Fall Protection and Requirements
By Mike Rich- Safety Services Company
Published: July 25, 2011
Summary
Excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous construction operations with cave-ins posing the greatest risk.
In addition to the possible loss of life and injury, falls are costly to employers. Liberty Mutual recently estimated that on an annual basis fall related incidents cost employers in the U.S. nearly $100 billion.
To protect against the possibility of injury and death, fall protection must be provided at 4 feet in general industry, 5 feet in maritime and 6 feet in construction. However, regardless of the fall distance, fall protection must be provided when working over dangerous equipment and machinery.
OSHA has a long list of regulations and requirements designed to protect employees and employers from the risks associated with falls.
These regulations include hazard assessments, hazard elimination, fall protection systems, training and more.
Meeting these training standards is proven to significantly reduce the possibility of fall incidents at the workplace.
In addition to the possible loss of life and injury, falls are costly to employers. Liberty Mutual recently estimated that on an annual basis fall related incidents cost employers in the U.S. nearly $100 billion.
To protect against the possibility of injury and death, fall protection must be provided at 4 feet in general industry, 5 feet in maritime and 6 feet in construction. However, regardless of the fall distance, fall protection must be provided when working over dangerous equipment and machinery.
OSHA has a long list of regulations and requirements designed to protect employees and employers from the risks associated with falls.
These regulations include hazard assessments, hazard elimination, fall protection systems, training and more.
Meeting these training standards is proven to significantly reduce the possibility of fall incidents at the workplace.
Related
- Spilling the Truth on Bloodborne Pathogen Training (July 26, 2011)
- Fall Protection and Requirements (July 25, 2011)
- Aerial Lift Hazards and Training Requirements (July 25, 2011)
Falls Cripple Employees & Companies
In the U.S. construction industry, falls are the leading cause of worker fatalities. Each year between 150 and 200 workers are killed and more than 100,000 are injured as a result of falls.
It is not a phenomenon contained to the construction industry.
Based on data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH) National Traumatic Occupational Fatalities (NTOF) Surveillance System, falls from elevations were the fourth leading cause of workplace death from 1980 through 1994 with falls from elevations accounting for 10% of all occupational fatalities during this period, an average of 540 deaths per year. [3]
In fact, the 2010 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index indicates falls were the leading cause of all workplace injuries in 2008. [2]
Across all industries the main agents for major injuries are ladders. [1]
The problem is not improving.
Liberty Mutual's index indicates that between 1998 and 2008 all fall related incidents experienced a 50.6 percent growth rate. More troubling is in this time frame most other causes of workplace injuries experienced a substantial reduction in their rate of growth. [2]
In terms of cost of fall injuries Liberty Mutual's study concludes falls account for 25.6 percent of direct costs associated with injuries, or more than $13.67 billion annually. [2] Additionally, the National Safety Council (NSC) estimates workers' compensation and medical costs associated with employee fall accidents are approximately $70 billion per year.
Loss of productivity is another side effect of falls. On average, an injured worker spends more days away from work (median: 8 days) than those who are injured as a result of other causes (median: 6 days). Most troubling, nearly 30 percent of falls result in more than 21 workdays lost.
A further cost is those of claims. Workplaces who have no fall protection policy in place open themselves to a potential lawsuit from an employee involved in a fall incident.
For example the QBE insurance group estimates the financial the costs associated with a young person who is rendered quadriplegic from a fall can run millions of dollars. As can be expected the severity of falls from height is more significant than other workplace accidents.
The group further estimates the average employer loss resulting from a fall claim to be $24,000. [1]
In the U.S. construction industry, falls are the leading cause of worker fatalities. Each year between 150 and 200 workers are killed and more than 100,000 are injured as a result of falls.
It is not a phenomenon contained to the construction industry.
Based on data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH) National Traumatic Occupational Fatalities (NTOF) Surveillance System, falls from elevations were the fourth leading cause of workplace death from 1980 through 1994 with falls from elevations accounting for 10% of all occupational fatalities during this period, an average of 540 deaths per year. [3]
In fact, the 2010 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index indicates falls were the leading cause of all workplace injuries in 2008. [2]
Across all industries the main agents for major injuries are ladders. [1]
The problem is not improving.
Liberty Mutual's index indicates that between 1998 and 2008 all fall related incidents experienced a 50.6 percent growth rate. More troubling is in this time frame most other causes of workplace injuries experienced a substantial reduction in their rate of growth. [2]
In terms of cost of fall injuries Liberty Mutual's study concludes falls account for 25.6 percent of direct costs associated with injuries, or more than $13.67 billion annually. [2] Additionally, the National Safety Council (NSC) estimates workers' compensation and medical costs associated with employee fall accidents are approximately $70 billion per year.
