FALL SAFETY INFO

Fall protection – Why is it important?
Falls are one of the most common causes of serious work related deaths and injuries in the work-place. Employers must ensure that workers have the proper conditions and equipment to prevent such tragedies. Workers are in danger when working on overhead platforms, elevated work stations or from holes in the floor and walls.

What can be done to reduce/prevent falls?
Employers must set up the work place to prevent workers from such falls. OSHA requires that fall protection must be provided at elevations of four feet or more in general industry workplaces, five feet in shipyards, six feet in the construction industry, and eight feet in longshoring operations. Additionally, OSHA requires that fall protection must be provided when employees are working over dangerous equipment and machinery, regardless of the fall distance.

To prevent employees from being injured from falls, employers must:
Guard every floor hole into which a worker can accidentally walk with a railing and toe-board or a floor hole cover.
Provide a guard rail and toe-board around every elevated open-sided platform, floor, or runway.
Regardless of the height, employers must provide guardrails and toe-boards to prevent workers from falling into dangerous machines or equipment such as a vat of acid or a conveyor belt.
Other means of fall protection may be required on specific jobs including safety harnesses and lines, safety nets, stair railings, and hand rails.

OSHA requires employers to:
Provide working conditions that are free from known dangers.
Keep floors clean and, as far as possible, in a dry condition.
Select and provide required personal protective equipment at no cost to the workers.
Have training programs to inform workers about job hazards in a language that they can understand.