Know the Difference Between Active Vs Passive Fall Protection

Protecting workers from injuries occurred while working at heights is one of the most difficult challenges in safety. According to research, employees falling accounts for the most number of fatal construction injuries. To prevent such injuries in the workplace, identifying all the hazards and putting a fall protection system is a good place to start. 

There are two different types of fall protection that can be implemented to meet OSHA requirements: passive fall protection or active fall protection, But, how you should decide the best system to prevent any mishap at the job site?

Let's first understand the difference between passive and active fall protection to help you determine the best fall protection solution to minimize the risks.

Passive Fall Protection Systems

A passive fall protection system, as the name suggests, does not require persons to be proactive in protecting themselves from a fall situation and in essence static, fixed, or unmoving. The fall protection equipment or plan is put in place before the exposed workers are allowed to perform their tasks to avert any fatal injuries or damages if the worker falls.

This type of solution is preferable for eliminating fall hazards and preventing a potentially severe fall. But before deciding to install such a solution, one should meticulously examine whether it is adequate for the location and can protect the user for severe injuries as intended.

Passive systems are most appropriate in architectural designs and working environments where fall hazards cannot be solved through engineering controls. 

Equipment used in passive fall protection system:

●       Guardrails

●       Safety Nets

●       Safety Monitors

●       Barricades

●       Aerial Lifts & Platforms

Passive fall protection system requires a lot of space to install guardrails, safety nets and other equipment. 

Active Fall Protection Systems

Active fall protection systems are the most common form of fall protection used. This system includes equipment that is specially designed to deliberately slower your fall, preventing the worker from stopping suddenly and sustaining a severe injury. Active fall protection systems are dynamic and require the use of special gearing and participation by the worker all along.

To make this fall protection system to work as intended, providing adequate training is essential. An untrained or unauthorized person must not use active fall safety. If the active fall protection is inappropriately used, it will not eliminate the dangers as expected, so the training and constant participation of the worker is a must.

Equipment used in the active fall protection system:

●       Life Lines

●       Work Positioning

●       Overhead Rigid Rail Fall Protection

●       Personal Fall Arrest Equipment such as body harness, anchor point, a lanyard and deceleration device etc.

What is the Hierarchy of Fall Protection Systems?

The hierarchy of fall protection system helps to define the various applications in which fall protection equipment should be used, as well as prioritizes those applications from most preferred to least preferred safety system. According to the hierarchy of Fall Protection Systems, the following are the best practices commonly accepted:

●       Try to eliminate the hazard if possible.

●       Install passive engineering control such as a Guardrail 

●       If the use of a Guardrail is not reasonably feasible, workers must use a fall restraint system and fall arrest system 

●       Use specialised equipment to minimise the distance and the possible consequences of a fall.

Falls are evidently one of the most common causes of injury to individuals who are working at height, but they are not the only hazards. To keep the workers and assets at the workplace safe, provide other quality requisites such as disposable coveralls and ffp1 masks to your employees.

Select the Appropriate Fall Protection System

Whether your worksite implements passive or active fall protection systems, proper worker training, maintenance of the protection system, and frequent inspection of all fall protection system equipment are essential elements in maximizing the effectiveness of a system.

Consider the above differences before choosing the suitable fall protection system for your workplace. Once you have identified the appropriate system, the implementation is critical for the success of the safety program. Ensure to select the fall protection system that maximizes workplace productivity, while minimizing the potential dangers.