Don't fall down on the job

Falls from elevated work surfaces continue to cause worker deaths and injuries at a high rate. In one year alone, falls caused five deaths in the construction industry.

Many workers may not consider fall protection necessary, that it's something only ironworkers on high-rise construction sites need. But even if yours is a small job that requires only a 15-foot ladder, you can suffer the same consequences as working higher off the ground.

Even if you work exclusively in a welding shop, it's still important to think about fall protection—you never know when an employee or you may need to use a ladder to change a light bulb or perform remodeling, for example. If outside companies come into your shop to perform work, you will need to provide fall protection for them to reduce your liability.

The following are Department of Labor and Industries guidelines, developed through the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA), regarding what to include in a comprehensive safety standard to address fall hazards.

You should develop a written fall protection plan and maintain it on the job site. The plan must describe how your company will protect workers on a given work site when employees are working 10 feet or more above the ground, other work surfaces, or water.

The plan should:

1. Identify all fall hazards in the work area.
2. Describe the method of fall arrest or fall restraint to be provided.
   
3. Outline the correct procedures for the assembly, maintenance, inspection, and disassembly of the fall protection system to be used.
   
4. Explain the method of providing overhead protection for workers who may be in or pass through the area below the work site.
   
5. Communicate the method for prompt, safe removal of injured workers.

Before you can develop a fall protection plan, you must understand two important definitions:

1. Fall Arrest System. This equipment protects someone from falling more than 6 ft. or from striking a lower object in the event of a fall, whichever distance is less. This equipment includes approved full-body harnesses and lanyards properly secured to anchorage points or to lifelines, safety nets, or catch platforms.
   
   
   
2. Fall Restraint System. This apparatus keeps a person from reaching a fall point; for example, it allows someone to work up to the edge of a roof but not fall. This equipment includes standard guardrails, a warning line system, a warning line and monitor system, and approved safety belts (or harnesses) and lanyards attached to secure anchorage points.

Developing a Fall Protection Work Plan

To develop a fall protection work plan, you must identify your company and the work site to which the plan applies. This information should be listed as the first item in your plan. After you identify your company and work site in the plan:

1. Identify all fall hazards in the work area. To determine fall hazards, you must review all jobs and tasks to be done. After all fall hazards have been identified, list those requiring employees to work 10 ft. or more above the ground, other work surface, or water.
   
   
2. Determine the method of fall arrest or fall restraint to be provided for each job and task to be done that is 10 ft. or more above the ground, another work surface, or water. If you decide to use a safety monitor system, use special care to ensure full compliance.
   
   
3. Describe the procedures for assembly, maintenance, inspection, and disassembly of the fall protection system to be used.
   
   
4. Describe the correct procedures for handling, storage, and security of tools and materials.
   
   For example, tools will be secured as follows:
   • Tool belts will be used to carry hand tools to the elevated work surface.
   • Tools too large for the tool belt will be raised by rope and pulley.
   • When hand tools are used, they will be returned to the tool belt immediately after use.
   • Large tools, such as circular saws, will be secured or placed in an area that will not allow them to fall.
   
   
5. Describe the method of providing overhead protection for workers who may be in or pass through the area below the work site. This could be one or more of the following:
   • Hard hats are required on all job sites.
   • Warning signs will be posted to caution of existing hazards.
   • The area under the material handling areas of the roof will have a warning line installed at a distance at least as great as the height of the building and a minimum of 8 ft. on either side to prevent workers from accidentally walking into the hazard area.
   • Debris nets will be used.
   • Toe boards must be installed on all walkways and decks where workers may be below.
   • Screens will be installed between the toe board and the midrail at all locations where employees work below or if conditions warrant.
   
   
6. Describe the method for prompt, safe removal of injured workers.
7. Include where (on the job site) a copy of this plan will be posted.
8. Train and instruct all personnel in all of the above items.
   
9. Keep a record of employee training and maintain it on the job.

This article was based on "Fall Protection Work Plan Requirements" from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, 7273 Linderson Way S.W., Tumwater, WA 98501-5414, 360-902-5799, fax 360-902-5792, www.lni.wa.gov/wisha.

Photo courtesy of Miller Fall Protection, a Bacou-Dalloz company, Smithfield, R.I.