– according to OSHA
When it comes to working at heights, best believe I want some serious protection. After all, falls are the top OSHA violation (2), and they can lead to some pretty nasty injuries or even death. Fall protection is a bit more complicated than just slapping on some run-of-the-mill PPE. It requires training, attention to detail, and a whole lot of care. Lives are on the line here, folks – literally!
There are many types of fall protection (learn more about them in our related blog post here) but the most common and complicated is the Personal Fall Arrest System. Personal Fall Arrest Systems are designed to catch you should you fall and have several components in order to function. To understand these symptoms, we can remember the ABCDs of Fall Protection.
A is for Anchorages. These babies are what keep your fall arrest system securely in place. They need to be independent of any platforms and capable of supporting at least 5000 lbs per worker or twice the expected impact load. (1) Talk about heavy-duty stuff!
B is for body support. Think of it as a full-body hug (harness, that is) that evenly distributes fall force across your legs, pelvis, chest, and shoulders. (1) And let’s not forget the trusty D-ring that connect that harness to all the other components.
C is for connectors. These are all the components that keep you attached to the anchor point.
And of course, we’ve got lifelines – both horizontal and vertical. They’re the line of connection from you to the anchorage. Make sure they have a minimum breaking strength of 5000 lbs. (1) That’s some serious strength right there.
Let’s not forget about self-retracting lifelines and lanyards. These nifty devices can stretch, extend, and retract, but when it’s fall time, they’ve got your back (pun intended!). They’ll lock in place and save the day. The ones that limit free fall to 2 feet or less need a minimum tensile load of 3000 lbs, while the others need a whopping 5000 lbs. (1) Safety first, people!
Snap Hooks keep the system together, they must be locking types that won’t let you disengage from the system. (3) They connect all the different systems together.
D is for descent and rescue plans. (1) If someone takes a tumble, we’ve got to have a plan in place to get them back on solid ground safely. OSHA has got a handy checklist to help prepare for any rescue mission.
Remember, folks, falls can be seriously dangerous – and we don’t take danger lightly. That’s why we’re here at Safetyvibe to provide you with all the top-notch fall protection gear you need. Trust our expertise and let us make your workplace safe and comfy for all your employees.
Learn how to determine if your worksite needs fall protection here.
