Ways That Fall Protection Training Saves Lives and Improves Workplace Safety
Within construction-related industries, falls account for many of the most fatal occupational hazards. In recent times, many employers assumed that their fall protection equipment was fail-proof – only to find out the hard way that this was not correct.
So, it’s with a sigh of relief that it is now mandatory for all employees who work above the ground at elevated heights to undergo fall protection training.
While providing personal safety equipment and protective clothing is a great first step, they are practically useless if your workers are not trained in how to use them.
Ways to Improve Your Fall Protection Training
Identifying Risk Factors – while creating a fall protection policy designed for your specific industry is recommended, there’s not much point doing so until you identify the risk factors that are relevant to your situation. There may be a need to restructure policies and procedures, together with re-strategizing the work environment to eliminate or minimize the risk of falls.
Justifying Your Safety Policies – Once your workers are aware of the potential occupational hazards they face, you need to ensure they are fully conversant with fall elimination safety methods. The best way of doing this is to show them current fall statistics, which provide practical examples and allow them to identify with those who may have been injured or lost their lives. This in turn enforces the importance of fall protection training.
Explain Correct Equipment Usage – Once your workers are fully conversant with fall protections training, they must be introduced to the correct way to wear protective clothing, and to use protection equipment. Without a thorough explanation on correct usage, your training could be in vain.
Steps for Effective Fall Protection Training
The introduction of fall elimination strategies has as its primary goal the reduction and prevention of fall-related deaths and injuries. In this regard, the training takes on these 4 highly effective steps:
- Strategic Planning
This allow you as an employer to be familiar with the conditions your workers will be operating under before you flag off the project. You can measure parameters such as the relevant requirements to keep them safe regardless of the height they are working at.
An effective plan determines the success of your project. If your company does not employ a highly qualified instructor, we recommend you hire one with knowledge and experience in training on fall elimination programs.
It’s also advisable to find an instructor who can demonstrate the safety techniques. Safety Counselling in Albuquerque, NM are an organization that can assist in these matters.
- Provide Fall Protection Gear
The type of project you are involved with will dictate which conventional protection gear you need. According to OSHA, there are 3 forms of traditional fall protection. All of these operate at their best when used and stored properly. Also, each of these products should include a detailed manufacturer’s manual that should be strictly followed.
The 3 types of fall protection gear mandated by OSHA
are:
- Personal fall arrest systems
- Safety nets
- Guard rails
- Train Your Crew
Training your crew involves teaching the correct usage, storage, and care for the protection gear. This should occur as soon as your workers are familiar with the 3 different types of protection gear.
Being trained in the effective use of personal fall arrest systems, company fall prevention measures and OSHA compliance standards gives your workers a sense of responsibility toward their own lives and those of their fellow workers.
It’s vital to make the training session a practical one in which participants demonstrate requirements among themselves for a fall-related emergency.
Your role as an employer includes all the factors required to be compliant with OSHA standards:
- Providing the right equipment
- Training employees on potential risk factors
- Devising and implementing an appropriate protection plan.
Not only does this save lives, but it also demonstrates your company’s interest in the employee’s well-being.
Join the Fall Protection Team at Safety Counselling
At Safety Counselling, we offer OSHA/ASME/ANSI compliant fall protection training standards, and our emphasis is on jobsite safety.
Our knowledgeable and experienced team of fall protection instructors know how to ensure your workers not only get the essential training they need, but also that they understand fall protection measures and the potential risks involved.
We have comprehensive training courses in both Confined Space Training and Fall Protection Training and can assign a personalized instructor with specific knowledge of your situation to come to your location.
Contacting Safety Counselling for your falls protection training will mean that you can have peace of mind that your methods are compliant, and you and your workers are conversant and confident with everything they need Contact us today on 505-881-1112 or visit our website.