Workplace falls: Prevention and protection

1 For other safety tools and resources online, go to i n g ain p Tr Sho This training tool is included with your membership to Safety Compliance Alert the latest news, rules, updates and training tools for a safe company and a safer workforce. Workplace falls: Prevention and protection Knowledge and preparation could save your life alls only last a second, but and machinery, employers must fall Prevention . F their consequences can last a lifetime or be deadly. provide guardrails and toe-boards. What to know Employers must also guard every hole in a floor or wall that workers O SHA recommends preventing fall incidents by following three easy steps: can accidentally trip or walk through. It only takes a second. 1. Plan ahead. Acceptable protection Before working at You start thinking about something else or you're not looking at what The best way to protect against any height, plan out your you're doing, and then it happens.

2 Falls: Eliminate fall hazards. movements beforehand. This will prepare you for You fall . When that's not possible, there are potential hazards and help And falls are no rare occurrence. primarily three alternatives: keep you out of harm's way. In fact, falls are the No. 1 cause of guardrails In addition, this will also fatalities in the personal fall help prevent you from having construction arrest systems to move around too much, industry. (PFAS), and which can create additional hazards. Every year, safety nets. more than 2. Use the right equipment. Employers may 200 workers Once you know what you're use one or a die from falls, going to do, make sure you have combination of the right fall protection to do it. and more these to protect than 10,000 Always inspect your workers.

3 Are seriously equipment before using it Other systems to make sure it's in sound injured. may also be used. condition. Fortunately, But keep in And never use personal fall falls are easily prevented. mind: Not every system is a good fit arrest gear that doesn't fit for each job. properly. Prevention 3. Remember your training. OSHA requires fall protection Ladders: Know the right steps Remember the rules whenever the drop to the lower level and guidelines for using fall Ladders are involved in 20% of is at least: protection . fall fatalities. four feet in general industry Make sure you always When using a ladder, make sure five feet in shipyards follow the manufacturer's you follow the manufacturer's instructions for the equipment six feet in construction, and guidelines.

4 You're using. eight feet in longshoring operations. Always inspect ladders before using And don't forget to continue And regardless of height, if you're them to make sure they're in good looking out for hazardous working over dangerous equipment working condition. conditions while you're working. Safety Compliance Alert Training NAME. SIGNATURE. Shop Quiz DATE. 1 fall protection is required when working over dangerous machinery only if the fall would be 6 If you used a ladder the day before, its OK to climb onto it again since there's little chance it's ANSWERS. fatalities involve a ladder. more than five feet. been damaged since its last use. 10. False. Twenty-percent of fall more feet. true false true false if they can fall six or 2 Falls are the second 7 Guardrails are the best workers with fall protection leading cause of death protection against falls because employers must provide in the construction industry.

5 They give workers extra support and 9. True. Construction industry true false a place to rest. not be able to be used. true false circumstances, PFAS might 3 Employers must guard every hole in floors and walls that workers could accidentally trip over 8 PFAS are great because they can be used in any situation when Depending on the every job. system is a perfect fit for or fall through. workers need to be protected from 8. False. No fall protection true false falls. the first place. true false 4 Guardrails, PFAS and safety nets eliminate fall hazards in are the only systems that can be 9 In the construction industry, protect against falls is to used for fall protection . OSHA requires fall protection 7. False. The best way to true false to be provided whenever workers and properly positioned.

6 Can fall six or more feet. make sure it's both sturdy 5 In the general industry, workers you should still inspect it to true false should be given fall protection ladder is in good condition, if there is a chance they could fall 10 Ladders are involved in 6. False. Even if you think a four or more feet onto a lower level. 10% of all fall fatalities. or more feet. true false true false chance they could fall four protection if there's a to give their workers fall general industry employers 5. True. OSHA requires CAUSE OF FALLS workers from falls. be used if they protect 4. False. Other systems may There are two types of falls: Falls at same level and falls to lower level. or wall, it must be guarded. Both have the same basic cause: being through a hole in the floor too far off center balance.

7 A worker to fall or trip 3. True. If it's possible for This can be caused by slipping, tripping, structural failure or simply not construction industry. watching what you're doing. cause of fatalities in the And that's where fall protection 2. False. Falls are the leading comes in. regardless of the height. When you've lost your balance, a fall dangerous machinery, arrest system usually a railing, safety someone is working above net or harness will be there to support is required whenever you until you regain your bearings. 1. False. fall protection Safety Compliance Alert