fall protection in construction
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Published by SALUSToolbox Talk: Fall Protection in Construction
Date: [DATE] Duration: [DURATION] minutes Presenter: [PRESENTER NAME] Location: [LOCATION]
Objective
The objective of this toolbox talk is to educate participants on the importance of fall protection in construction, identify common fall hazards, and discuss effective control measures and safe work procedures to prevent falls.
Introduction
Falls are one of the leading causes of injuries and fatalities in the construction industry. Ensuring proper fall protection is crucial to safeguarding workers' lives and maintaining a safe work environment. According to OSHA, fall protection is required at elevations of six feet in the construction industry, and employers must provide a fall protection system that meets OSHA standards [1].
Presenter Note: Engage the audience by asking if anyone has personal experience related to fall incidents or near-misses.
Key Points
- Importance of Fall Protection: Fall protection systems are essential to prevent injuries and fatalities from falls, which are a major hazard in construction [2].
- Regulatory Requirements: Employers must ensure that fall protection systems are in place and that workers are trained in their use [3].
- Types of Fall Protection Systems: These include guardrail systems, safety net systems, and personal fall arrest systems [4].
- Training and Awareness: Workers must be trained to recognize fall hazards and properly use fall protection equipment [3].
- Inspection and Maintenance: Regular inspection and maintenance of fall protection equipment are necessary to ensure their effectiveness [5].
Hazard Identification
Common hazards related to falls in construction include:
- Unprotected Edges: Workers can fall from unprotected sides and edges of walking/working surfaces [4].
- Roof Work: Roofing activities on low-slope and steep roofs pose significant fall risks [2].
- Scaffolding: Improper use or setup of scaffolding can lead to falls [1].
Presenter Note: Encourage participants to share any additional hazards they've encountered.
Control Measures
Discuss the hierarchy of controls:
- Elimination: Remove the fall hazard where possible.
- Substitution: Use safer equipment or methods.
- Engineering Controls: Install guardrails or safety nets [4].
- Administrative Controls: Implement safe work practices and training [3].
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Use harnesses and lanyards as part of a personal fall arrest system [2].
Safe Work Procedures
- Conduct a hazard assessment before starting work.
- Ensure all workers are trained in fall protection systems.
- Use guardrails or safety nets where feasible.
- Inspect fall protection equipment before use.
- Follow manufacturer’s instructions for equipment use and maintenance.
Presenter Note: If possible, demonstrate the safe work procedure or use visual aids.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
- Harnesses: Must be worn when working at heights and connected to a secure anchor point [6].
- Lanyards: Should be used to connect the harness to the anchor point [2].
- Safety Nets: Installed below high work areas to catch falling workers [4].
Emphasize the importance of proper PPE use and maintenance.
Real-World Example or Case Study
Discuss a case where a worker was saved by a properly used fall arrest system, highlighting the importance of training and equipment maintenance.
Presenter Note: Ask participants if they can relate this example to their own experiences.
Group Discussion
Discuss the following questions:
- What are some common fall hazards you encounter on the job?
- How can we improve our current fall protection practices?
- What additional training or resources would help you feel safer at work?
Presenter Note: Encourage active participation and facilitate the discussion.
Emergency Procedures
Outline the steps to take in case of an emergency related to falls:
- Call for emergency medical assistance immediately.
- Do not move the injured person unless necessary.
- Administer first aid if trained to do so.
- Report the incident to a supervisor and document the details.
Questions and Answers
Encourage participants to ask questions and provide answers to common questions related to fall protection.
- Q: What should I do if I notice a fall hazard?
A: Report it immediately to your supervisor and ensure it is addressed.
- Q: How often should fall protection equipment be inspected?
A: Before each use and regularly as per the manufacturer’s guidelines.
- Q: What is the minimum height at which fall protection is required?
A: Six feet in construction settings [1].
Summary
Recap the main points covered in the toolbox talk:
- The importance of fall protection in preventing injuries and fatalities.
- Regulatory requirements for fall protection systems.
- Types of fall protection systems and their proper use.
- The necessity of training and regular equipment inspection.
Action Items
List specific actions participants should take following this toolbox talk:
- Review and understand the fall protection plan for your worksite.
- Ensure your fall protection equipment is in good condition and properly used.
- Participate in regular fall protection training sessions.
Remember: Safety is everyone's responsibility. Always use fall protection systems and report hazards immediately.
Report all hazards, near-misses, and incidents to your supervisor immediately.
