Safety at Height Training

Falls constitute the leading cause of occupational fatalities in the construction industry, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Many workers perform tasks at high heights, exposing them to fall hazards. OSHA sets standards for fall-protection training for employees.

Guardrails

• Guardrail systems must be in place when employees are working at heights of more than 6 feet above the previous level, either ground or platform. Guardrails can be fashioned out of mesh or screens and serve to protect employees from falling over an edge. Guardrail systems are not for climbing or sitting.

Personal Fall-Arrest Systems

• Certain activities warrant the use of a body harness, which is a harness that fits around the worker to catch his fall midair. Body belts are no longer acceptable means of personal fall-arrest systems per OSHA, because belts have the potential to cause internal damage to a worker when his fall is stopped.

Lift Safety

• When workers are being elevated by an aerial or hydraulic lift to perform work at high heights, they must practice safe behaviors inside of the boom, basket or on the platform. Workers must stand with both feet flat on the plank and avoid hanging over the edge.