Falls are the leading cause of death in construction. It is crucial that awareness among workers and employers about common fall hazards is raised. By being informed on how falls from ladders, scaffolds, and roofs can be prevented, thousands of lives can be saved each year. OSHA’s Fall Prevention campaign follows a simple approach: “Plan. Provide. Train.”
Plan ahead to get the job done safely
In construction, having a plan in place is important for several reasons. A plan provides structure for workers to follow, keeps things organized as a whole, and most importantly helps keep workers safe. All of the following contributes to a reduced chance of workers falling from heights.
Frontier Industrial Corp. is committed to protecting the wellbeing of our workforce, and we understand the importance of following a great plan. The FIC Safety Management Plan (SMP) was developed by our Corporate Director of Environmental Health, & Safety (EHS) and is the foundation of our safety effort. FIC conducts quarterly reviews of all active project EHS performance as well as reviews of the Corporate Safety Management Plan.
Additional questions to keep in mind when it comes to constructing a great plan includes:
- How the job will be done?
- What tasks will be involved?
- What safety equipment will be needed to complete each task?
The right equipment
Personal Protective Equipment is an instrumental component to the health and safety of construction workers at any project. When working at heights, employers must provide workers with fall protection and the right equipment for the job. The image to the right demonstrates what Personal Protective Equipment a worker should be wearing when operating at a height.
- Hard Hat
- Safety Glasses
- Hearing Protection
- Safety Vest
- High Visibility Shirt
- Leather Gloves
- Safety Harness
- Work Pants
- Safety Toe Boots
With the appropriate gear on, workers can be better protected and prepared in the event hazards or danger arises.
Training
According to OSHA, every worker should be trained on proper set-up and safe use of equipment that they use on the job. It is the responsibly to train workers to recognize hazards on the job. Specifically, workers should be informed on ladder, scaffold, and roof safety.
Ladder Safety: Ladders should be inspected regularly before use. Some ladder safety measures, according to OSHA, include the following:
- Maintain three points of contact
- Place the ladder on level footing
- Always face the ladder
- Secure the ladder by locking the metal braces at the center of the ladder
- Don’t overreach
- Don’t walk the ladder
Scaffold Safety: Employees must be trained on how to set up and use scaffolds properly. Scaffold safety measures according to OSHA, include the following:
- During setup: fully plank scaffolds, complete all guardrails, ensure stable footing and plumb and level
- Ensure proper access to scaffolds
- A competent person must inspect the scaffold before use
- Don’t climb over cross braces
- Don’t stand on guardrails
- Don’t use a ladder on a scaffold
Roof Safety: Employees must be trained to accord fall hazards on a roof as well as how to properly use fall protection. This includes the following safety measures:
- Make sure your harness fits
- Always stay connected/tie off
- Ensure that all anchor points are safe
- Protect all holes, openings, and skylights
- Don’t sit or walk on skylights or other openings
At Frontier Industrial Corp., we are committed to maximizing the safety of workers on the job. Working at heights can be highly risky and dangerous. However, by following OSHA’s “Plan. Provide. Train” guidelines, workers can be more aware of safe measures and take action to prevent falls from occurring on site.
Article Adapted From: https://www.osha.gov/stop-falls