Safety powered by SALUS
Sources used for this answer
[1] Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020 (Sask. Reg. 10/2020)
Page 70
Open source documentSource excerpt
## S-15.1 REG 10 ## OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY, 2020 - (3) The employer or contractor shall ensure that a copy of the fall protection plan is readily available before work begins at a worksite if a risk of falling exists. - (4) The employer or contractor shall ensure that a worker is trained in the fall protection plan and the safe use of the fall protection system before allowing the worker to work in an area where a fall protection system must be used. 31 Dec 2020 c S-15.1 Reg 10 s9-3. ## Control zone - 9-4 (1) An employer or contractor shall ensure that a control zone: - (a) is only used if a worker can fall from a level surface in a work area; and - (b) is not less than 2 metres wide when measured from the unguarded edge. - (2) When crossing a control zone mentioned in subsection (1), a worker: - (a) subject to subsection (4), is not required to use a fall protection system, other than the control zone, to enter or leave the work area; and - (b) shall follow the most direct route to get to or from the unguarded edge. - (3) An employer or contractor shall ensure that a control zone is clearly marked with an effective raised warning line or other equally effective method if a worker is working more than 2 metres from an unguarded edge. - (4) An employer or contractor shall ensure that a worker who has to work within a control zone uses: - (a) a travel restraint system; or - (b) a means that is as equally effective as a travel restraint system and that prevents the worker from getting to the unguarded edge. 31 Dec 2020 c S-15.1 Reg 10 s9-4. ## Anchor Points and Anchor Plates - 9-5 (1) If a worker uses a personal fall arrest system or a travel restraint system, an employer, contractor or owner shall ensure that an anchor point or anchor plate that meets the requirements of this section is used as part of that system. - (2) An employer, contractor or owner shall ensure that a temporary anchor point used in a travel restraint system: - (a) has an ultimate …
[2] Safety and Health Regulations for Construction (OSHA)
Page 85
Open source documentSource excerpt
## 29 CFR 1926 (OSHA) Toeboard means a low protective barrier that will prevent the fall of materials and equipment to lower levels and provide protection from falls for personnel. Unprotected sides and edges means any side or edge (except at entrances to points of access) of a walking/working surface, e.g., floor, roof, ramp, or runway where there is no wall or guardrail system at least 39 inches (1.0 m) high. Walking/working surface means any surface, whether horizontal or vertical on which an employee walks or works, including, but not limited to, floors, roofs, ramps, bridges, runways, formwork and concrete reinforcing steel but not including ladders, vehicles, or trailers, on which employees must be located in order to perform their job duties. Warning line system means a barrier erected on a roof to warn employees that they are approaching an unprotected roof side or edge, and which designates an area in which roofing work may take place without the use of guardrail, body belt, or safety net systems to protect employees in the area. Work area means that portion of a walking/working surface where job duties are being performed. [59 FR [redacted postal code], Aug. 9, 1994, as amended at 60 FR [redacted postal code], Aug. 2, 1995; 66 FR 5265, Jan. 18, 2001; 75 FR [redacted postal code], Aug. 9, 2010; 79 FR [redacted postal code], Apr. 11, 2014] ## §1926.501 Duty to have fall protection. - (a) General. (1) This section sets forth requirements for employers to provide fall protection systems. All fall protection required by this section shall conform to the criteria set forth in §1926.502 of this subpart. - (2) The employer shall determine if the walking/working surfaces on which its employees are to work have the strength and structural integrity to support employees safely. Employees shall be allowed to work on those surfaces only when the surfaces have the requisite strength and structural integrity. - (b)(1) Unprotected sides and edges. Each employee …
[3] Safety and Health Regulations for Construction (OSHA)
Page 81
Open source documentSource excerpt
## Subpart M-Fall Protection AUTHORITY: 40 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.; 29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657; Secretary of Labor's Order No. 1-90 (55 FR 9033), 6-96 (62 FR 111), 3-2000 (65 FR [redacted postal code]), 5-2007 (72 FR [redacted postal code]), or 1-2012 (77 FR 3912), as applicable; and 29 CFR Part 1911. SOURCE: 59 FR [redacted postal code], Aug. 9, 1994, unless otherwise noted. ## §1926.500 Scope, application, and definitions applicable to this subpart. - (a) Scope and application. (1) This subpart sets forth requirements and criteria for fall protection in construction workplaces covered under 29 CFR part 1926. Exception: The provisions of this subpart do not apply when employees are making an inspection, investigation, or assessment of workplace conditions prior to the actual start of construction work or after all construction work has been completed. - (2) Section 1926.501 sets forth those workplaces, conditions, operations, and circumstances for which fall protection shall be provided except as follows: - (i) Requirements relating to fall protection for employees working on scaffolds are provided in subpart L of this part. - (ii) Requirements relating to fall protection for employees working on cranes and derricks are provided in subpart CC of this part. - (iii) Fall protection requirements for employees performing steel erection work (except for towers and tanks) are provided in subpart R of this part. - (iv) Requirements relating to fall protection for employees working on certain types of equipment used in tunneling operations are provided in subpart S of this part. - (v) Requirements relating to fall protection for employees engaged in the erection of tanks and communication and broadcast towers are provided in §1926.105. - (vi) Subpart V of this part provides requirements relating to fall protection for employees working from aerial lifts or on poles, towers, or similar structures while engaged in the construction of electric transmission or distribution line…
[4] Safety and Health Regulations for Construction (OSHA)
