subject: Fall Protection And Prevention In The Workplace [print this page] From general construction to wind turbine maintenance, window washing to roofing, many jobs require the proper fall protection and prevention methods in order to reduce the risk of injury in the workplace. Fall protection equipment is designed specifically to keep workers safe at higher levels, and the appropriate gear is required at certain heights to ensure safety. While advanced fall protection systems work to save lives, equipment alone cannot always keep workers as safe as possible. An effective training program and a detailed safety plan are also required to create a fall prevention and protection system that keeps workers from falling on the job. Read on to learn more about fall protection and prevention in the workplace.
Training and Education:
A valuable fall protection program must implement continual employee training and education that teaches workers how to use equipment properly in order to avoid falls and accidents, as well as detailed training regarding safety protocol and how to react in emergency situations. Workers must not only understand how to prevent falls from occurring by using the appropriate equipment and safety precautions, but they must also know what to do should they or a coworker fall and become suspended midair. Knowing the correct self-rescue methods can save lives, and workers should also know to never work alone. Besides understanding the right methods of safety and rescue, workers must also be educated on what not to do.
Fall Protection Equipment:
By law, workers exposed to the risk of falls must wear and use the proper fall protection equipment, in addition to their regular personal protective equipment such as hard hats, safety glasses and protective clothing. Safety gear and equipment must be easily accessible, and workers should be well-trained on how to use equipment correctly while on the job, as protective equipment becomes useless and even dangerous if not used right. Fall protection systems include fall protection body harnesses, ladders, aerial lifts and other advanced systems designed to protect and rescue workers in the event of a fall.
An Effective Safety Plan:
Putting an effective fall protection safety plan in place at the jobsite is critical to reducing the risk of injury. Besides including proper training and fall protection equipment, an effective safety plan involves keeping workers informed at all times of the current jobs and plans in place, so that they can be fully aware of their surroundings and expectations. Coordination with local authorities is also important, so that the local fire departments and other rescue crews are aware of the work taking place and the risks present on the site.
