Fall Prevention
Fall prevention can actually be split into two sub-categories that do essentially the same thing.
- Fall guarding
- Fall restraint
Fall Guarding
Fall guarding is stopping the falling from even happening, typically with a barrier. For instance, a guard rail.
Sometimes, there’s just not an option for this solution, especially during construction, when you have a leading edge that’s being worked on.
Ironically, your employees may even be installing a guard rail when they slip and fall off the as-yet unprotected ledge.
Fall Restraint
Fall restraint involves personal fall protection equipment that keeps you attached to something at the height at which you’re working. For instance, a full body harness attached to a self retracting lifeline.
This is typically also what is referred to when someone says “personal fall protection,” because the chosen fall protection product doesn’t apply broadly for all workers, just to one at a time.
This can leave a huge gap. Because each employee is personally responsible for adhering to the fall protection safety procedure, for example, of putting on the harness. While the self retracting nature of some fall protection safety equipment is a nice feature, it doesn’t matter if you don’t connect it properly.
Why a Full Body Harness Isn’t Good Enough
There’s a simple but fatal Achilles Heel to a full body harness. It has to be worn, and it has to be attached to something. In other words, it depends on 100% adherence and 0% human error.
This is simply an unrealistic scenario. Mistakes happen, and just one mistake can lead to a costly, fatal outcome. That’s why we suggest a belt-and-suspenders approach.
