Falls are one of the most frequent cause of fatalities on construction sites, accounting for one-third of all on-the-job deaths in the construction industry. Although prevention measures are available, the number of fall-related construction deaths has remained steady. OSHA's Fall Prevention Campaign includes three simple steps for fall prevention: plan, provide and train.
Many fall hazards can be identified in the estimating process before a bid is put together. Work that is required to be performed at height can be identified and solutions to protect employees discussed and planned for prior to the start of the project.
Protection methods involve specific equipment used to access the work area or methods of protection, such as fall restraint or fall arrest systems. Whatever tools and equipment are used to perform work at heights, all employees must be trained on the system(s), how the equipment works, equipment limitations and the site-specific fall protection rescue plan.
For construction work applications, OSHA requires fall protection for each employee on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is six feet or more above a lower level. Protection measures may include guardrail, safety net or personal fall arrest or restraint systems.
Employers also have the responsibility to determine the strength and structural integrity of all walking/working surfaces encountered by employees. Common examples where fall protection measures are necessary include:
According to OSHA, employers are required to provide a training program for each employee exposed to fall hazards. The program must instruct each employee to recognize fall hazards and cover appropriate procedures that minimize these hazards. This training should be performed by a competent person familiar with fall hazards in the work area and include the following topics:
Training activities must be documented and retained to confirm compliance with OSHA's training requirements. The training certification record should include:
If a trained employee does not appear to have the understanding and skills required to work safely, they must be retrained as soon as possible. OSHA requires retraining whenever: