Fall Prevention Safe Work Practices for General Industry

Overview

Falls from walking and working surfaces is a leading cause of fatalities in both general industry and construction. Most of these fatalities involve working from unprotected heights. 

Basic Safe Work Practices

  • Provide training on safe work practices and procedures.
  • Ensure adequate personal fall protection systems.
  • Ensure fall protection at elevations of four feet in general industry workplaces and six feet in the construction industry.
  • Guard every floor hole into which a worker can accidentally walk into.
  • Provide a guard rail and toe-board around every elevated open sided platform, floor or runway.
  • Provide guardrails and toe-boards to prevent falls.
  • 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, in dry condition.
  • Select and provide required personal protective equipment at no cost to workers.