Staying Safe and Secure: A Guide to Fall Prevention

Falls are one of the leading causes of injury and death in the construction industry. A fall from even a low height can result in serious injury, while falls from significant heights are often fatal. The safety of our teams should always be our highest priority. I want to share some critical information on fall prevention to ensure every one of our jobsites is as safe as possible.

1. The Foundation of Safety: Planning and Preparation

Before work begins, especially at height, a thorough plan must be in place.

• Identify Hazards: Walk the jobsite and identify potential fall hazards, such as unprotected edges, open holes, skylights, and unstable surfaces.

• Choose the Right Equipment: Select the appropriate fall protection equipment for the job. This might include guardrails, safety nets, personal fall arrest systems (PFAS), or ladders.

• Train Your Team: Ensure everyone on the crew is properly trained on how to use fall protection equipment and understand the specific fall hazards on the site.

2. The Right Tools for the Job: Fall Protection Equipment

Personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) are a crucial line of defense. A PFAS typically consists of three components:

• Anchorage: A secure point of attachment for a lanyard or lifeline. The anchor point must be able to support a minimum of 5,000 pounds per employee attached.

• Body Harness: Not a body belt, which can cause serious injury in a fall and is prohibited for use in personal fall arrest systems by OSHA. A full-body harness distributes fall forces safely across the body.

• Connecting Device: This is the lanyard, lifeline, or deceleration device that connects the harness to the anchorage point.

3. Best Practices on the Jobsite: Using and Maintaining Your Equipment

Even the best equipment is useless if it's not used correctly.

• Daily Inspections: Before each use, inspect all fall protection equipment for signs of wear, damage, or degradation. Look for frayed webbing, broken stitches, or deformed hardware.

• Correct Usage: Always follow manufacturer instructions for proper donning, fitting, and use of harnesses and connecting devices.

• Maintain 100% Tie-Off: When working at height, always be connected to an anchor point. When moving between anchor points, use a system that allows you to remain tied off at all times.

By prioritizing fall prevention, we protect our most valuable asset: our people. A commitment to fall safety is a commitment to a thriving, accident-free workplace.