Fall protection was the most frequently cited standard during 2019 and 2020, leading to thousands of citations administered by OSHA around the country. Fatal falls are also the leading cause of death in construction, accounting almost 20% of all fatalities in construction during 2019 (305 fatalities). Falls from heights greater than six feet is a hazard we face almost daily in our profession, meaning our training on how to address and protect ourselves from falls must be top notch.
The best way to protect yourselves and your co-workers from falls is mastering the basics. Directly from our Berg Group Workplace Safety Manual, 6ft. or higher is the trigger height for requiring fall protection. Once this height is reached, you have a few great options to choose from based on your task to protect yourself from a fall:
- Guardrail System (top, mid rail, toe board)
- Personal Fall Arrest System PFAS (SRL, yo-yo, lanyard & harness, etc.)
- Warning Lines (leading edge only, minimum 6ft. from edge)
The two most common forms of fall protection we use are guardrails and PFAS. One of the most important things to remember when using them forms of protection; only use it if you know how and have been trained on it. An air bag is great at saving someone’s life if they get in a crash, but if the engineer installs the air bag backwards because they weren’t trained on how to install it, the airbag will probably do more harm than good! Likewise, these life saving devices only work if you know how to operate them properly. For more information on the specific requirements for these fall protection devices, refer to the Berg Group Workplace Safety Manual or visit https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3146.pdf for the federal requirements.
The last thing I’d like to share is a personal story relating to fall protection and just how serious it is. Last week, a very close family friend had her husband pass away after he suffered a 30ft. fall while working on a sky light at work. He landed on his head, breaking his neck and was rushed to the hospital where after 4 days of fighting and trying to recover, he passed. If a PFAS would have been used, his life would have been saved. If any of his multiple co-workers would have reminded him to go and grab a harness and yo-yo, he probably would still be here. He was only 25 years-old, leaving behind a heartbroken wife and family.
Fall protection should not be seen as optional or “I’ll only worry about myself” kind of mentality. We’re all on the Berg team and we all need to make it home to our families. To each Berg employee in the field, please don’t become a fatal fall statistic, don’t be apart of those 300+ deaths each year from falls. Look out for yourselves and please look out for each other. If you’re ever unsure whether fall protection should be used or is required for a given task, consult your foreman and/or safety manager.