Loss of productivity is another side effect of falls. On average, an injured worker spends more days away from work (median: 8 days) than those who are injured as a result of other causes (median: 6 days). Most troubling, nearly 30 percent of falls result in more than 21 workdays lost.
A further cost is those of claims. Workplaces who have no fall protection policy in place open themselves to a potential lawsuit from an employee involved in a fall incident.
For example the QBE insurance group estimates the financial the costs associated with a young person who is rendered quadriplegic from a fall can run millions of dollars. As can be expected the severity of falls from height is more significant than other workplace accidents.
The group further estimates the average employer loss resulting from a fall claim to be $24,000. [1]
Regulations to Protect Your Company and Employees
OSHA recognizes accidents involving falls are complex and generally involve several factors.
To deal with the myriad of issues responsible for falls, the government organization has created a system of multilayered regulations to cover both the human and equipment-related issues in protecting workers from fall hazards.
These regulations deal with proper use and installation of safety systems, supervision, safe work procedures, maintenance and more.
Here is a look at those regulations;
• 1910.23 Guarding floor and wall openings and holes.
This standard and its subparts cover workplace walking and working surfaces. The standard states that you are to provide guardrail protection around holes and other floor openings. The floor openings may include ladder ways, open chutes and hatches.
• 1926.500 Fall Protection Requirements in Construction Workplaces
These regulations and subparts define requirements and criteria for fall protection in construction workplaces. The section identifies those workplaces, conditions, operations, and circumstances for which fall protection shall be provided and the type of equipment that must be provided.
• 1926.501 Duty to Provide Fall Protection
This regulation sets forth requirements for employers to provide fall protection systems. Individual employers are required to determine if the walking/working surfaces on which its employees are to work have the strength and structural integrity to support employees safely.
1926.502 Fall Protection Systems Criteria and Practices
This regulation and its subparts requires employers to provide for all employees any and all fall protection systems. The regulation also requires the employer installs all fall protection systems before any employee begins the work that necessitates the fall protection.
Specific subparts of the regulation cover the following types of fall equipment and fall protection tools:
• Permanent guard rail and portable guardrail systems
• Safety netting and safety net systems
• Personal fall arrest systems
These regulations also define and give performance criteria for Personal Protective Equipment as part of a fall arrest system.
• 1926.503 Fall Protection Training Program
This regulation details the requirements you must provide in a training program for employees exposed to fall hazards. The training program must teach employees to recognize the hazards of falling and shall train each employee in the procedures to be followed in order to minimize these hazards. The employer is required train each employee in the following areas:
• Fall hazards in the work area.
• Procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling, and inspecting the fall protection systems to be used.
• Use and operation of guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems, safety net systems, warning line systems, safety monitoring systems, controlled access zones, and any other fall protection that employee will use.
To deal with the myriad of issues responsible for falls, the government organization has created a system of multilayered regulations to cover both the human and equipment-related issues in protecting workers from fall hazards.
These regulations deal with proper use and installation of safety systems, supervision, safe work procedures, maintenance and more.
Here is a look at those regulations;
• 1910.23 Guarding floor and wall openings and holes.
This standard and its subparts cover workplace walking and working surfaces. The standard states that you are to provide guardrail protection around holes and other floor openings. The floor openings may include ladder ways, open chutes and hatches.
• 1926.500 Fall Protection Requirements in Construction Workplaces
These regulations and subparts define requirements and criteria for fall protection in construction workplaces. The section identifies those workplaces, conditions, operations, and circumstances for which fall protection shall be provided and the type of equipment that must be provided.
• 1926.501 Duty to Provide Fall Protection
This regulation sets forth requirements for employers to provide fall protection systems. Individual employers are required to determine if the walking/working surfaces on which its employees are to work have the strength and structural integrity to support employees safely.
1926.502 Fall Protection Systems Criteria and Practices
This regulation and its subparts requires employers to provide for all employees any and all fall protection systems. The regulation also requires the employer installs all fall protection systems before any employee begins the work that necessitates the fall protection.
Specific subparts of the regulation cover the following types of fall equipment and fall protection tools:
• Permanent guard rail and portable guardrail systems
• Safety netting and safety net systems
• Personal fall arrest systems
These regulations also define and give performance criteria for Personal Protective Equipment as part of a fall arrest system.
• 1926.503 Fall Protection Training Program
This regulation details the requirements you must provide in a training program for employees exposed to fall hazards. The training program must teach employees to recognize the hazards of falling and shall train each employee in the procedures to be followed in order to minimize these hazards. The employer is required train each employee in the following areas:
• Fall hazards in the work area.
• Procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling, and inspecting the fall protection systems to be used.
• Use and operation of guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems, safety net systems, warning line systems, safety monitoring systems, controlled access zones, and any other fall protection that employee will use.
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