Fall protection

Controls for workplace fall hazards

This article is about fall protection in the workplace. For prevention of domestic falls in older adults, see Fall prevention.

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Fall protection" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new article, as appropriate. (April 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

(Learn how and when to remove this message)

A video on the value of fall protection measures

Fall protection is the use of controls designed to protect personnel from falling or in the event they do fall, to stop them without causing severe injury. Typically, fall protection is implemented when working at height, but may be relevant when working near any edge, such as near a pit or hole, or performing work on a steep surface. Many of these incidents are preventable when proper precautions are taken, making fall protection training not only critical, but also required for all construction workers. Fall Protection for Construction identifies common hazards and explains important safety practices to help ensure every team member is prepared to recognize fall hazards on the job and understand how to keep themselves and others safe.

There are four generally accepted categories of fall protection: fall elimination, fall prevention, fall arrest and administrative controls.[1] According to the US Department of Labor, falls account for 8% of all work-related trauma injuries leading to death.[2] The American Society of Safety Professionals stated that falls account for 80.1% of the slips, trips, and falls fatalities category.[3] According to the World Health Organization, falls are the second leading cause of death and unintentional injuries worldwide.[4] statutes, standards and regulations in the United States pertaining to the requirements for employers to provide fall protection are administered by OSHA.[5]

## Falls in the workplace

[edit]

Falls from elevations were the fourth leading cause of workplace death from 1980 through 1994, with an average of 540 deaths per year accounting for 10% of all occupational fatalities. 42% of all construction workers' deaths occur from falling.[6]

Falls are a concern for oil and gas workers, many of whom must work high on a derrick. A study of falls over the period 2005–2014 found that in 86% of fatal falls studied, fall protection was required by regulation, but it was not used, was used improperly, or the equipment failed. Many of the fatalities were because, although the workers were wearing harnesses, they neglected to attach them to an anchor point.[7]

Additionally, falls are the leading cause of death among construction workers in the United States.[8] Moreover, Hispanics face a disproportionate burden of fatalities from falls, as well as small business contractors.[9] Nevertheless, falls can be preventable through trainings, correct use of personal protective equipment and the implementation of hierarchy of controls.[10]

## Types of fall protection

[edit]

In most work-at-height environments, multiple fall protection measures are used concurrently.

### Fall elimination

[edit]

Fall elimination is often the preferred way of providing fall protection. This entails finding ways of completing tasks without working at heights. Although this solution is highly recommended, job performance may have an impact on whether this route is even possible or would be affected enough for the employees. One example of elimination is to moving equipment to a lower location, this will make it easier for any employee that needs to use the equipment for repairs or maintenance without having possession of a lift or ladder.[11] The main challenge with using elimination for fall protections is figuring out what change is need for the practice, procedures, or location of the equipment that is exposed to fall hazards.[12]

### Fall prevention

[edit]

Fall prevention will be used when working from elevated areas are unavoidable, the most efficient way to protect employees from fall injuries or casualties is to prevent them from being able to fall from the start. There are passive and safety systems that are put in place to aid fall prevention, some examples are listed down below. Aside from having elevated locations, hazardous machinery and open holes install fall prevention equipment around and in them, OSHA also required that all workplace apply the following:[11]

* Decrease the total amount of know dangers in the workplace
* Housekeeping (keep the work areas clear, dry, and clean)
* All employees should be well trained on identifying fall hazards and how to properly use the fall protection equipment that is provided for them.[11]

Passive Fall Prevention

This is a system that is stationary, non-dynamic, and can't move, change, or adapt when it is being used.[13]

* Fall guarding is the use of guard rails or other barricades to prevent a person from falling. These barricades are placed near an edge where a fall-hazard can occur, or to surround a weak surface (such as a skylight on a roof) which may break when stepped on.
* Fall Guarding Opening and hole covers, netting systems.[13]

Active Fall Prevention

This system involves the worker to be active participating and either for it to function or do its job to protect the worker.[13]

* Fall protection safety harnesses are designed to keep the users body attached to their lanyard.[14]
* Hole and Open CoversFall restraint is a class of personal protective equipment to prevent persons who are in a fall hazard area from falling, e.g., fall restraint lanyards. Typically, fall restraint will physically prevent a worker from approaching edges.

### Fall arrest

[edit]

Main article: Fall arrest

Fall arrest is an active form of fall protection which main purpose is to stop a person from falling and the fall impact on the ground after they had fallen. These fall arrest assist of harness, single or multiple anchor points, and a self- retracting lifeline or safety lanyard.[11]

Full Body Safety Harnesses

### Administrative controls

[edit]

Administrative controls are used along with other measures, but they do not physically prevent a worker from going over an edge.[15] Examples of administrative controls include placing a safety observer or warning line near an edge, or enforcing a safety policy which trains workers and requires them to adhere to other fall protection measures, or prohibiting any un-restrained worker from approaching an edge.

## See also

[edit]

* Construction site safety
* Roofer

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Ellis, J. Nigel (2011). Introduction to fall protection (4th ed.). American Society of Safety Engineers. p. 28\. ISBN 9781885581587.
2. ^ Bickrest, Ed. "Fall Protection: Failure is Not an Option". EHS Today. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
3. ^ "Work-Related Fatalities Up Nearly Six Percent in 2022". American Society of Safety Professionals. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
4. ^ "Falls". www.who.int. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
5. ^ "Duty to have fall protection. 1926.501". Occupational Safety & Health Administration. United States Dept. of Labor. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
6. ^ "Worker Deaths by Falls: A Summary of Surveillance Findings and Investigative Case Reports". U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: xi. 2000. doi:10.26616/NIOSHPUB2000116. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
7. ^ Mason, Krystal L.; Retzer, Kyla D.; Hill, Ryan; Lincoln, Jennifer M. (28 April 2017). "Occupational Fatalities Resulting from Falls in the Oil and Gas Extraction Industry, United States, 2005–2014". Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 66 (16): 417–421. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6616a2. PMC 5657637. PMID 28448481.
8. ^ "Welcome to OSHA's Fall Prevention Campaign". OSHA-Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
9. ^ "Construction Statistics". NIOSH Directory of Construction Resources. CDC-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2 February 2023.
10. ^ "Hierarchy of Controls". NIOSH-The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). 17 January 2023.
11. ^ a b c d WRSadmin (2021-01-19). "The 4 Methods of Fall Protection | Webb-Rite Safety". WRS - Fall Protection Systems and OSHA Training - Webb-Rite Safety. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
12. ^ "Hierarchy of Fall Protection". Gravitec Systems Inc. 2016-06-07. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
13. ^ a b c "Passive and Active Fall Protection Systems – Environmental Health and Safety". Retrieved 2024-04-09.
14. ^ "Fall Protection Harnesses". FallProtectionPros.com, Inc. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
15. ^ "Fall Protection". United States Department of Labor. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Retrieved 24 March 2016.