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Importance of Fall Protection

Falls are the leading cause of death in construction workplace accidents, according to OSHA statistics. More than 85 percent of falls occurring in the workplace require lost work time. Fall protection is required when working on any structure where someone could fall more than 7 1/2 feet, trusses and beams taller than 15 feet, and steep roofs. Guardrails, toe boards and other barriers should be used where feasible. At other times, workers have to depend on personal fall protection gear. Fences, barriers, and hole covers also protect workers from falling hazards. No work should ever proceed until fall protection is in place.

  1. Personal Fall Systems

    • Personal fall arrest systems keep a worker from hitting a lower structure or level. These systems include a full body harness, plus connectors and an anchor. They may include a lifeline or deceleration device. Personal fall restraint systems keep workers from getting too close to ledges. They include a body belt or full body harness, connectors and anchors. They may include lifelines, lanyards, and rope grabs. The fall protection equipment must be labeled to meet American National Standards Institute (ANSI) requirements and should be right for the job.

    Safety Nets

    • Safety nets should be hung with enough clearance that a falling body would not hit a structure or surface below. They should be placed between 10 to 30 vertical feet below the work level. They must extend at least 10 to 13 feet beyond the building or structure.

    Worker Health and Safety Programs

    • The Enhanced Enforcement Program was created in 2003. It was designed to identify high-risk employees by past behavior and target them for more scrutiny. U.S. Department of Labor Inspector General Elliot Lewis found that OSHA did not carry out the program properly. The EEP failed to deter employers from risking the lives of workers. As of March 2010, OSHA was exploring improvements in worker safety legislation to ensure that companies do not cut corners by compromising safety.

    OSHA Guidelines

    • OSHA publishes fall protection guidelines for the workplace such as Oregon OSHA's Fall Protection For the Construction Industry. These introductory guides explain general concepts and practices. The official rules are found in Subdivision 3M of OAR 437. They are available at the OSHA Resource Center, 503-378-3272.

    Fall Protection Planning

    • Accidents and fatalities from workplace falls are minimized with good planning. Fall protection must be a workplace priority. Develop a safety policy. Designate competent people to move forward with workplace safety plans, evaluating fall hazards, purchasing safety equipment, and training workers to use them. If falls do occur, make sure an emergency response plan is in place.

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