2. FTS PLAN A-TEAM (NOT EXPENDABLE)
OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES AND FATALITIES DUE TO FALLS ARE A PROFOUND CONCERN WITHIN U.S. INDUSTRIES WORKING AT
HEIGHT IN FACT, THE NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL RESEARCH AGENDA (NORA) HAS MADE REDUCING THE IMPACT OF FALLS THEIR
STRATEGIC GOAL #2 ON THE NATIONAL MANUFACTURING AGENDA (U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL, 2010). THAT’S WHY
FALL PROTECTION IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF SAFETY FOR WORKING AT HEIGHTS.
4. AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION………..
AN APPRENTICE CARPENTER WAS SEVERELY INJURED WHEN HE FELL THROUGH A STAIRWELL OPENING AND LANDED ON
THE CONCRETE FLOOR 37 FEET BELOW. IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, A ROOFER UNHOOKED HIS LANYARD FROM THE LIFELINE
AND THEN SLIPPED ON FROST, FALLING TO HIS DEATH, 53 FEET BELOW.
EVERY YEAR WORKERS DIE OR ARE INJURED AS A RESULT OF FALLING FROM LADDERS, SCAFFOLDS, ROOFS OR OTHER
ELEVATIONS. FALLING IS A RISK FACED BY CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, PAINTERS, SOLAR PANEL INSTALLERS, WINDOW
WASHERS, FIREFIGHTERS, LIVE PERFORMANCE WORKERS, AND OTHERS WHO WORK AT HEIGHTS. IDEALLY IT WOULD BE
SAFEST TO ELIMINATE THE RISK ALL TOGETHER BY ELIMINATING THE NEED TO WORK AT HEIGHTS, HOWEVER IN MANY
OCCUPATIONS SUCH AS CONSTRUCTION AND OTHER TRADES, THIS IS NOT PRACTICAL, AND WORKING AT HEIGHTS IS A
PART OF THE JOB.
THERE ARE HOWEVER, STEPS THAT EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS CAN TAKE TO MINIMIZE THE RISK, AND HELP PREVENT
FALLS AND THE INJURIES THAT GO ALONG WITH THEM.
5. A POUND OF THE CURE.RISK ASSESSMENT
ANY WORK AT HEIGHTS SHOULD BE PROPERLY PLANNED, SUPERVISED, AND NOT CARRIED OUT IN DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS. CONDUCT A RISK
ASSESSMENT TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS ANY HAZARDS RELATED TO THE WORK TO BE PERFORMED. THIS INFORMATION CAN HELP YOU SELECT THE RIGHT
EQUIPMENT FOR THE JOB, AND TAKE ADEQUATE CONTROL MEASURES AND PRECAUTIONS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF WORKERS AND OTHERS.
FALL PROTECTION PLAN
LAWS VARY BY JURISDICTION, HOWEVER MOST REQUIRE EMPLOYERS TO DEVELOP A WRITTEN, SITE-SPECIFIC FALL PROTECTION PLAN WHEN EMPLOYEES
ARE WORKING OVER A CERTAIN VERTICAL HEIGHT (ANYWHERE FROM 3-7.5 METRES (10-25 FEET)) AND ARE NOT PROTECTED BY PERMANENT
GUARDRAILS,. BE SURE TO CHECK THE APPLICABLE LEGISLATION FOR YOUR JURISDICTION. THE PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE THE FALL HAZARDS AND FALL
PROTECTION SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN PLACE IN EACH AREA, AND THE PROCEDURES FOR USING, MAINTAINING, FITTING AND INSPECTING FALL PROTECTION
EQUIPMENT. THE PLAN SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE PROCEDURES FOR RESCUING A WORKER WHO HAS FALLEN, AND IS SUSPENDED BY A PERSONAL FALL
PROTECTION SYSTEM OR SAFETY NET.
TRAINING AND SUPERVISION
PEOPLE WORKING AT HEIGHTS MUST BE TRAINED IN PRACTICAL FALL PREVENTION AND FALL ARREST TECHNIQUES. WHENEVER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT IS USED, THE EMPLOYER MUST ENSURE THAT WORKERS KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY SELECT, FIT, USE, INSPECT, AND MAINTAIN THE GEAR THEY
WILL BE USING. THE EMPLOYER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING APPROPRIATE TRAINING, AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT THAT COMPLIES WITH SAFETY
STANDARDS, AND ENSURING THAT WORKERS USE THE FALL PROTECTION SYSTEM PROVIDED AT ALL TIMES.
6.
7.
8. FALL PROTECTION
IF YOU ARE AT RISK FOR FALLING THREE METERS (TEN FEET) OR MORE, YOU SHOULD USE THE APPROPRIATE FALL PROTECTION SYSTEM WHEN
WORKING. THERE ARE VARIOUS FALL PROTECTION METHODS AND DEVICES TO PROTECT WORKERS WHO ARE AT RISK OF FALLING. EACH HAS
THEIR APPROPRIATE USES; DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION, USE ONE OR MORE OF THESE FALL PROTECTION METHODS:
GUARDRAILS SHOULD BE INSTALLED AT THE EDGES OF CONSTRUCTION SITES, ROOFS, AND SCAFFOLDINGS WHENEVER POSSIBLE TO PREVENT
FALLS. STANDARDS FOR GUARDRAILS DIMENSIONS MAY VARY FROM PROVINCE TO PROVINCE.
