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Fall Protection Equipment in the Workplace

November 2, 2021
Raghuvaran Chakkravarthy
Protecting those working at height is a great challenge in the construction industry. Given the nature of the work we do in our projects day in and out and the safety risks it presents, these environments create some of the most hazardous working conditions. For that reason, construction teams utilize fall protection systems and equipment to mitigate that risk. This equipment includes tools that help to prevent and halt any falls on construction sites, with different requirements and precautions for varying heights and situations.

Hierarchy of controls in construction

Controlling exposures to occupational hazards is the fundamental method of protecting workers. Traditionally, a hierarchy of controls has been used as a means of implementing inherently safer systems, where the risk of illness or injury has been substantially reduced, first. A summary of hierarchy of controls is as follows:

  • Elimination: Elimination of fall hazards is the first and best line of defense against falls from heights.
  • Prevention : The prevention of fall hazards is the second line of defense when we cannot eliminate fall hazards. Examples: Include use of stairs, guardrails, and barriers to prevent the employee from direct and unprotected exposure to the fall hazard.
  • Controls: Control of falls is the last line of defense. Example: Fall controls include fall protection such as safety nets or harnesses and fall arrests. These controls reduce the risk of injury resulting from a fall.
  • Prevention through Design (PtD): Gilbane utilizes the PtD concept during the design phase of projects to address and eliminate the fall challenges before starting any activities at the site. As a result, we have minimized the majority of fall protection challenges in the Gilbane projects around the globe.
  • Lean Safety: By reviewing the work sequences at every stage, Gilbane addresses the fall challenges and other safety hazards such as installing a staircase with guard rails as early as possible. This establishes the proper access to the next level for the workforce thereby eliminating most of the fall hazards for the employees who work in the area.

Categories of fall protection systems

While all fall protection gear is designed to prevent a fall from endangering the safety of a worker, the best fall protection system may vary by the project. In some situations, multiple systems of positioning and fall protection may provide the safest environment for workers. Some common fall protection systems include:

  • Fall arrest system: Fall arrest systems protect workers by mitigating the consequences of a fall. Fall arrest systems are required in many construction projects to ensure worker safety.
  • Rescue & retrieval system: Perhaps just as important as fall protection equipment is a plan to retrieve or rescue a fallen worker. The methods or systems needed to help a worker who has fallen will vary based on the situation and stage of the project and must be updated. Having a rescue and retrieval system can help to prevent suspension trauma after a fall.

Types of fall protection equipment

Fall protection equipment is not one size fits all. OSHA outlines retractable lifelines and full-body harnesses with shock-absorption are acceptable fall arrest systems, but there are a few additional fall protection options. Here are some of the different types of fall protection equipment.

Guardrails

Guardrails, are often required for fall protection at construction sites. Guardrails can help to protect workers from falls, but they can also prevent unauthorized access to the site. In general, guardrails are required when there are significant height differences between upper and lower surfaces, including steps or platforms. OSHA has strict requirements for the use of guardrails and compliance is essential to protect both workers and potential visitors.

Full body harnesses

Full body harnesses are fall protection gear that distribute the force of a fall across the body using chest, shoulder, waist and leg straps, providing the safest possible fall protection. Full body harnesses are the standard to protect workers in the case of a vertical free fall and are considered an allowable fall arrest system by OSHA. In situations where there is a risk of a significant fall, a full body harness with shock absorbers should be utilized for maximum fall protection. A pack of straps can also be included in the harness; in the case of a fall, the worker can use these straps to alleviate pressure on the legs and prolong the time to suspension trauma.

Shock absorbers

Shock absorbers have one role in fall arrest systems: absorb and therefore reduce force and shock on the individual. Shock absorbers are an essential part of protecting workers from injuries during a fall by reducing the fall arrest force. Shock-absorbing lanyards are a fall arrest system essential item.

Rope grabs

Rope grabs are a fall arrest device that are attached to both a vertical lifeline and a worker’s harness. Rope grabs are convenient because they do not get in the worker’s way but are designed to lock into place in the case of a fall. Rope grabs can be a valuable tool as part of a fall arrest system by preventing a fall.

Retractable lifelines

Retractable lifelines do not allow any slack to form on the rope of the lifeline by automatically retracting any excess rope. This protects a worker from the force of a fall, making retractable lifelines ideal for jobs or areas with a particularly high risk of fall. Retractable lifelines are especially useful if fall clearance will change throughout the day as a worker moves between floors.

Safety First

Again, elimination of fall hazards is the best protection against falls from heights. At Gilbane, maintaining the safety of our employees and trade contractors’ safety is our number one priority. At every stage of the project, Gilbane closely works with the end user addressing fall challenges and heightening the overall safety of the building, which benefits the building maintenance crew.  We care deeply about our workers, stakeholders and implement award-winning safety systems to ensure our people are safe on site. Learn more about our Site Safety Planning.



About Authors
Raghuvaran Chakkravarthy MS, GSP, PMP, PMI-RMP, CHST, STSC, GradIOSH is Gilbane's Federal Division Safety Director. He oversees all federal projects around the globe. He has a vast amount of Health & Safety and Project Management experience in vertical and horizontal construction, Fuels, and environmental projects. He also serves as the Chair for Gilbane’s APIC (Asian Professionals in Construction) ERG.  Raghuvaran holds a Master of Science (Occupational, Safety, and Health) degree from Columbia Southern University, USA. He is a member of ASSP and IOSH organizations.
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