Fall

Protection
Types of falls
 Falls from same level
• Slips
• Trips
• High frequency rate
• Low injury severity
rate

1a
Types of falls
 Falls from an elevation
• Relatively low frequency rate
• High injury
severity rate

 Specific potential
fall hazards

1b
Common fall protection
systems
 Guardrail systems and
toeboards

 Handrail and stair

rail systems

 Designated areas

2a
Common fall protection
systems
 Hole covers

 Safety net systems

 Ladder cages

2b
Common fall protection
systems
 Ramps and bridging devices

 Slip-resistant
floors

 Effective
housekeeping

2c
What happens during a
fall?
 Person loses his/her balance

 Body unintentionally moves

from an upright
position to a prone,
or semi-prone
position

3a
What happens during a
fall?
 Free-fall velocity at impact
when falling 12 feet is nearly 20
M.P.H.

 Person hits the ground in less

than one second from this
distance

3b
Why falls are dangerous
Falls are dangerous because of
three primary elements:
 The free-fall distance the
worker falls

 The shock absorption at impact

 The body weight of the worker

4a
Free-fall distance
 The uncontrolled length of travel
before a worker hits the floor,
ground, or before fall arrest
equipment activates

 Measured from the foot level

before the fall, to the foot level
after the fall
5a
Free-fall distance
 Free-fall distance should be
limited to a few feet so as to
prevent injury from:
• collisions with grade level
• collisions with obstructions near
the work site
• pendulum-like swings that result in
collision with objects

5b
Shock absorption at
impact
 Varies according to the types of
fall protection equipment used

 Shock-absorbing
lanyards reduce
the probability
of injury

6a
Body weight of the
worker
 Falls have more severe impact
on heavy workers
 “The bigger they are, the harder
they fall.”
 Heavy workers may have larger
waistlines, preventing fall arrest
equipment from fitting properly

7a
Fall arrest systems
 Used when engineering controls
are not feasible or sufficient to
eliminate the
risk of a fall

 Fall arrest
systems should
match the
work situation
8a
Fall arrest systems
 Fall arrest systems should:
• prevent a worker from falling more
than 6 feet
• prevent a worker
from contacting
any lower level
during arrest of
a fall

8b
Fall arrest systems
 Fall arrest systems should:
• limit the maximum arresting force
on an employee to 1800 pounds
when a worker uses a body
harness
• bring a worker to a complete stop
• limit the deceleration distance a
worker travels to 3 1/2 feet

8c
Fall arrest systems
 Fall arrest systems should:
• have sufficient strength to
withstand twice the potential
energy impact of a worker falling a
distance of 6 feet - or-
• have sufficient strength to
withstand the free-fall distance
permitted by the system, whichever
is less

8d
Personal fall protection
 Personal fall arrest systems
 Positioning device
system
 Personal fall
protection system
for climbing
activities
9a
Training
 Equipment inspection

 Application limits

 Methods of use

 Donning, doffing,
adjusting equipment

10a
Training
 Anchoring and tie-off techniques

 Emergency rescue plans and

implementation

 Maintenance procedures

 Storage techniques

10b
Vendor/Supplier
information
Comprehensive instructions for
fall arrest system use and
application, provided by the
supplier, should consist of:

11a
Vendor/Supplier
information
 The force measured during the
sample force test

 Maximum elongation measured

for lanyards during the
force test

11b
Vendor/Supplier
information
 Deceleration distance for
deceleration devices measured
during the force test

 Caution statements
on critical-use
limitations

11c
Vendor/Supplier
information
 Application limits

 Proper hook-ups

11d
Vendor/Supplier
information
 Anchoring tie-off techniques

 Proper climbing techniques

11e
Vendor/Supplier
information
 Methods of inspection, use,
cleaning, storage

 Lifelines

11f
Reporting fall hazards
 Employees will not experience
repercussions from reporting
hazards
 Employees should
report unsafe
equipment,
conditions,
procedures
12a
Reporting fall hazards
 Equipment repair receives top
priority

 Under no circumstances
will defective
equipment be used

12b
Reporting fall hazards
 When fall conditions exist:
• Take short steps
• Keep toes pointed out
• Walk on the whole foot when
crossing rough or slippery surfaces
• Avoid making sharp turns
• If you fall, protect your head and
neck

12c
Reporting fall hazards
 Disciplinary actions for failure
to use equipment

12d
Housekeeping
 Effective housekeeping
prevents falls
 Keep high work areas
free from:
• Tools
• Materials
• Debris
• Liquids

13a