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.
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