Fall Protection Basics

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Fall Protection Safety

Unfortunately, falls are one of the leading causes of job related injuries and fatalities. On any given day, every worker – even one used to working at heights – is at risk of having a fall and needs the best protection possible.

It’s important to periodically revisit basic fall protection information to keep a safe working environment and maintain a substantial fall protection management program.

Common Causes of Falls

Many different events can lead to a fall, but the most common are slips. Falls can occur as a result of:

Frequently, just before falling, the employee was either climbing up or down or lifting/carrying something.
Other actions that often take place directly before a fall are:

When putting together a fall protection system, it’s important to keep these common causes in mind. It doesn’t a far fall to cause a serious injury, and its important to remember workers of all experience levels can be at risk of falling.

Common Causes of Falls List FIXFAST

What Does Fall Protection Management Consist Of?

When you hear the words “fall protection”, images of equipment like rooftop guardrails, safety nets or harnesses likely come to mind. While these are critical pieces of fall protection, that’s not all there is to a comprehensive fall protection management program.

Fall protection can be broken down into two main categories – protective equipment and people. Both serve to help prevent falls and protect employees in the event a fall does occur.

Fall Protection Equipment

Fall protection equipment can be either passive or active. Passive equipment systems provide protection without requiring any action by people. Examples include:

Active equipment systems contain components that require human training or manipulation to work effectively. Some examples are:

 Questions about fall protection or fall protection equipment? Talk to a Fall Protection Specialist Now!

Keeping People Safe

All employers and employees play an important role in the fall protection system in place at their companies. Certain actions and behaviors can be encouraged to eliminate fall hazards, prevent falls and protect workers.

Employers can:

Employees Can:

OSHA Guidelines

OSHA requirements are the accepted standard for workplace fall protection practices. They state:

Even if workers are only occasionally exposed to heights, it’s important to have a fall protection management program in place that is in compliance with OSHA regulations. It’s critically important to keep all workers safe at all times – and important to remember, it’s someone’s life.

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