There are many Federal, State, and Local regulations that apply to fall hazards. Fall protection is regulated by OSHA, ANSI, and CSA.
OSHA’s regulations require that employees who work at heights (6 feet in construction and 4 feet in any industry) must be trained on fall hazard safety. These standards cover working surfaces such as scaffolding, ladders, powered platforms, confined spaces, and the use of personal fall arrest systems.
All industries are required to have a written fall protection safety program in place that includes an administrative package, training procedures, safety policy, and forms.
When developing a plan for fall hazards consider the following items:
- Inspect the fall protection equipment in detail before use.
- Check the area for fall hazards such as floor openings, shafts, roof openings, and edges.
- Use fall protection equipment that is proper for each specific task.
- Identify any fall hazards before work starts.
- Follow good housekeeping practices at your workplace.
- Provide a guard rail around open sided runways or floors.
- If there is any fall hazard, regardless of height, that involves machines or equipment guard rails must be present.
- Safety nets, safety harnesses, and lines must be used if needed.
- There must be a company fall protection plan.
- Create an alternative fall plan for residential construction and precast concrete.
- Develop site specific fall protection plans.
- Develop site rescue plan.
- Employees must be trained on the hazards of falls and the company fall prevention plan.
- Designate fall hazard trainers.
- Certify employees to use equipment designed to protect against falls.
- Have refresher training for employees, when necessary.
- Maintain a fall incident log, hazard analysis form, fall protection plan, and PPE inspection form.
What types of fall hazards are present at your workplace? How do you make sure to avoid them?
Every month we provide free safety meetings for anyone to download from our website. To download this meeting in pdf form click here. To schedule a fall protection training course dial 877-209-9648 or email sales@pasafety.com.
