Fall Protection
It may seem that a job can be performed more efficiently without spending the time to protect against falls. However, falls remain one of the top causes of fatalities in construction. Workers have fallen off edges of every description, especially floors and roofs, and through openings in floors, roofs, and walls. Fall protection is required whenever a worker faces serious risk of injury, including:
- on structures where a worker could fall more than 6 feet
- on roof tops
- MEWPs such as Boom Lifts and scissor Lifts(when required by GC)
To prevent accidental falls at worksites, guardrails and toe boards or other effective barriers to falls should be used. However, there will be areas where guardrails or other barriers are not feasible. In these cases, workers must use approved personal fall protection systems or positioning devices.
Two basic types of person fall protection systems that require tie off are fall arrest and travel restraint. Fall arrest systems stop a fall within a few feet of the worker’s original position. A full body harness is required with a fall arrest system. The system typically consists of a full body harness, a lanyard, a rope grab, a lifeline, and a lifeline anchor. A fall arrest system must be worn when working on a rolling scaffold that is being moved or when a worker is getting on, working from or getting off suspended access equipment.
A travel restraint system prevents falls by restraining a worker from getting too close to an unprotected edge. This system usually consists of a safety belt or full body harness, a lanyard, a rope grab, a lifeline, and a lifeline anchor.
When conventional fall protection or personal fall protection are not practical, safety nets must be used instead. Before using safety nets, check to see that the nets are hung with enough clearance to prevent a falling person from hitting the surface or structure below.
If you use any type of fall protection equipment, including personal fall protection or safety nets, be sure to check that you are using the right equipment for the job, labeled as meeting the requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and that the equipment is in good condition.
Immediately warn co-workers and notify your foreman of any malfunctioning equipment, hazardous conditions, and unsafe behavior in the workplace – someone’s life may depend on it. All accidents and near misses should also be reported to your supervisor because investigating these incidents can lead to a safer environment. If you have a job-related injury or illness, promptly report it to your employer and seek appropriate treatment. If you fail to report a job-related injury you may subject to disciplinary action.
At the Berg Group, the use of fall protection when required is an employee job expectation! This is non-negotiable. Think before you preform a task. Ask yourself, is there a risk and need for fall protection? When in doubt ask your Foremen or safety professional on site. Do not risk your life or the lives of your co-workers.
If you choose not to follow Company safety policies, which includes the use of fall protection when required. You will be susceptible to disciplinary action up to and including termination.