Overview
Fall protection is any equipment, device or system that prevents an employee from falling from an elevation or mitigates the effect of such a fall.
A fall hazard is any condition on a walking-working surface that exposes an employee to a risk of harm from a fall on the same level or to a lower level.
Plan. Provide. Train.
- PLAN ahead to get each job done safely. When working from heights - six feet or more - plan projects to ensure that the job can be done safely. Decide how the job can be done, what tasks will be involved, and identify the safety equipment needed to complete each task safely.
- PROVIDE the right equipment for each job. Employees working six feet or more above lower levels are at risk for falls. To protect them, fall protection needs to be provided along with the right equipment for the task.
- TRAIN all employees to use the equipment correctly. Every employee needs to be trained on proper set-up and safe use of all equipment they use on the job including recognizing the hazards they will face on each job.
Safe Work Practices
- Use guardrail systems, safety net systems and personal fall protection systems where applicable.
- Adopt safe work practices and procedures for fall protection.
- Attend fall protection training on safe work practices and procedures.
- Use warning lines, designated areas, and controlled access zones to limit the number of workers exposed.
- Ensure the use of adequate personal fall protection systems.
- Use fall protection at elevations of four feet in general industry workplaces and six feet in the construction industry.
- Guardrails and toe-boards should be provided around every elevated open sided platform, floor or runway to prevent workers from falling.
- Other means of fall protection should be used where applicable such as safety harness and line, safety nets, stair railings and hand rails.
- Keep floors in work areas in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition.
- Select and provide required personal protective equipment at no cost to workers.