to operate or show any signs of being less than safe must be replaced immediately, even if that means shutting the job down in the meantime.
Body harnesses must fit correctly and worn at all times.
Guard rails and/or lifelines should always be used.
All holes, openings and skylights should be covered and visibly marked.
Workers should never disconnect from the lifeline.
FALL PROTECTION WHEN WORKING ON SCAFFOLDING
Scaffolding is one of the most common means of positioning and suspension on job sites. Therefore, the safety of the scaffolding is directly related to fall protection. Scaffolding safety includes:

Using fully-planked scaffolding.
Having safe entrance and egress from the scaffolding.
Scaffolding should be plumb and guard rails complete.
A competent person should inspect the scaffolding each day to make sure it's safe for use.
Never using a ladder on the scaffolding.


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