Fall Protection Harness

Why Fall Protection Harness Is Important ?

Falls are among the most common causes of serious work-related injuries and deaths. Employers must set up the workplace to prevent employees from falling off of overhead platforms, elevated work stations or into holes in the floor and walls.

What can be done to reduce falls?

Employers must set up the workplace to prevent employees from falling off of overhead platforms, elevated work stations or into holes in the floor and walls. OSHA requires that fall protection is provided at elevations of four feet in general industry workplaces, five feet in shipyards, six feet in the construction industry and eight feet in long shoring operations.

In addition, OSHA requires that fall protection is provided when 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 (using a railing and toeboard or a floor hole cover).

·         Provide a guardrail and toe-board around every elevated open sided platform, floor or runway.

·         Regardless of height, if a worker can fall into or onto dangerous machines or equipment (such as a vat of acid or a conveyor belt) employers must provide guardrails and toe-boards to prevent workers from falling and getting injured.

·         Other means of fall protection that may be required on certain jobs include safety harness and line, safety nets, stair railings, and handrails.

OSHA requires employers to:-

·         Provide working conditions that are free of known dangers.

·         Keep floors in work areas in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition.

·         Select and provide the required personal protective equipment at no cost to workers.

·         Train workers about job hazards in a language that they can understand.

 Factors to Consider When Identifying Control   Measures for Work At Height

All work at height should be risk-assessed. The best way of managing the risks inherent in work at height is to eliminate the need to work at height entirely.

                                                              

Work at height can be avoided by:

·         Modifying a work process, e.g. cleaning windows from the ground by pole cleaning rather than from ladders.

·         Modifying a design, e.g. erecting guardrails or steel work at ground level and then using a crane to put the steel and guardrails into place.

In most instances, however, avoidance will not be possible and control measures for working at height will be required. The exact nature of the control measures should be decided during the risk assessment and will depend on various factors.

Factors to consider when identifying control measures for work at height:-

·         Nature and duration of the task to be carried out.

·         Level of competence of the persons to be involved.

·         Training that may need to be provided.

·         Planning and level of supervision required.

·         Means of access and egress.

·         Suitability of the equipment to be used, and its maintenance.

·         Use of working platforms, guardrails and toe boards.

·         Personal protective equipment, such as harnesses and helmets.

·         Whether a fall-arrest system is required, or netting.

·         Weather conditions.

·         Health condition of the individuals (e.g. vertigo or a heart condition).

·         Compliance with relevant regulations.