Understanding the Hierarchy of Fall Protection

The Hierarchy of Fall Protection in Layman's Terms

 

Working at height can be hazardous and requires special equipment. Many governing bodies such as ANSI and OSHA set guidelines and regulations for these jobs, which may increase safety.

Elimination (Stay on the Ground)

Working at heights is a necessary aspect of many occupations yet can pose unique safety concerns. Therefore, it's vital that workers familiarize themselves with all available forms of fall protection systems and how they can be used to keep operators safe while performing their duties.

Both ANSI and OSHA's Hierarchy of Hazard Controls state the initial step should be eliminating falling hazards from work environments - this means changing working environments, so employees aren't exposed to fall hazards to begin with, such as moving machinery onto the ground instead of the roof. While eliminating falls would always be preferable, sometimes this option simply isn't possible or could increase risk further - in such instances hazard control measures become necessary at higher levels.

Engineering controls are the second level of hazard control offered by ANSI. They include measures that alter the structure of a workplace to limit exposure to fall hazards such as guardrails around unprotected edges or covers over holes; this form of passive fall prevention provides much safer protection than just using blankets or harnesses as protection measures.

OSHA's third level of hazard control is administrative controls, which involve teaching workers how to avoid potential fall hazards through methods like warning signs, training courses and controlled access zones. These should only be employed as a last resort when all other alternatives have been exhausted.

Passive (Build A Wall to Keep Them In)

Both ANSI and OSHA provide regulations designed to protect workers who work at height. Though they utilize different means to accomplish the same objective, both sets of regulations share a hierarchy that ranks solutions from preferred to least preferred because each step may present additional hazards.

Elimination should always be your top choice; by eliminating fall hazards from the workplace, you create a safer working environment. To achieve this, examine each hazard and devise ways of altering procedures, practices, or location to reduce exposure. An example could be specifying HVAC to be placed inside rather than on top of a building or mandating the use of barrier gates and guardrails when working at heights.

Passive fall protection systems offer a physical barrier to stop falls, such as guardrails and safety gates as these require no action by workers themselves to operate them safely, they offer protection from mistakes of forgetfulness and distraction.

Active (Catch Them When They Fall)

Next up on ANSI and OSHA's hierarchy of fall protection methods are active systems which require worker interaction and specific equipment to prevent falls from happening. They typically consist of full-body harnesses which tether workers to an anchor point, dispersing fall forces over a larger area to minimize injury and arresting falls before hitting the ground below; additionally, they often include emergency deceleration devices to help ensure worker safety even after falls have taken place.

Like other personal protective equipment, personal security systems do not come without drawbacks. OSHA-trained individuals must provide special training prior to their use; furthermore, regular inspection and maintenance inspection must occur for this equipment. Furthermore, these systems add weight which may reduce mobility or increase chances of physical injuries; additionally, they can be costly both to purchase and maintain.

At ANSI and OSHA's hierarchy levels, their goal is to eliminate hazards before they become hazardous in the first place. Unfortunately, this isn't always feasible in certain work environments and may present its own set of challenges.

Administrative (Tell Them Not to Fall)

Fall-related accidents are among the leading causes of OSHA citations among employers, yet there are ways to mitigate their occurrence on your worksite by adhering to both ANSI and OSHA hierarchies of control. Doing this will decrease both the frequency and severity of falls on the site.

At the core of fall protection is hazard elimination. Once that has been accomplished, passive safety systems such as guardrails and barricades come next. If these fail, active systems like fall restraint and arrest must then be utilized; failing that, administrative controls might be used instead for quick solutions that are less desirable and easier to overlook.

Administrative controls refer to measures such as warning signs, training programs and work practices designed to increase worker awareness about falling hazards in their environment. While not a replacement for more proven ways of protecting employees, administrative controls can make workplaces safer by increasing worker awareness - warning lines, horns and monitors being some examples.

No matter the size or complexity of your job site, safety must always come first when working at height. Conducting a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) prior to beginning any project can help identify risks as well as determine which protective equipment your workers require.