The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Department Labor are investigating on yet another fall-related construction site fatality. Just last week, a man in Chicago died of serious injuries after falling through a roof hole.

The man was identified as Manuel Villagomez, 47, an employee of the Mathews Roofing Co. He was working on the Feldco Co. building on Oakton Avenue when he fell headfirst from the top of the structure. He was then rushed to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital where he was pronounced dead due to serious injuries.

Types of Fall Protection

There’s no better way to avoid falls than by eliminating and controlling fall hazards in the workplace. You can do this with the use of fall protection equipment or devices.
There are basically two types of fall protection. With a combination of both, you can ensure a safer environment for employees who are exposed to fall hazards.

Photo by manuere

One type of fall protection is the fall restraint. Fall restraint systems consist of equipment that prevent a free fall. Examples of these are guardrails/standard railings, full body harness, and warning lines.

The other type is the fall arrest. Fall arrest systems help by stopping a fall in progress or saving an employee in the middle of a fall. Example of this is the use of safety nets.

Finding Fall Hazards

So how do you know if a hole or opening poses a fall hazard?

Here are the main types of roof/wall/floor openings you must be wary of:

• A roof or floor opening that measures 12 or more inches in its least dimension

• A floor hole that measures more than an inch and less than 12 inches in its least dimension

• A wall opening with a height of 30 or more inches and a width of at least 18 inches
• A wall hole that measures more than 1 inch, less than 30 inches in height and is unrestricted in width

• Chutes or openings into which your dump debris
• Hoist openings constructed as either personnel and/or personnel elevators or personnel hoists

• An open-sided floor or platform that are constructed 4 feet or more above the adjacent ground level.

Guardrails and Coverings

One good way to control fall hazards with roof openings is surrounding or covering them with guardrails. This is especially true for openings or holes that are 4 feet or more in depth. Make sure guardrails can support at least 200 lbs. of load.
You can also secure openings or holes with coverings using hinges or cleats. Just remember to mark such coverings with signs like “cover”, “hole” or something more accurate like “Roof Hole Cover- Do Not Remove”. This way, employees are warned about the presence of fall hazards in the work area. Like guardrails, coverings must be able to support 200 lbs. or more of load or twice the weigh of load that you may place on them.

Related Links:
Better Fall Protection in Your Workplace: News and Safety Tips

Emergency Response Plan for Fall-Related Emergencies

Top 10 OSHA Fines for Small Companies

Disregarding Safety Will Cost You Twice

2 Window Washers Die in New York City