Whether you operate at a height frequently or infrequently, working safely should always come first. A single error can turn a routine task into a fatality or life-threatening injury. You must be ready to protect your employees whenever they might be exposed to a fall hazard. So, we must follow the appropriate fall prevention advice.
Working at a height is any occupation where there is a potential that a worker could trip and injure oneself. One can use a ladder, a roof ledge, a floor aperture, or even a loading dock when working at heights. Here are some safety measures to help lessen the risks associated with working at heights.
When required, use railings to support yourself
Guardrails are the most straightforward technique to safeguard workers who are at a height. Railings provide passive security. Since passive protection works without requiring workers to take any action, it doesn’t require training or additional equipment. It is the most straightforward approach to adhere to height safety regulations and safeguard employees. Although railing systems exist in various forms and aesthetics, they always have the same function: to keep persons on your roof safe. While some railings are attached to your building’s parapets, others are non-penetrating. Whichever option you select, you can be sure that these safety measures will be helpful for many years to come once installed.
Select the proper PPE
You must understand how to select the appropriate equipment for your job if you use personal fall-prevention measures. Understanding the various characteristics that a personal fall arrest system might have is crucial when making your selection. Any consumer who has used a full-body harness in the past should feel good purchasing another, as all full-body harnesses that adhere to safety specifications will perform identically. The price difference is only sometimes caused by additional features; you gain or lose capability as you move up the ladder. Therefore, please get the greatest PPE on the market.
Make sure you comprehend the fall distance
All the fall protection gear in the world will only help if it activates before you collide with something. You’d be shocked at how simple it is to get this portion wrong, even though this may seem like a “common sense” statement. It is common to see a worker 10 to 12 feet from the ground wearing a 6′ lanyard with a deceleration device when visiting a construction site or observing a maintenance staff at a facility. Although it might seem like it should work at first, there are many reasons it won’t.
To use your deceleration device, you must first add 3.5′ to the distance. Already, the lanyard’s equivalent drop height is 9.5 feet. This is terrible news unless you are 6 inches tall. Your actual fall distance must consider your body length below the D-ring, any sag in your harness and anchor system, and the size of your lanyard when deployed.
Choose a Reliable Anchor Point
You may have realized by now that numerous aspects, particularly PPE, play a role in fall safety. What use are a properly configured harness and lanyard if the anchor point can’t support the load? There is no response.
What qualifies as a good anchor point? It’s not made of PVC. It’s not even a piece of steel art on the roof. A site of anchorage is only appropriate if a professional engineer has calculated the projected loads designed and approved or if it can support a load of 5,000 pounds.
Take Extra Care on Weak or Slippery Surfaces
Always ensure the surfaces your employees will be working on are strong and won’t collapse under the weight of someone standing on them. Workers may still suffer injuries even when using PFASs if their platform falls beneath their weight. Before work can proceed, the current working platform must be replaced if it is unstable. Additionally, slippery areas on elevated platforms or scaffolding must be considered to avoid any mishappening.
Accidents Happen
Unfortunately, no amount of PPE or safety measures can guarantee that accidents won’t happen; all we can do is plan for them and be as prepared as possible. Make sure you understand the ramifications of falls to plan accordingly and have emergency plans ready should something unexpected occur. Make sure your workers understand and abide by these policies at all times in order to avoid potential accidents. Consult a workers’ comp attorney if necessary in order to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and use common sense when it comes to fall protection, ensuring adequate safety measures are in place and taking the steps to safeguard employees so they return home safe at the end of each day.
Wrapping up
Every organization that employs tower climbers should carry out training as a crucial component of the employee lifecycle. Employees must be equipped with the knowledge they need to comprehend the safety procedures and perform their jobs safely. Although falls at work are a significant reason for death, they affect everyone, not just employees. According to safety experts, there is no particular thing as a “safe” fall, and all accidents may be avoided. Educating oneself will help you prevent harm and save lives. Working staff should know how to use the safety types of equipment wisely and efficiently.
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