Fall Protection Equipment And Construction Safety

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls are the leading cause of death in the construction sector, responsible for 37.9 percent of total fatalities.
For this reason, fall prevention equipment and construction safety go hand in hand in preventing fatalities. Contractors and associated businesses need to put systems in place that can prevent injury from occurring.

Types Of Fall Prevention Equipment

There are multiple types of fall protection equipment and systems used in the construction industry. In this section, we discuss each in turn.

Air Bags

Airbags are perhaps the most effective fall-prevention equipment on the market right now. These are essentially giant airbags that sit underneath areas where falls are likely and can accommodate multiple, simultaneous falls. They are a superior solution to traditional foam blocks which can shift and separate over time.

Guard Rails

Guardrails are cost-effective, easy to install, and don’t require any specialist training to use. You can set them up permanently or temporarily, anywhere on your site.

Safety Gates

Safety gates are devices designed to prevent falls through various openings, such as platforms or holes in the floor.
In 2019, OSHA made safety gates a requirement. Single bars or chains are no longer compliant.

Safety Nets

Safety nets catch workers who fall from ledges, scaffolding, or platforms. According to the OSHA, firms should only use them when:

• Workplaces are less than 25 feet above the ground
• Other safety equipment, such as safety lines, temporary floors, and catch platforms, are impractical

Toeboards

Toeboards are devices that prevent dropped tools or other materials from striking workers below. They should be:

• At least 3.5 inches tall
• Capable of withstanding a force of 50 pounds

Frequently Asked Questions

Rope Grab Systems

Rope grab systems prevent workers wearing full-body harnesses from falling. Systems connect to an anchorage point and grip tightly on detection of a fall, preventing the fall from occurring.

Rigid Line Fall Arrest Systems

A rigid line fall arrest system uses a line connected to an anchor trolley that runs along an overhead track. As the worker moves horizontally, so does the line, preventing them from falling.

Flexible Line Fall Arrest Systems

Flexible line fall arrest systems work in the same way as their rigid counterparts but are usually set up temporarily. These systems can be taken down and set up on new sites, while rigid systems remain in place.

Personnel Riding Systems

Personnel riding systems, also called suspension riding systems, are useful for workers who need to operate on the outside of buildings. Operatives can raise or lower these devices to help workers get into the correct position.

Work Positioning Lanyards

Similar to personnel riding systems, work positioning lanyards hold workers in an elevated position under tension. Applications commonly include sloped roofs, tree surgery and work or street lighting.

Fall Restraints

Fall restraints refer to any device that prevents users from getting into a situation where a fall might begin. In most cases, construction companies erect guardrails and other physical barriers, as discussed above.
These restraints prevent workers from falling from, say, a balcony or the top of a building.

Fall Arrest Systems

Fall arrest systems comprise an anchorage, a harness, and a line connecting the two. Construction workers operating at height without fall restraints should always wear a fall arrest system.

Conclusion

There are many types of fall prevention equipment on the market and they are all necessary to prevent deadly accidents.
For more information on fall equipment and professional advice, get in touch with us today.