| The Australian construction industry has one of | | | | becoming increasingly used, but given the |
| the best OSHA fall protection ratings, and this can | | | | relatively high cost of such devices, they will not |
| be easily shown by a recent american | | | | come into common usage for a number of years. |
| government ruling that decided to alter regulations | | | | Any OSHA fall protection considerations should be |
| in line with ours. As we build higher and higher, | | | | sure to encompass more general aspects of |
| OSHA fall protection is getting increasingly | | | | construction safety such as the proper |
| important. | | | | supervision of construction workers, the |
| Obviously the most standard piece of OSHA fall | | | | implementation of safe work procedures and |
| protection apparatus is the good, old fashioned | | | | maintenance of the selected OSHA Fall Protection |
| construction safety netting. Much like a trapeze | | | | system. |
| net in a circus, this catches anything that falls | | | | OSHA fall protection should also encompass |
| from a height. There are a number of regulations | | | | maintenance. The fitting of any safety devices |
| regarding this, not least of which is the testing and | | | | and the appropriate training of workers is not the |
| evaluation of the construction. Nets must extend | | | | basic requirement. Frequent checks should be |
| outwards in relation to how high they are being | | | | made as well as after anything which could have |
| built, and should be able to withstand considerably | | | | an effect on harness, netting or screening |
| more than your weight. The most effective test | | | | effectiveness. This could be something as |
| is dropping a sandbag from the greatest height, | | | | innocuous as a rain shower, of period of inactivity |
| and watching the results. | | | | on site. You don't have to make these checks |
| It might be that safety netting is not appropriate. | | | | exhaustive, although they should be properly |
| This means that OSHA fall protection guidelines | | | | documented to avoid misunderstanding. |
| move into the area of safety harnessing. This | | | | The need to establish when and where these fall |
| height is deemed to be around 6 foot. Simply | | | | hazard systems should be placed is an absolutely |
| using safety apparatus doesn't ensure safety. It | | | | vital one, and courses are available to enable you |
| has to be tested at some point. Also, obstructions | | | | to more accurately establish the needs of any |
| can impede the fall of a person, and these need | | | | given situation. Our industry poses a significant |
| to be taken into consideration, simply by nature | | | | threat from fall safety. The fewer incidents we |
| of the physics involved in wearing a harness. | | | | have, the better. OSHA fall protection is a huge |
| The relatively new technology of safety screens | | | | part of this. Ensure you are considering it |
| rather than safety netting is one which is | | | | correctly. |