Fall protection training educates employees about potential fall hazards and provides safety information to eliminate risky behaviors. Falls can occur at the same level or from heights, with serious injuries and deaths most common in the construction industry. OSHA issues standards and regulations for fall protection training, emphasizing identifying potential hazards and proper equipment use. Certification is required for employees working at height, with online and on-site training options available.
Fall protection training is education provided to employees working in areas or industries where they may be exposed to fall hazards. In every industry there is a risk of a fall or trip. An employee working in a corporate environment, for example, might slip down a flight of stairs or slip on spilled coffee on the floor. These falls in the workplace can leave workers with serious and persistent injuries and increase workers’ compensation and liability costs. By educating employees about the potential dangers of their workplace and providing relevant safety information, fall protection training seeks to eliminate risky behaviors and lack of knowledge that can affect workplace safety.
Falls can occur onto flat surfaces or can be the result of a fall from a higher level to a lower level. Many falls that occur at the same level occur in the service and retail sectors. On the other hand, the majority of serious injuries and accidental deaths are associated with falls from heights, the ones most likely in the construction industry. To protect workers from falls, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States issues standards and regulations for fall protection training and mandates the use of fall protection when working at a height of at least 6 feet ( 1.8m).
One of the main goals of teaching fall safety is to explain to employees why fall protection is needed. In the roofing industry, for example, a sudden loss of balance or a fall through a skylight can be serious, even if the fall was not from a great height. In fact, a fall from a few meters high could prove fatal. In many of the situations where fatal workplace accidents have occurred, fall protection training that included an understanding of the proper use of fall protective equipment could have made all the difference in saving a life.
As more falls and serious injuries occur in the construction industry, fall protection training for this industry emphasizes identifying potential fall hazards and the importance of proper equipment. Guardrails or protective railings, for example, are commonly used to block off edges on construction sites so that even if an employee falls, they won’t be able to fall freely to a lower level. Various types of body harnesses are also used to avoid getting too close to an edge or to catch the worker in the event of a fall. In order for this equipment to be used effectively, however, employees must know how to wear it and understand in which situations the equipment should be worn.
For employees who work at height, fall protection training should be completed by an experienced professional. Certification from the employee is required demonstrating that this training has been completed and that the worker has been instructed in all equipment used in the workplace. Online training courses, videos, and comprehensive on-site training courses are all options that can help employers carry out this training and comply with required regulations.
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