For people who work for construction companies, there is always a risk of falling from heights while working. It is difficult to focus on the work that has to be done while at the same time you have to watch for your safety. The employer is obliged to provide their employees with all the necessary tools and training to prevent or mitigate this possibility. Falling can cause serious injuries and fatal consequences, so this has to be taken seriously. Here are six tips on fall from heights prevention.
Provide the right training
The training is mandatory for all of the employees who work at heights. It should be done in such a way that there is no partial understanding of the security measures, but only true applicable knowledge. The training is supposed to be done before the job is assessed but take into account that it should be repeated from time to time to freshen up the knowledge of the employees and to cover up some inadequacies in employees’ knowledge if there are any.
Reduce the risk
The prevention of accidents is certainly the first step that should be taken for jobs at heights. Tools that should be used in this case are an eyebolt and ratchet strap for making the ladders more secure. Other tools can include the flexible safety line that a worker can attach to the ladder. These tools are excellent as prevention measures because even if the employee falls down, they will prevent some severe injuries.
Select a reliable anchor point
The system for fall protection is supported by anchors. The employees are supposed to attach their lifeline to this element and this way prevents falling. Before using it, it has to be installed in the correct way to be optimally functional. It is important to know that there are permanent and movable anchors. While the first ones are permanently installed and not mobile, the latter needs some installation instructions to be attached to a specific construction.
Use ladders safely
Never take ladders for granted. Neglecting the importance of ladders can cause serious accidents and injuries. Make sure you double-check before using them. They should be made of firm materials and stand on solid ground to prevent falls. Be sure you test the metal braces on the ladders to see if they prevent them from moving. An additional tool that many people use when they climb the ladders is the fall safety harness that not only prevents the fall but also ensures a simpler rescue if the fall happens after all. This is one of the most important parts of your fall arrest equipment and it should be used every time you use ladders on heights.
Install adequate roof railings
If you´re not sure how proper railings are supposed to look like, you can consult OSHA requirements. Generally, they should have ¼-inch in diameter, 42 inches high and the top must not fail and may deflect to a point no lower than 39 inches above the floor when a 200-pound load is imposed on it in a downward or outward direction. Some problems with roof railing are that if they are installed wrong, like penetrating the roof, they could cause some leakage in the future. The design must be taken into account when implementing this element.
Always test the equipment
When people’s security and lives depend on the equipment, it is mandatory to check before every use if that equipment is functioning well. Do not use the equipment if the quality is not trustworthy. Have regular checks for quality and replace any potentially damaged equipment. Fall arrest equipment is especially important and in case the fall eventually occurs, be sure to replace everything.
Make sure to be a responsible employer who takes care of all the safety measures and equipment quality in order to prevent injuries and possible fatalities. Although these six tips are universal when it comes to fall prevention, bear in mind that you should still look for specific information related to your equipment and type of job-based on manufacturer information on the products. That is the best way to follow all the procedures and use them the best possible way.
