Guide to fall protection best practices
In 2022, fall protection earned the unfortunate title of being the first on OSHA’s annual list of top 10 safety violations. Being able to identify fall hazards and having a fall protection plan in place is critical for skilled trade workers. Discover why fall protection is important and how to keep you and your crew safe.
Why fall protection matters
According to OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, falls are a serious threat to workers in the construction and trade industries. They report falls as being a leading cause of serious work-related injury and death in construction.
If the risk of injury and death isn’t reason enough to be aware of fall hazards, the threat of financial penalties for employers who do not have a fall protection plan in place serves as additional motivation to be compliant with OSHA’s safety requirements.
Failure to comply can result in steep penalties: $15,625 penalty for a single violation in 2023, and a $156,259 penalty for willful or repeated violations. Injuries and deaths caused by falls can also cost trade business owners thousands of dollars in workers’ compensation, lost labor and private lawsuits.
Know the numbers: fall statistics in the construction industry
6 feet: The height at which OSHA requires fall protection to be provided in the construction industry. OSHA requires fall protection in general industry when working 4 feet and above.
371: The number of fatalities caused by falls, slips and trips in the construction industry in 2020.
31.4%: The portion of nonfatal injuries resulting in days away from work due to falls, slips and trips in 2020.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Fall prevention best practice guidelines
Trade professionals can put safety first and make fall prevention a priority by following OSHA’s comprehensive fall prevention standards. As a reminder, employers must do all of the following:
Provide fall prevention training
Employers must inform and train employees about potential fall hazards in a manner and language they understand. Training should be a regular part of the job to ensure workers are up to date on current standards and are able to identify unsafe conditions.
Develop a plan before each job
Instead of taking a one-size-fits-all approach, trade professionals should tailor their fall prevention measures to the unique hazards present on every jobsite. By taking the time to inspect conditions and identify potential hazards ahead of time, employers can better protect their workers and avoid incidents.
Invest in proper equipment
Having the right fall protection and prevention equipment on the job can be the determining factor in whether a worker goes home at the end of the day or goes to the emergency room. For this reason, buying the proper equipment for each hazard present on the jobsite is worth the cost.
Bonus fall harness safety tips:
Select and use an overhead anchor point capable of withstanding 5,000 lbs. of force.
Use a full-body harness with dual lanyards to ensure 100% tie-off at all times when working near an exposed edge.
Use shock-absorbing lanyards or self-retracting lifelines appropriate to the working height.
Personally inspect your fall protection prior to each use.
Never wear your harness loosely around the legs or partially unfastened.
Hire qualified workers to install equipment
Whether it’s scaffolding, guardrails, anchor points or any other fall prevention system component, equipment should only be installed by qualified workers who understand the installation requirements.
Don’t take shortcuts
Doing something faster does not make it safer. Taking shortcuts, like putting a ladder on top of scaffolding for quick extra height or disconnecting from a lifeline just for a minute, are how accidents happen.
When is fall protection required?
OSHA requires employers in the construction industry to provide and install fall protection equipment and fall prevention systems when fall hazards are present on a jobsite. The complete requirements are extensive and can be found under OSHA Standard 1926.501.
In general, fall protection is required when working on levels measuring 6 feet tall and higher. Hazards that may require fall protection and prevention systems include:
Unprotected sides and edges
Hoist areas
Holes
Formwork and reinforcing steel
Ladders
Ramps, runways and other walkways
Areas above dangerous equipment
Overhand bricklaying and related work
Roofing work on low-slope roofs
Steep roofs
Wall openings
Areas above excavations
In addition to protecting workers from falls, employers must also take steps to protect employees working in areas where they could be exposed to falling objects. In such areas, OSHA requires employers to implement devices to stop equipment from falling and have workers wear hard hats on the job.
What are fall prevention systems?
OSHA outlines a number of solutions employers can implement to prevent or eliminate fall hazards on the jobsite. In general, fall prevention solutions include:
Guardrail systems
Safety net systems
Personal fall arrest systems
Positioning device systems
Warning line systems
Controlled access zones
Safety monitoring systems
Protection from falling objects
Covers for holes in floors, roofs and other walking/working surfaces
Employers should reference OSHA Standard 1926.502 to understand what type of fall protection products must be used as part of an overall system to address specific hazards, and the respective requirements for implementing various types of fall protection systems.
Partner with Ferguson on safety
Ferguson is committed to safety and providing the security products trade professionals need to work smarter and avoid injury. For more tips to stay safe on the job and protect workers, explore Safety Matters.