FALL RESTRAINT SYSTEMS SUCH AS WORK POSITIONING DEVICES THAT PREVENT WORKERS FROM TRAVELLING TO THE EDGE OF THE BUILDING
OR STRUCTURE MUST BE PROVIDED IF THE USE OF GUARDRAILS ISN'T PRACTICABLE.
FALL ARREST SYSTEMS (FULL BODY HARNESSES AND SAFETY NETS) ARE USED TO STOP WORKERS IN MID-FALL TO PREVENT THEM FROM
HITTING THE SURFACE BELOW. FULL BODY SAFETY HARNESSES ATTACHED TO SECURED LANYARDS ARE WIDELY USED, HOWEVER TO BE
EFFECTIVE, THEY MUST BE FITTED PROPERLY TO EACH WORKER. ALTHOUGH A POORLY FITTING HARNESS WILL STOP A FALL, IT CAN INJURE THE
WORKER WHO IS DANGLING IN MID-AIR IF THE STRAPS AND METAL SUPPORTS ARE NOT CONTOURED TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S SHAPE.
THE LANYARD, OR LINE THAT STOPS THE FALL, AND THE ANCHOR POINT FOR THE LANYARD ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE HARNESS. ANCHOR
POINTS MUST BE CAREFULLY PLANNED, USUALLY IN CONSULTATION WITH AN ENGINEER, AND THE LENGTH OF THE LANYARD MUST ALLOW FOR
THE STRETCH IN THE MATERIAL RESULTING FROM THE FALL. MANUFACTURERS CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION TO HELP YOU CHOOSE THE CORRECT
LENGTH AND AVOID CONTACT WITH THE GROUND OR OTHER OBJECTS.
SAFETY NETTING CAN BE USED EFFECTIVELY IN CONSTRUCTION OF INDUSTRIAL FRAMED BUILDINGS. TRAINED PERSONNEL ARE REQUIRED TO
INSTALL, DISMANTLE AND INSPECT THE NETTING, AND NO WORKER SHOULD WORK ABOVE NETS WITHOUT PROPER TRAINING.
11. CLINTON FORSYTH WITH THE REST OF THE STORY……..
USING FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT IS ONLY HALF OF THE ANSWER TO KEEPING WORKERS SAFE AT HEIGHTS. IF NOT RESCUED QUICKLY FOLLOWING A
FALL, A WORKER HANGING FROM HIS HARNESS FACES SUSPENSION TRAUMA, WHICH CAN BE LIFE THREATENING – AND IN ONLY A MATTER OF MINUTES.
MANY SITUATIONS MIGHT ARISE WHERE RESCUE WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR WORKERS AT HEIGHTS. HERE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES:
•SLIPPING ON A PLATFORM OR LADDER
•AERIAL LIFT MALFUNCTION
•HEAT EXHAUSTION
•CRAMPING
•NAUSEA
•DIABETIC REACTIONS
•ELECTRICAL SHOCK
•BEE STINGS CAUSING ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK
FALLS ARE ONE OF THE MOST COMMON ACCIDENTS IN THE WORKPLACE, SO GETTING AN INJURED WORKER OUT OF FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT AND
DOWN TO THE GROUND IS IMPERATIVE.
12. SUSPENSION TRAUMA ( A CONSTRICTOR KILLER)
Suspension trauma is a real and serious concern – and it can happen in minutes. Research shows
that suspension in a fall arrest device can result in unconsciousness, followed by death, in less
than 30 minutes.
That is likely why OSHA requires that employers provide for “prompt rescue of employees in the
event of a fall or shall assure that employees are able to rescue themselves” (Occupational Safety
and Health Administration, 2004). This raises the importance for business to provide rescue
equipment and fall rescue plans for employees working at height, above and beyond fall
protection.
14. FTS RESCUE MOTTO
OSHA ALSO REQUIRES PROMPT RESCUE. OHSA 1910.66 SUBPART F SECTION 1 (E) 8 STATES, THE EMPLOYER SHALL
PROVIDE FOR PROMPT RESCUE OF EMPLOYEES IN THE EVENT OF A FALL OR SHALL ASSURE THE SELF-RESCUE OF
CAPABILITY EMPLOYEES.” OHSA 1926.502 (D) (20) READS SIMILARLY. WITHIN ANSI Z359.2, THE RECOMMENDED
CONTACT TIME, DEFINES AS COMMUNICATION OR PHYSICAL CONTACT, IS LESS THAN 6 MINUTES, BUT IT GIVES LEEWAY
ON THE DEFINITION OF “PROMPT RESCUE” AS DEPENDENT ON THE SITUATION. MOST CONSULTANTS RECOMMEND FULL
RESCUE WITHIN 5 MINUTES, AND NO LONGER THAN 15 MINUTES.
