| Every year 11,000 people are killed and 200,000 | | | | intervals. |
| are injured by falls. Falls are the third leading cause | | | | Sometimes guard rails cannot be installed and |
| of work-related injures. Because of these startling | | | | when this is the case, safety-nets are common. |
| statistics, OSHA has mandated training for anyone | | | | Safety nets can be designed to catch falling |
| who works off the ground. Personal protective | | | | workers and falling tools. They should be |
| equipment is a big part of fall prevention and | | | | inspected at least every week and after a human |
| knowing when and how to use the equipment if | | | | or tool falls. Tools and other debris should be |
| critical. | | | | removed immediately from nets. |
| First of all, when working off the ground in any | | | | Sometimes, guard rails and nets are not enough |
| capacity you need the right mindset. Always think | | | | and the serious danger of falling still occurs. In |
| about safety and the safest way to accomplish | | | | these cases a "personal fall arrest system" should |
| the task at hand. Never work above the ground if | | | | be used. They are comprised of a full body |
| you are overly tired or under the influence of | | | | harness, a connecting device and an anchor point. |
| drugs or alcohol. Even working under emotional | | | | Body harnesses distribute weight evenly over the |
| stress should be avoided. You need your reflexes | | | | shoulders, buttocks and thighs. |
| and mind to be at 100% when working above the | | | | Before you use any fall protection personal |
| ground. | | | | protective equipment, make sure you have |
| While helmets, gloves and foot ware are | | | | experienced personally how the equipment works, |
| extremely important personal protective | | | | made necessary adjustments and have become |
| equipment in fall prevention and safety, complete | | | | comfortable and familiar with the equipment. This |
| fall protection must include at least one of the | | | | article is an overview and all fall protection training |
| following components: Guard Rails, Safety Nets or | | | | is required OSHA. Make sure you are current with |
| Personal Fall Arrest Systems. | | | | the guidelines. |
| Installing guard rails is an extremely effective fall | | | | Don't be one of deaths or disabilities that result |
| prevention system. When installing a guard rail it | | | | from workplace falls every year. Follow simple |
| can be temporary or permanent but the following | | | | safety procedures when working on above the |
| must be adhered to - rails must be able to | | | | ground and never take an unnecessary risk. You |
| support 200lbs, stand 39-45 inches high, include a | | | | might save a second or two, but if you are |
| mid-rail, and be inspected in regularly scheduled | | | | injured for life that second will seem foolish. |