Posts in category: Fall Protection

If you work at heights, then fall protection systems are an essential part of maintaining safety and preventing accidents. In this article, we will introduce you to the basics of fall protection so that you can better understand how these life-saving measures can help keep you safe on the job site. 

Guardrails: Guardrails are erected alongside any potential fall hazard, like a wall edge, to prevent workers from falling to lower levels.

• Must be 42 inches +/- 3 inches above the walking/working level
• Must have intermediate structural members between top edge and walking level able to withstand a force of at least 200 lbs
• Top rails and mid-rails must be 1/4 inch thick to prevent cuts or lacerations
• Mesh, screens or mid-rails are acceptable
• Capable of withstanding a force of at least 200 lbs.
• Must be inspected frequently

Safety Net Systems: These won’t stop a fall, but they’ll be there to catch you if you slip up.

• Must be installed as close as practicable under the walking or working surface, never more than 30 feet below
• Potential fall area must be unobstructed
• Must be enough space underneath the net so that the worker has NO possibility of hitting the ground or structure underneath
• Must have safe openings
• Must be drop tested
• Must be inspected weekly

If an employer can demonstrate that it is unreasonable to perform a drop test, then the employer or competent person must certify that the net and installation is in compliance with this standard.

Personal Fall Arrest Systems: A system that safely stops (arrests) a worker who is falling.

• Include harnesses, lanyards, deceleration devices, lifelines or a combination of these.
• Body belts are prohibited from use as part of a fall arrest system.
• Max arresting force (force exerted on the body) is 1800 lbs when used with a harness
• Worker can neither free fall more than 6 ft nor contact lower level
• System must bring worker to a complete stop and limit max deceleration distance a worker travels to 3.5 ft
• System must withstand twice as much potential impact energy of a worker free falling from 6ft or the free fall distance permitted by system, whichever is less.
• Must be inspected prior to use.

Browse our fall protection here.

Learn more about Personal Fall Arrest Systems here.

Learn how to determine if your worksite needs fall protection here.

Is Your Construction Worksite Safe from Falls? Here’s How to Find Out! 

Step 1. Check the stability of the surfaces where your workers will be walking and working. If they pass the test, move on to step 2. 

Step 2. Determine if you need fall protection or protection from falling objects. 

According to OSHA Subpart M, fall protection is required for workers at a height of 6 feet or more. It’s also necessary for those working near dangerous equipment, even if it’s under six feet. 

Employers must assess the risks of potential falls, such as floor holes, wall openings, and unprotected ledges. Falling object protection should be provided if there’s a chance of objects falling on workers. 

Step 3. Choose the right type of fall protection. Common options include guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall arrest systems. These are often referred to as “conventional fall protection.” 

PROTIP: Even if workers aren’t actively working, they still need fall protection when entering or walking on the worksite. 

Although falls are fairly common, they don’t have to be. With the right precautions, you can protect workers from potential injuries or fatalities caused by slips, trips, and falls. For more details on different types of protection solutions check out our blog on common types of fall protection or the ABCs of Personal Fall Arrest Systems – and don’t forget to shop our fall protection products! Keeping your workplace safe doesn’t have to complicated; now you know how to make sure your employees stay safe on site– and that’s no joke! 

1. Risk Assessment

Learn more about conventional fall protection systems here.

Read about the ABCs of fall protection here.

Browse our fall protection HERE.

– according to OSHA 

When it comes to working at heights, we need some serious protection. 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.

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 keep your fall arrest system securely in place. They need to be independent of any anchors used to suspend platforms and capable of supporting at least 5000 lbs per worker or twice the expected impact load.

B is for body support – Usually a full body harness that evenly distributes fall force across your legs, pelvis, chest, and shoulders. The harness provides a connection point, the D-ring that attaches to the connecting devices (connectors).

C is for connectors – These are all the components that keep you attached to the anchor point.

• Snap Hooks: must be locking type and designed to prevent disengagement from any component part of the personal fall arrest system . They keep the system together.
• Horizontal and Vertical Lifelines: they are the line of connection to the anchor point. They must have a minimum breaking strength of 5000lbs.
• Self Retracting Lifelines and Lanyards: Able to stretch, extend and retract but on the onset of a fall, the device locks and stop the fall. Those that limit free fall to 2 feet or less must be capable of sustaining a minimum load of 3000lbs. Those that do not limit free fall to 2 feet or less must sustain a minimum load of 5000 pounds.

D is for descent and rescue plans – If someone takes a fall, there must be a plan to rescue that worker. OSHA has got a handy checklist to help prepare for any rescue mission. 

Remember, 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. 

Browse our fall protection HERE.

Learn how to determine if your worksite needs fall protection here.