Falls are the second leading cause of occupational fatalities and disabling injuries in the United States. Each year, over 500 workers die in fall-related accidents and over 300,000 workers suffer a disabling injury. Fall protection is defined as any means or system used to protect employees from falling from an elevated walking/working surface. Fall protection involves the elimination, prevention, and control of fall hazards.
Fall Protection Equipment:
Fall protection equipment is broadly divided into two categories. The first category is fall prevention equipment. Guardrails and coverings at floor openings and safety-interlock gates on elevated platforms are designed to prevent falls. A body harness worn by the worker can also be used to tether him/her to an area away from the fall hazards. The second category is fall arrest equipment, which is designed to save the worker if he/she falls. He/she may wear personal protective equipment consisting of a body harness and lanyard attached to a lifeline or an anchor point. Another option is to have a net slung below the work area to protect the worker.
Fall Restraint:
Fall restraint includes such items as a guardrail or parapet wall. It can also consist of a personal fall restraint system, which keeps you from reaching an unprotected “fall” point. Guardrails (on scaffolds, aerial lifts, and on the perimeter of buildings) are a fall restraint type of fall protection.
Fall Arrest:
One type of appropriate fall protection equipment is the personal fall arrest system. The entire personal fall arrest system must be capable of withstanding the tremendous impact forces involved in a fall. A person without protection free falls 4 feet in ½ second and 16 feet in 1 second! A personal fall arrest system includes a full body harness, a shock absorbing lanyard or a rope grab and vertical lifeline, and a sound anchorage able to support a load of 5000 pounds.
CHANCE TAKERS…ARE ACCIDENT MAKERS!!
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