Jobsite Safety: Effective Fall Protection Solutions
One in five workplace deaths in 2020 occurred in the construction industry, according to the US Department of Labor Statistics—and over one-third of those were due to slips or falls, most from a lower level. However, many of these accidents are preventable with proper training and the right fall protection solutions in your arsenal.
Associated Scaffolding has been a leading full-service access equipment company throughout the Southeast for over seventy-five years. From the very beginning, the mission of our family-owned business has been to make construction projects easier and safer than ever before for the teams who build our community every day. With that in mind, we provide rental services to equip those teams with scaffolding, swing stages, reshoring, trash chutes, and fencing, and sell the safety equipment they need.
Each fall protection solution serves a unique purpose on a job site: to keep crews safe. We recommend thoroughly researching all of them to find what best suits your site and project.
Your One-Stop Safety Shop
Associated Scaffolding has seven locations across the Southeast, and at each one, “Your One-Stop Safety Shop” has everything you need when preparing for a new project.
From PPE to fall protection, ladders, and other site supplies, our top-quality inventory is selected carefully to ensure it meets or exceeds OSHA requirements without breaking the bank. We believe you should never have to choose between your team’s safety and your budget, so we work closely with suppliers and customers to equip workers with the very best.
The Risk of Falls in Construction
Before we break down the best in effective fall protection solutions, let’s consider why fall equipment solutions are necessary.
As mentioned earlier, falls are one of the leading causes of injuries and fatalities in the construction industry today. Findings from the US Department of Labor Statistics reveal that nonfatal injuries and illnesses that resulted from falls and trips occurred at a rate of 31.4 per 10,000 full-time workers in 2020.
According to OSHA, falls accounted for 338 out of 1,061 construction fatalities in 2019, highlighting the urgent need for measures that enhance job site safety.
Because of numbers like these, the rules surrounding fall protection are strict. OSHA requires it at elevations of six feet and when working over dangerous equipment and machinery. A job site or employer can make this requirement even less than six feet.
Scaffolding
As you’ve probably guessed, Associated Scaffolding specializes in this particular category – though it isn’t the only one necessary for a safe workspace.
Scaffolding is a temporary structure erected to provide a stable working platform. It allows workers to access difficult-to-reach areas and perform tasks that require working at heights. By providing a secure and elevated workspace, scaffolding significantly reduces the risk of injuries and falls, while still allowing crews access to hard-to-reach areas.
Both systems scaffold and frame scaffold serve this purpose on a job site, despite their differences in construction. Systems scaffold is made up of individual steel components, which can be constructed to fit nearly anywhere for almost any purpose. Frame scaffold is made up of welded steel frames connected by cross braces to support planks and platforms.
Scaffolding as Fall Protection Solution
Secure Platform
Scaffolding offers a stable platform that reduces the chances of slips, trips, and falls. The platforms are designed to withstand the weight of workers and materials, ensuring a secure workspace.
Access
Scaffolding provides easy and safe access to elevated areas that might otherwise be difficult to reach. Workers can focus on their tasks without worrying about balancing on ladders or other unstable surfaces.
Plus, it allows for more movement and additional workspace at different heights, allowing workers to move freely and perform tasks efficiently.
Fall Prevention
Scaffolding systems can be equipped with guardrails that act as barriers to prevent falls from elevated platforms. These safety features are crucial in minimizing accidents.
Guardrails
Guardrails serve as a crucial line of defense by creating a protective barrier between workers and dangers below them. They are typically made from sturdy materials such as steel or aluminum, and are positioned along the edges of platforms, walkways, stairways, and other elevated areas.
Guardrails as Fall Protection Solutions
Fall Prevention
Guardrails provide a physical barrier at the edge of otherwise precarious platforms. They prevent workers from accidentally stepping off, or slipping off, the edge of a surface. This simple yet effective solution drastically reduces the risk of falls, especially when workers are focused on their tasks and may not be fully aware of how close they are to a fall.
Constant Protection
Unlike personal fall protection equipment that workers might forget to wear or might not be adequately trained to use, guardrails provide continuous protection.
Reduced Liability
By incorporating guardrails into construction site design and operations, employers can significantly reduce their liability in case of accidents. Adequate safety measures, such as guardrails, demonstrate a proactive approach to risk management.
Enhanced Productivity
It sounds obvious, but it can’t be overstated: Workers who feel safe and protected can focus better on their tasks, leading to improved efficiency and productivity. Guardrails create a conducive environment where employees can work confidently without constantly worrying about their safety.
Lifelines
There are two kinds of lifelines that are often used in construction: Vertical and horizontal.
Vertical lifelines allow crew members to travel up and down the entire height of the line.
Horizontal lifelines are used to help workers move along a horizontal path, such as a rooftop or other elevated platform. These systems consist of a secure anchor at each end of the lifeline and provide continuous protection to workers as they travel distances at dangerous heights. Horizontal lifelines are particularly useful when it is not feasible to have traditional vertical lifelines due to the nature of the work or the layout of the site.
Reduced Impact
In the event of a fall, lifelines ensure that the impact force on the worker’s body is minimized. This reduction in impact force can mean the difference between a serious injury and a minor one.
Improved Confidence and Focus
Workers who are equipped with reliable personal fall arrest systems or horizontal lifelines tend to feel more confident while performing tasks at heights. This increased confidence leads to better concentration, productivity, and overall job satisfaction.
Safety Harnesses
A safety harness is a piece of fall protection designed to secure a worker to an anchoring point. It is made up of straps, buckles, and connectors that distribute the force of impact across the body in the event of a fall, minimizing the risk of injury.
Safety Harnesses as Fall Protection Solutions
Reduction in Severity
If a fall does occur, a safety harness can significantly reduce the severity of injuries. By distributing the impact force across the body, the harness helps to prevent concentrated pressure on specific body parts, reducing the risk of broken bones, internal injuries, and head trauma.
Versatility
Safety harnesses come in various designs and styles to suit different work environments and tasks. Whether it’s climbing, roofing, scaffolding, or other high-risk activities, there’s a safety harness specifically designed to address those challenges.
Emergency Response
Safety harnesses can include rescue features such as additional D-rings and lanyards that allow for quick rescue and emergency response. In case a worker becomes suspended after a fall, rescue personnel can easily access them and bring them to safety.
Mobile Fall Protection Carts
Mobile fall prevention carts offer a multi-faceted approach to safety, integrating tools, equipment, and training resources to create a comprehensive safety hub that accompanies workers throughout the construction site.
Mobile Fall Protection Carts as Fall Protection Solutions
Convenient Training Resources
The carts can also be stocked with training materials such as instructional pamphlets and safety guidelines. This provides an opportunity for on-the-spot training and reminders, enhancing workers’ awareness of best safety practices.
Fall Protection Solutions at Associated Scaffolding
Looking for help on your next major building project? Need advice on what safety gear will suit your site best? Contact us today or find us at one of our locations!