Fall Protection Safety Training

Falls can occur in many types of industries, but they are most common and most severe in the construction industry. Falls are the leading cause of workplace fatalities in construction, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA closely monitors the construction industry and its handling of fall protection safety rules, but the same principles can be applied to any industry. Standards for fall protection combine human and equipment-related issues that lead to injuries as a result of falls.

Objective

• The objective of any fall protection safety training is to limit the risk of injury from falling in the workplace. Accidents usually involve several factors. Training teaches employees to recognize specific hazards in the workplace and learn procedures to mitigate risk.

Significance

• Falls in the workplace can lead to serious injury and death. Falls are responsible for approximately 175 fatalities and 100,000 injuries each year in the United States, according to OSHA. Even a fall of a few feet can lead to a more serious injury if the employee falls on a sharp object or strikes his head.

Discussion Points

• The bulk of the safety training program should address the correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling and inspecting the fall protection system. That includes the use and operation of guardrails, personal fall arrest systems, safety nets, controlled access zones and other protection. Training should also address the role of employees and the handling and storage of equipment, materials or tools when fall hazards exist.

Professional Instruction

• There are many ways to give fall safety training to employees. Companies such as Black Mountain Safety sell instructional videos. Companies such as Gravitec Systems or Miller by Sperian offer on-site training courses by expert instructors.

Considerations

• Employers must keep a written record certifying they have trained employees on fall protection. The written record must contain the name of the employee trained, dates of training and signature of the instructor or employer. If an employee does not understand the fall protection guidelines, the employer must retrain the employee.