STATISTICS

Falls are the number one cause of fatalities in the

construction industry.
• Falls 33%
• Struck By 18%
• Caught In 18%
• Electrical 17%

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 STATISTICS

• 40% of fall fatalities were from heights over 40 ft.

• 25% of fall fatalities were from heights of 20-30 ft.
• 25% of fall fatalities were from heights of 11-20 ft.

Most falls occur on scaffolds or roofs.

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 Fall Hazards
A fall hazard is any condition in the construction
workplace which exposes an employee to an unprotected
fall that may result in injury or death.

1. Falls from elevation

2. Falls on the same level
3. Being struck by falling objects

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Elevated locations which require increased fall
hazard awareness

1. Falls from elevation

➢ Scaffolds
➢ Ladders
➢ Roof
➢ Excavations
➢ Bridges
➢ Form works
➢ Floor openings

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Duty to Have Fall Protection

Fall protection is required when one or more

employees have exposure to falls of six feet
or greater to the lower level.

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Appropriate Methods of Protection

Elimination
Prevention
Use of Control Equipment

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 Eliminating the fall hazard
(from elevated work-area)

Fall hazards can be eliminated

through engineering controls and/or
alternative work methods.

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 Engineering Control

Performing as much work on the ground as possible

to eliminate the hazard of climbing/working at
elevation.
Examples:
• Assembling guardrail systems at ground level
rather than at elevation.
• Maximize pre-assembly of structural
components on the ground.

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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Alternative Work Methods

Example:
Use of radio communication for
signaling instead of employees hanging
over the edge giving signals.

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 Preventing employee exposure

Fall prevention methods include:

• Use of elevated work-equipment
• Use appropriate aerial lifts
• Providing proper access to elevated work area using
standard ladders and stairs with handrails

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 Guardrail

• A vertical barrier erected to prevent employees from

falling to lower levels
• Work locations requiring guardrail protection:
▪ Elevated work platforms (such as form work)
▪ Scaffolds
▪ Openings/holes in bridge decks, floors or other
unprotected surfaces
▪ Unprotected sides of ramps/stairways/platforms

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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
Guard Rail Systems

Department of Labor and Employment

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Prevention of Falls from Floor Openings

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 Fall Restraint Systems
Travel Restraint System – is an assembly composed
of body belt and proper accessories that prevent
a worker from traveling to an edge where the
occurrence of a fall may happen.

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Fall Restraint Systems

• Use to prevent the user from reaching an area where

free-fall could occur (e.g. leading edge roof work)

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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Use of Body Belts

• Effective January 1, 1998, body belts are

prohibited as a fall arrest device. (OSHA)
• Body belts can still be used as a travel
restraining device.

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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Controlling the fall

• Least desirable method of protection because it

minimizes the consequences of a fall rather than
preventing its occurrence.
• Should only be considered after determining that
the fall hazard cannot be eliminated or the
possibility of falling prevented.
• Requires the use of personal fall protection
equipment or a safety net to prevent a complete
fall.
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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Fall Arrest System

• Purpose:
▪ Stop the fall
▪ Distribute the impact energy
experienced during the fall arrest

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Body harnesses are designed to minimize
stress forces on an employee's body in the
event of a fall, while providing sufficient
freedom of movement to allow work to be
performed.
It consists of straps passed over the
shoulders, across the chest, and around the
legs. In a fall, a full body harness protects you
more than a safety belt, because it distributes
the force of impact over a greater area of
your body.
Department of Labor and Employment
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Anchor
• A secure point of attachment, like structural members, for
lanyards, lifelines, or deceleration devices capable of
withstanding the anticipated forces applied during a fall
• Shall be located above the worker to avoid unnecessary
swing in the event of a fall

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
Non-Anchor Points

▪ Guardrails
▪ Railings
▪ Ladders
▪ Scaffoldings
▪ Ductworks/Pipe Vents
▪ Conduit/Plumbing
▪ C-Clamps
▪ Roof stacks, vents, fans

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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Horizontal Lifeline
• Consists of a fixed rail or synthetic fiber rope or wire
rope rigged between two substantial anchor points
• Allows a worker to move horizontally

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 Vertical Lifeline

An independent length of synthetic fiber or

steel wire rope attached to a point of
anchorage. It is used to guide a fall arrest
device.
It allows a worker to move vertically on an
aerial lift device.

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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Lanyard
• Flexible line of webbing or a synthetic rope used to
secure a safety belt or full body harness to a lifeline
or anchor
• Inspect the lanyard before each use

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 Shock absorber
A shock absorber slows and cushions
the fall, reducing the force of stopping
the fall.
Warning: The shock absorber may
increase the length of the lanyard
by as much as 1.2 m (4 ft)during a
fall. Allow for this extra fall distance
when you include a shock absorber
in your personal fall protection
system.
Department of Labor and Employment
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
Swing Fall Hazard

Be careful not to
tie off to an anchor in
such a way that if you
fall, you’ll swing into an
obstruction.
A swing fall can
be as harmful as falling
to the ground.

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 After A Fall

Immediately remove from service all

equipment used to arrest the fall. You cannot
use the equipment again until it’s been
inspected and approved by the manufacturer
or other approved agent, or by a professional
engineer.

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
Reminder…

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 Department of Labor and Employment
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER