This week holds significant importance as it is not only Construction Safety Week but also OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down Week. This year’s stand-down is focused on the crucial topic of fall prevention in construction.
In 2020, there were 251 fatal falls, all were preventable by taking the proper actions. Falls can happen in any number of ways:
- Off ladders
- From a roof
- From scaffolding
- Down a set of stairs
- From structural supports
- Openings in floors/roofs
- Unprotected work zone edges
- Work platforms.
- Excavations
- Slippery surfaces
- Mobile elevated work platforms (MEWP)
- Or through fragile surfaces
Fall prevention is important for everyone, not just the Danella teams. Learn to identify fall risks and prevent injury for yourself and your loved ones by taking proper safety measures. To prevent falls, think about taking the “most effective” action first and leaving the “last line of protection” for last. If you are working more than 6 feet off the ground, use fall protection. The most effective action includes but is not limited to:
- Making a fall prevention plan
- Have the right equipment and training to use the equipment; this may include fall arrest systems, tie-offs, and anchorage points
- Ensuring proper rating for all equipment
- Inspect all harnessing, lanyards and anchorage points before use
OSHA reminds everyone to plan ahead, provide the right equipment, and train everyone when it comes to fall prevention. Read OSHA’s Fall Protection in Construction publication, which walks through the intricacies of preventing falls; click here to read.
Always review your fall protection plan when working in zones and keep communication open. Communicating risks is one of the best ways to stop an accident from happening.
Check out a past article on fall prevention by Danella’s Safety team here.