Fall protection safety
Approx. 25 minutes
Frequency requirement - initial, and when employee demonstrates they are insufficiently trained
Each year, there are hundreds of work-related fatalities. The most common causes are working from heights under unsafe working conditions, lack of access to fall protection equipment, and inadequate training. The National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health found that over 40 percent of worker deaths were related to falls. In this article, we will discuss Fall Protection requirements, equipment, and free OSHA fall protection training options to prevent injuries in the workplace.
OSHA has strict requirements for employers who are required to provide protection and training to help prevent these types of incidents. Failure to comply with OSHA’s training requirements can result in violations, fines, and workers’ compensation claims. Fortunately, if you have a proper training program in place, you can avoid these costs and ensure that your workers go home safely each day. The best news is that there are free, convenient options available online.
OSHA requires fall protection to be provided for all workers who work above a certain height. This height can vary by industry. Generally, this height starts at four feet (for general industry workplaces) or six feet (for the construction industry). This might seem like a relatively low elevation, but it’s important to understand that even falls from low heights can result in fatalities or serious life-altering injuries. The Center for Construction Research found that nearly 12 percent of fall-related fatalities occurred from under 10 feet with half of the fatalities a result of falls from under 20 feet.
The first line of defense for fall-related incidents is engineering controls and safe work environments. OSHA requires that employers take every precaution to remove hazards from job sites such as holes in floors or extension cords strewn about. Employers should also make sure that proper handrails and toe boards are in place for any elevated platforms or work areas.
In some cases, personal protective equipment such as harnesses and lanyards may be needed. This equipment should be provided by the employer. The fall protection equipment should be inspected and replaced regularly to ensure that it is free from defects that could result in equipment failure.
The most critical element to OSHA’s fall protection guidelines is ensuring that employers are providing the appropriate fall protection training to their employees. According to OSHA, a good fall protection training program should be conducted by a competent person and teach employees to recognize the hazards of falling and how to minimize and avoid those hazards. The fall protection training program should cover (but not be limited to):
● How to correctly erect and maintain fall protection systems.
● The role of employees in protecting themselves and others from fall-related incidents.
● The c orrect procedures for handling, storing, and inspecting fall protection equipment.
● How to select the appropriate fall protection system based on the work environment.
OSHA recommends that retraining should be conducted if the employer believes that the employee does not understand the training or needs a refresher. This could include changes in job role, new fall protection systems or equipment being used, or when the employee has been involved in an incident or demonstrates inadequacies in their safety performance. The general industry guideline is to renew training for fall protection at a minimum of every two years.
Most companies don’t have the ability or resources to employ a full-time Safety trainer to conduct fall protection training and maintain training records. Many companies rely on a third party to provide this service.
At ComplyFlex, we’re here to help. Our comprehensive, online training program is designed to give employers the confidence that they are in full compliance with OSHA requirements and their employees have the knowledge they need to work safely on the job. Check out our website to learn more about our free fall protection training program.