Page 87
Open source documentSource excerpt
## 29 CFR 1926 (OSHA) - (ii) Each employee reaching more than 10 inches (25 cm) below the level of the walking/working surface on which they are working, shall be protected from falling by a guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system. NOTE: Bricklaying operations performed on scaffolds are regulated by subpart L-Scaffolds of this part. - (10) Roofing work on Low-slope roofs. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this section, each employee engaged in roofing activities on low-slope roofs, with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, or a combination of warning line system and guardrail system, warning line system and safety net system, or warning line system and personal fall arrest system, or warning line system and safety monitoring system. Or, on roofs 50-feet (15.25 m) or less in width (see appendix A to subpart M of this part), the use of a safety monitoring system alone [i.e. without the warning line system] is permitted. - (11) Steep roofs. Each employee on a steep roof with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems with toeboards, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems. - (12) Precast concrete erection. Each employee engaged in the erection of precast concrete members (including, but not limited to the erection of wall panels, columns, beams, and floor and roof 'tees') and related operations such as grouting of precast concrete members, who is 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems, unless another provision in paragraph (b) of this section provides for an alternative fall protection measure. Exception: When the employer can demonstrate that it is infeasible or creates a greater hazard to u…
[5] Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020 (Sask. Reg. 10/2020)
Page 71
Open source documentSource excerpt
- (3) An employer, contractor or owner shall ensure that a permanent anchor point used in a travel restraint system associated with any new construction project on or after the date this section comes into force: - (a) has an ultimate load capacity of at least 8.75 kilonewtons (2 000 pounds-force) per worker attached in any direction in which the load may be applied; - (b) is installed and used according to the manufacturer's specifications; and - (c) is permanently marked as being for travel restraint only. - (4) In the case of a personal fall arrest system, an employer, contractor, owner or supplier shall ensure that anchor points to which the personal fall arrest system is attached have an ultimate load capacity of at least 22.2 kilonewtons (5 000 pounds-force) per worker attached in any direction in which the load may be applied. - (5) An employer, contractor, owner or supplier shall ensure that the following types of equipment that are components of fall protection systems, and their installation, conform to the manufacturer's specifications or are certified by a professional engineer: - (a) permanent anchor points; - (b) anchors with multiple attachment points; - (c) permanent horizontal lifeline systems; - (d) support structures for safety nets. 31 Dec 2020 c S-15.1 Reg 10 s9-5. ## Elevated conveyors - 9-6 If an elevated conveyor crosses over a place where a worker may pass or work, an employer, contractor or owner shall ensure that suitable precautions are taken to prevent materials on the conveyor from falling on the worker. 31 Dec 2020 c S-15.1 Reg 10 s9-6. ## Wire mesh - 9-7 If wire mesh is required by these regulations, the wire mesh must: - (a) be made from wire that is at least 1.6 millimetres in diameter; and - (b) have a mesh size that is not greater than 40 millimetres by 40 millimetres. 31 Dec 2020 c S-15.1 Reg 10 s9-7. ## Protection against falling objects 9-8 (1) Subject to section 9-9, if a worker is re…
[6] Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020 (Sask. Reg. 10/2020)
Page 69
Open source documentSource excerpt
## OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY, 2020 - (2) An employer or contractor shall ensure that workers use a fall protection system at a temporary or permanent work area if: - (a) a worker may fall 3 metres or more; or - (b) there is a possibility of injury if a worker falls less than 3 metres. - (3) An employer or contractor shall ensure that a worker at a permanent work area is protected from falling by a guardrail or similar barrier if the worker may fall a vertical distance of more than 1.2 metres and less than 3 metres. - (4) Notwithstanding subsection (3), if the use of a guardrail or similar barrier is not reasonably practicable, an employer or contractor shall ensure that a worker uses a travel restraint system. - (5) Notwithstanding subsection (4), if the use of a travel restraint system is not reasonably practicable, an employer or contractor shall ensure that a safety net or control zone or other equally effective means that protects the worker from falling is used. - (6) Subsection (2) does not apply to competent workers who are engaged in: - (a) connecting the structural members of a skeletal steel structure or a pre-cast structure; - (b) connecting the support structure of a scaffold; - (c) stabilizing or securing the load on a truck or trailer; - (d) installing or attaching a fall protection system to the anchor point; - (e) removing or disassembling the associated parts of a fall protection system when it is no longer required; or - (f) activities within the normal course of business on a permanent loading dock that is not greater than 1.2 metres in height. 31 Dec 2020 c S-15.1 Reg 10 s9-2. ## Fall protection plan - 9-3 (1) An employer or contractor shall develop a written fall protection plan if: - (a) a worker may fall 3 metres or more; and - (b) workers are not protected by a guardrail or similar barrier. - (2) The fall protection plan required by subsection (1) must describe: - (a) the fall hazards at the worksite; - (b) the fall protect…
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